document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=103413>Question 103413</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131430734/algebrahomeworkh>Algebra and Trigonometry</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have the following problem. I will be honest, it is for homework, so the answer is not in the back of the book. I am just trying to understand how to properly solve it.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y = (x^2 - 4)/2x^4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I tried to simplify this on the website and it gave me y - (x^2 - 4)/2x^4 = 0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I am suppose to state what the intercept is and what it is symmetric to (y-axis, x-axis and/or origin)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is what I did.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y = (x^2 - 4)/2x^4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = (x^2 - 4)/(x^2)(2x^2) - I broke apart the 2x^4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y = -4/2x^2   - I thought the x^2 on the bottom of the fraction cancelled out the top.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "After that, I did not know what else to do. I could multiply both sides by 2x^2, but that did not seem to get me anywhere, so I started by making a list of the possible values of x and y.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is what I came up with.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 2, y = -1/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = -2, y = -1/2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 1, y = -2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I plotted these and my answer was the following:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1. I could not find an intercept. I don't see where either can equal 0, unless they both equal 0.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. They would be symmetric to the y-axis.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Am I correct? My main goal is to find out what else to do with the equation. I'm lost.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks for your help in advance. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #75211 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=75211\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> simplify this on the website and it gave me y - (x^2 - 4)/2x^4 = 0 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I am suppose to state what the intercept is and what it is symmetric to (y-axis, x-axis and/or origin) <BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "y - (x^2 - 4)/2x^4 = 0 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=graph%28400%2C300%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2C%28x%5E2-4%29%2F2x%5E4%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"graph%28400%2C300%2C-10%2C10%2C-10%2C10%2C%28x%5E2-4%29%2F2x%5E4%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Intercepts: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since x cannot be zero, no y-intercepts.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If y=0, x=+2 or x=-2 are the x-intercepts.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Symmetry: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x)=f(-x) so the function is even and therefore symmetric to the y-axis.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
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