SOLUTION: Solve the polynomial x^3-3x^2+8x-36

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Question 1150899: Solve the polynomial x^3-3x^2+8x-36
Found 4 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic, Alan3354, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by ikleyn(53763)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

This combination of words makes no sense.

(In other words, the meaning of this collection of words is NOT DEFINED in Math).

Answer by josgarithmetic(39799)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solve the polynomial?
What about the polynomial is to be solved? Factorize? Find roots? Find max or min? Something else?

"Solve a polynomial" does not mean anything.

Answer by Alan3354(69443)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solve the polynomial x^3-3x^2+8x-36
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Equations are solved.
Mysteries are solved.
Maybe some other things, too, but not polynomials.
===============
Wake up.

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

If you're looking to find the roots of the equation
x^3-3x^2+8x-36 = 0

Then the best bet is to use the root finder on your calculator. Cubics can be solved by hand, but are usually a pain (unless your teacher carefully crafts one that can be factored and solved using the zero product property).

Using a calculator, the only approximate root is
x = 3.577053202120514
Round that however you need to

The graph is below. The x intercept corresponds directly to the root we just found

Image generated by GeoGebra (free graphing software).