Question

I need help with practice test

Answer 1

N-1 Whiz, Please don't be detracted. Let's get started. Choose a problem from that practicve test and do what you can towards solving it, then share it with me.

Answer 2

Come on, N-1 Whiz: Post something from your practice test for us to focus on. Ignore detractions as much as you can.

Answer 3

You'll need to learn the vocabulary. Degree here refers to the highest power of x, which is 12. It's not appropriate to multiply here.

Answer 4

Yes. There's no short cut here: You need to know precisely what "degree" refers to. I'd suggest you write this down and review it regularly: "The degree of a polynomial is the same as the highest power of x."

Answer 5

In this case, that highest power is 12.
Sure, go ahead. But I'd like for you to show me what you have already done before I jump in.

Answer 6

Find the GCF of the terms of the monomial
52x^8 +12x^3
can you define for me?

Answer 7

GCF means "greatest common factor." (Seriously, please write that down for later reference.)

Answer 8

Look at the two terms in your expression. Both contain powers of x, right? What is the largest power of x that you can factor out of BOTH terms?

Answer 9

I knew what GCF was lol I meant the terms

Answer 10

largest power should be 3 because it goes into each number

Answer 11

Your expression, 52x^8 +12x^3, has two terms. One is 52x^8; the other is 12x^3. In your expression, the two terms are added together.

Now, in response to your statement: The largest power , the of x common to both terms is x^3, the third power of x.

Try factoring that out of your expression.

Answer 12

Sorryfor the poor phrasing. "The largest power of x common to both terms is x^3." Factor that out of both terms.

Answer 13

oh I understand now.

Answer 14

52x^8 +12x^3= what, after factoring x^3 out?

Answer 15

x^8?

Answer 16

I'll try to illustrate this more clearlly. Please wait.

Answer 17

ok

Answer 18

\[52x^8 +12x^3=(x ^{3})(what?)\]
I'm asking y ou to factor that x^3 out of your expression. What's left after factoring?

Answer 19

I'm honestly not trying to confuse things here @mathmale, but shouldn't it be:\[52x ^{8}+12x^3=(4x^3)(what?)\]

Answer 20

You are absolutely right, but I had a reason for wanting to factor out only x^2. Thanks for your input.

Answer 21

K sorry to interrupt.

Answer 22

Idk either of them, or the "what"

Answer 23

For practice: Please factor: 12x-2.

Answer 24

show me

Answer 25

Let's see what jagatuba has to say.

Answer 26

ok

Answer 27

In the meantime, N-1 Whiz, do you have a textbook for this course? If so, do you have the book with you?

Answer 28

Whenever you have a problem like this you have to think what can I take out.

12x-2

Since we have a - (in this case, but could have a +) we have to keep the terms separate.

In the first term we have 12x and in the second we only have 2, therefore we know that we can only take out a whole number. That number being 2. So we have:

2(6x-1)

Does that make sense?

Answer 29

Yes. Hope it does for N-1 Whiz also. Note, N-1 Whiz, that 2 is the "greatest common factor," or GCF: it's the largest factor common to both terms of 12x-2 that can be factored out. What do you think, N-1 Whiz? Thank you, jagatuba.

Answer 30

She may have given up. She is no longer in the thread.

Answer 31

Nor even online.

Answer 32

yes i just gave up, im sorry @jagatuba @mathmale

Answer 33

It's your decision. But I'd love to continue working with you and hope you'll reconsider.

Answer 34

we can continue with a different one @mathmale

Answer 35

I'll try my best to help, but right now I have a backlog of questions from others. Why not just post your new question? i'd try to get to it.

Answer 36

ok :) thank you