document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=888096>Question 888096</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> To find zeros of the fn. -<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^4 - x^3 - 4x^2 + 4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "step by step (not on calculator).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #537068 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=537068\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Set the expression equal to zero. Factor and solve.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^4 - x^3 - 4x^2 + 4 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x^4 - x^3) + (-4x^2 + 4) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3(x - 1) + (-4x^2 + 4) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3(x - 1) -4(x^2 - 1) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3(x - 1) -4(x - 1)(x + 1) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3(x - 1) -4(x + 1)(x - 1) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x^3 - 4(x+1))(x - 1) = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then you use the zero product property to get these two equations\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^3 - 4(x+1) = 0 or x-1=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The first equation x^3 - 4(x+1) = 0 needs a calculator because this is a cubic (most cubics are nearly impossible to solve by hand)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The approximate solution to x^3 - 4(x+1)=0 is x = 2.382975768\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The solution to x-1 = 0 is x = 1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the two real number solutions are\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = 1 or x = 2.382975768 </SPAN>\n" );
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