document.write( "Question 122284: x4 – 3 x2 + 2 = 0.
\n" ); document.write( "Explain how one can use the quadratic formula to solve this equation by using a change of variable. Solve this equation completely.
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #89773 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let \"u=x%5E2\" to get\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u%5E2-3u%2B2=0\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for u:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Starting with the general quadratic\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"au%5E2%2Bbu%2Bc=0\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the general solution using the quadratic equation is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So lets solve \"u%5E2-3%2Au%2B2=0\" ( notice \"a=1\", \"b=-3\", and \"c=2\")\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%28--3+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A2+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Plug in a=1, b=-3, and c=2\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-3%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A2+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Negate -3 to get 3\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9-4%2A1%2A2+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Square -3 to get 9 (note: remember when you square -3, you must square the negative as well. This is because \"%28-3%29%5E2=-3%2A-3=9\".)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+9%2B-8+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Multiply \"-4%2A2%2A1\" to get \"-8\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+sqrt%28+1+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+1%29%2F%282%2A1%29\" Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this solver)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B-+1%29%2F2\" Multiply 2 and 1 to get 2\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So now the expression breaks down into two parts\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u+=+%283+%2B+1%29%2F2\" or \"u+=+%283+-+1%29%2F2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Lets look at the first part:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%283+%2B+1%29%2F2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=4%2F2\" Add the terms in the numerator\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=2\" Divide\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So one answer is\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now lets look at the second part:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%283+-+1%29%2F2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=2%2F2\" Subtract the terms in the numerator\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=1\" Divide\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So another answer is\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=1\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So our solutions are:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"u=2\" or \"u=1\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now remember, we let \"u=x%5E2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So our solutions become\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=2\" or \"x%5E2=1\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now take the square root of both sides for each case\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=0%2B-sqrt%282%29\" or \"x=0%2B-sqrt%281%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So our answers are\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=sqrt%282%29\", \"x=-sqrt%282%29\", \"x=1\", or \"x=-1\"
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );