Question

What is the solution 2/4x^2 = 1/16x?

Answer 1

I did all of the other questions on my test, the two I asked were the only two I didn't understand. XD

Answer 2

you have:

2/4x^2 = 1/16x

which is equal to

2/4x^2 - 1/16x = 0

the denominators aren't common, so what do we do when we don't have a common denominator?

Answer 3

We multiply to make them the same, but I'm not exactly sure what to do first.

Answer 4

okay, so what's the least common denominator for x^2 and x?

Answer 5

x^2?

Answer 6

yup, so how do we make x = x^2?

Answer 7

We multiply it by x, or square it?

Answer 8

multiply it x
x*x = x^2

okay, so multiply 1/16x by x / x

Answer 9

x/16x^2

Answer 10

now we have 2/4x^2 - x/16x^2

denominators still aren't common, so we need 4x^2 to equal 16x^2. how do we do that?

Answer 11

Can we take 2/4x^2 and do the whole thing multiplied by 4?

Answer 12

yes

Answer 13

So, 8/16x^2 = x/16x^2?

Answer 14

yup

Answer 15

you can simplify those a bit

Answer 16

And so is the solution, when simplified, just 8?

Answer 17

you should get two solutions since it is x^2

i got 0 and 1/8

Answer 18

if you want to check, you can substitute 1/8 into the original equation, and you should get a true statement.

Answer 19

So disregard the 0 since the 1/8 works?

Answer 20

0 should work too, but i dont see that as an answer choice

Answer 21

I just turned that test in and it said 1/8 was wrong... :O

Answer 22

@blurbendy

Answer 23

impossibleeee!

Answer 24

So was the first question I asked... Now I'm really confused...

Answer 25

if you put 1/8 into the original equation, you get an equality. i have no idea why that was wrong

Answer 26

did you forget a negative sign or something in the original equation?

Answer 27

I can reset my exam and take it again... Hopefully I'll do better the second time around. XD

Answer 28

that doesnt make any sense. im mad now

Answer 29

Me too!

Answer 30

can you send this to your teacher or something? the computer is wrong!

Answer 31

send him/her a picture and say that if you substitute 1/8 into x, then you get a true statement...

Answer 32

Yeah, I'll email her. And the first question was correct, too, right? This is really... ridiculous.

Answer 33

you got that one wrong too? wow.... that's some faulty software.

Answer 34

Yes! And this was my last assignment before finishing the class. I have an A, but I really wanted to go out with a bang. .__.

Answer 35

haha nice. well good luck! let me know how it goes

Answer 36

I will! Thanks for your help, though! :D