Question

Solve 16x^4 - 16x^3 - 32x^2 + 36x - 9 = 0.

Answer 1

factor first 3 terms separately, and last two terms separately

Answer 2

16x^4 - 16x^3 - 32x^2 + 36x - 9 = 0
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Answer 3

how would i factor 36x-9

Answer 4

we can pull out 9

Answer 5

36x - 9

9*4x - 9

9(4x-1)

Answer 6

like that :)

Answer 7

just try to factor out the common thing from first 3 terms also

Answer 8

16x^2(x+1)(x-2)

Answer 9

is the first 3

Answer 10

yes you're right.
but i see we're stuck :|

wat we did is of no use. let me think a bit

Answer 11

oh okay!

Answer 12

im not getting any ideas sorry :(
@hartnn if u have some time...

Answer 13

it's okay, thanks for trying to help!

Answer 14

this is not easy, it may become easy if you know one root/zero

Answer 15

I don't know any of the roots or zeros.

Answer 16

my options are
a. +-1/2, +-3/2
b. 1/2, +-3/2
c. +-1/2, 3/2
d. +-3/2, 0

Answer 17

omg , you have options!! that makes it so simple :)

Answer 18

then whats stopping you from just plugging in those numbers one by one and see which one actually satisfies the original equation ?

Answer 19

I just didn't know if there was a certain equation I should use to solve problems like this or not.

Answer 20

put x= 1/2 in 16x^4 - 16x^3 - 32x^2 + 36x - 9
and check whether you get it =0 or not.

Answer 21

okay. I just didn't know if there was a way other than plugging in all the options. Thanks.

Answer 22

there might be a way, but its not easy to think, not even for me. so the best thing to do is to check options :)