SOLUTION: 2. The following equation has degree 4 because the highest power of the variable x is 4: x^4 – 3 x^2 + 2 = 0. Explain how one can use the quadratic formula to solve this equation

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Question 122287: 2. The following equation has degree 4 because the highest power of the variable x is 4:
x^4 – 3 x^2 + 2 = 0.
Explain how one can use the quadratic formula to solve this equation by using a change of variable. Solve this equation completely.

Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, solver91311:
Answer by josmiceli(19441)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!










The solutions are:




Answer by solver91311(24713)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!



Let , which means that

Now substitute:



is factorable

=> or , so you really don't need the
quadratic formula to solve it. But since the question asked for it, here
it is
a = 1
b = -3
c = 2


=> or
And no surprise, the roots are still 1 and 2.

But remember

If then or => or
If then or

This gives us a total of four roots for the original quartic (degree 4)
equation as the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra would lead us to suspect.

Just for fun, let's check the notion graphically:



Note that the graph intersects the x-axis in 4 places and the x-coordinates of
these 4 places are equal to the roots or zeros of the given equation.
How very tidy.
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