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| Question 715742:  Use the rational root theorem to list all possible rational roots for each equation.then find any actual roots.
 1). X^4-7x^2+12=0
 Answer by KMST(5328)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Rational roots would be fractions (negative and positive) whose numerator is a factor of the independent term, the constant
  , and whose denominator is a factor of the leading coefficient, the invisible
  in front of  . The denominator can only be
  , the only factor of  , but
  has 6 factors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
 So the possible rational roots are:
 -12, -6, -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12.
 
 Finding the roots is easier.
 No need to try any of those rational roots.
 If we change variables using
  , the equation becomes
 
  -->  and that factoring tells us that 
  and  are solutions of  and will lead us to solutions of
  
  leads us to  and  (not rational roots< but at least real roots) 
  leads us to 
  -->  and 
  -->  (two of the 12 possible rational roots).
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