document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=489050>Question 489050</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Okay so I need help finding the real solutions of this equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "X^4-X^3+2X^2-4X-8=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to use synthetic division but im not able to figure this out right now. Please help me </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #333528 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=chessace><B>chessace(471)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=chessace><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=chessace><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=333528\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Regroup by even and odd powers:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "X^4+2X^2-8  - (X^3+4X)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd term = (-) X(X^2+4), so synthetically divide the 1st term by (X^2+4) in hopes of getting a clean factor (you will).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then express the whole thing as (X^2+4)*(whatever, collect terms).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 1st of these has no real roots, but the \"whatever\" will have.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Hint: 2 of them, simple.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thus the original equation, known to have 4 roots, will have 2 not real, and the 2 you find from \"whatever\". </SPAN>\n" );
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