|
|
Re: Please help refresh my Algebra skills (factoring & solving)
Posted:
Oct 17, 1999 4:33 PM
|
|
>If I have some nasty numbers in quadratic form, how do I factor and solve
>for the TWO answers??
>-4.9x^2+5.5x-105=0
>That factors to x(-4.9x+5.5) = -105
>What next??
You can "complete the square", by finding out what binomial squared
gives -4.9x^2 + 5.5x + A, where A isn't known.
Then, write the expression as this binomial squared, + A - A. Play
with this, and you find that the general solution to
ax^2 + bx + c = 0
is given by
-b +/- (b^2 - 4ac)^(1/2)
x = --------------------------
2a
- Physics Boy
http://www.ualberta.ca/~wdowler
ICQ# 24893016
AIM: FizikoBoy
XFW# 299792458, WM, S'sW, GMW, NRMTPB
Ray Stantz: You know, it just occured to me that we really haven't had
a successful test of this equipment.
Egon Spengler: I blame myself.
Peter Venkman: So do I.
|
|
