SOLUTION: I cannot find a step-by-step guide to show me how to work this equation to get an answer, My examples show to put equation into au^2 + bu + c = 0. The problem is w^4

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Question 332810: I cannot find a step-by-step guide to show me how to work this equation to get an answer, My examples show to put equation into au^2 + bu + c = 0.
The problem is
w^4 - 12w^2 - 2 = 0
Put into above form it is
u^2 - 12u - 2 = 0
Then I am stuck. Do I use the quadratic formula and how do I change it back to get w's solution after solving for u? Thanks in advance.
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Let .

Then solve

for and

Then set

and solve for the two roots

Then set

and solve for the two roots giving you 4 roots in all which is exactly what was expected for a quartic equation. One of the roots of the equation in will be negative (, hence one pair of values of will be a complex conjugate pair.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

SOLUTION: I cannot find a step-by-step guide to show me how to work this equation to get an answer, My examples show to put equation into au^2 + bu + c = 0. The problem is w^4 - 12w^2 -