Question 52974: Why do you factor a quadratic equation before you solve?
Answer by checkley71(8403)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! WITHOUT GOING INTO THE FULL DEFINITION OF THE QUADRATIC FORMULA I'LL GIVE YOU A SIMPLE TECHNIGUE BY AN EXAMPLE:
X^2+10X+24 BECAUSE THE X^2 TERM HAS A 1 FOR A MULTIPLIER IT CAN BE IGNORED IN THIS EXAMPLE. NOW WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE FACTORS OF 24 THUS
1*24, 2*12, 3*8 & 4*6 NOW WE NEED TO CHOOSE A SET OF THE FACTORS THAT WILL TOTAL 10 THE MIDDLE TERM. THE SET THAT MEETS THIS REQUIREMENT IS 4&6
THUS 4*6=24 & 4+6=10 THEREFORE THE FACTORS ARE (X+4)(X+6)
OR WHEN MULTIPLIED WE GET THE ORIGINAL EQUATION OF X^2+4X=6X+24 OR
X^2+10X+24
HOPE THIS HELPS ALTHOUGH IT IS A SIMPLE EQUATION.
|
|
|
