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Hawkes Learning Systems: College Algebra. Section 2.4: Higher Degree Polynomial Equations. Objectives. Solving quadratic-like equations. Solving general polynomial equations by factoring. Solving polynomial-like equations by factoring. Solving Quadratic-Like Equations.
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Hawkes Learning Systems: College Algebra Section 2.4: Higher Degree Polynomial Equations
Objectives • Solving quadratic-like equations. • Solving general polynomial equations by factoring. • Solving polynomial-like equations by factoring.
Solving Quadratic-Like Equations An equation is quadratic-like, or quadratic in form, if it can be written in the form Where , , and are constants, , and is an algebraic expression. Such equations can be solved by first solving for and then solving for the variable in the expression . This is the Substitution Method.
Example: Solving Quadratic-Like Equations Solve the quadratic-like equation. Step 1: Let and factor. Step 2: Replace with and solve for .
Example: Solving Quadratic-Like Equations Solve the quadratic-like equation. Step 1: Let A = x1/3 A2 – 5A – 6 = 0 and factor.(A + 1)(A – 6) = 0 A = -1 or A = 6 or or or
Solving General Polynomial Equations by Factoring • If an equation of the following type can be factored completely, then the equation can be solved by using the Zero-Factor Property. • If the coefficients in the polynomial are all real, the polynomial can, in principle, be factored. • In practice, this may be difficult to accomplish unless the degree of the polynomial is small or the polynomial is easily recognizable as a special product.
Example: General Polynomial Equations Solve the equation by factoring. Step 1: Isolate on one side and factor. Step 2: Set both equations equal to and solve. or or or
Example: General Polynomial Equations Solve the equation by factoring. 8(8t3 – 1) = 0 8(2t– 1)(4t2 + 2t+1) = 0 2t– 1 = 0 or 2t = 1 or or
Solving Polynomial-Like Equations by Factoring • Some equations that are not polynomial can be solved using the methods we have developed in Section 2.4. • The general idea will be to rewrite the equation so that 0 appears on one side, and then to apply the Zero-Factor Property.
Example: Polynomial-Like Equations Solve the following equation by factoring. Step 1: Isolate on one side. Step 2: Factor. Step 3: Apply the Zero-Factor Property.
Example: Polynomial-Like Equations Solve the following equation by factoring. or or No Solution