Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Heron TSG]

Also, I find it interesting that so many need to know the basics behind an equation.

Imagine if someone had tried to explain multiplication to you without explaining that it was repeated addition, or what powers were before explaining that they were repeated multiplication.

The average human brain can't comprehend higher math such as powers without knowing the lesser parts.

[Virex]

Also, I find it interesting that so many need to know the basics behind an equation.

Imagine if someone had tried to explain multiplication to you without explaining that it was repeated addition, or what powers were before explaining that they were repeated multiplication.

The average human brain can't comprehend higher math such as powers without knowing the lesser parts.

Hmm, maybe I'm just thinking too advanced. I was thinking more of thinks like complicated formula's for heat flow or diffusion. Those thend to have a second order integral that's proportional to a first order integral, which conveniently differs in 1 variable. I can solve second order integrals and first order integrals but hell if I can wrap my head around a situation where the two of them are on either side of the '=' sign. So I just use the resulting formula's without bothering ith the deduction.

[Red Fortune]

I always need to understand why, it's an unquenchable thirst of mine, and it's how my mind works.

[Shades]

I always need to understand why, it's an unquenchable thirst of mine, and it's how my mind works.

To be honest I would hope this is true of everyone. At least to an extent

[Red Fortune]

Most people are content with just remembering what things are and how they are told to solve them.

I need to know how and why things occur relative to each other at a fundamental level... Connecting the dots if you will

[Jreengus]

Wit stupid mistakes like the 16 becoming 12 you just need to check, and try to slow down, I still do things like that a lot though. I'm not really sure what other advice to give really, maths has always been my forté and I sometime can't understand why people can't do it...

Make sure you memorise all the equations you'll need and take a look at past papers, they might not come out and openly say what you need to do but if you've done some past papers you can tell what they want done because you will have already done similar questions. If you're wondering whether you can do something, especially whilst manipulating equations, try substituting in some simple numbers doing what you were going to do and then see if it unbalances it.

[Red Fortune]

Math test tomorrow.

I feel like I understand the principals of solving/factorizing cubics etc. quite well, but we'll see.

[ToonyMan]

Funny that, I did factorizing a little earlier in Math, I like just learned this junk.  Mehhhh.
I'll just do some examples,
x²-4
Now you just break it down,
(x+2) (x-2)
There you go!
Now when you foil it you get x time x making x².
When you times x and 2, x and -2 you get 2x and -2x which cancel themselves out.
Lastly, you do 2 time -2 which would be -4!


Let's do a harder one,
x²-2x-8
Now break it down,
(x+2) (x-4)
I did this like the last time, only we have the consider the number in the middle.
First you do x times x to get x[sup2[/sup].
Then you time x and 2, x and -4 to make 2x and -4x.  You add these to make -2x for the sum.
Lastly you time 2 and -4 to make -8.


Let me explain something.

x²+2x+1
x²+1x-12
x²-2x+1
x²-1x-12

Here are the four different types of questions for this you'll come across.
There are going to be ones like this too,
16x²+4x+4
But I don't really know how to do these.

Anyway, when you have a question that looks like this,
x²+2x+1
With two pluses, that means the factoring answers will BOTH be pluses as well.
(x+1) (x+1)

When you have a question like this,
x²+1x-12
With the first being a plus and the last being a minus, that will make the answer one plus and one minus.
(x+4) (x-3)

Now,
x²-2x+1
When the first symbol is minus and second is plus, that means BOTH factors will be minus.
(x-1) (x-1)
See?

Lastly, we have,
x²-1x-12
Where both symbols are minus.  That means one factor is going to be minus and the other plus.
(x-4) (x+3)

Let's do a quick over view,
    Q            A
+ and + = + and +
+ and - = + and -
- and + = - and -
- and - = - and +


Now here's a question for you,
What would the answer be to,
x²-6x+9?

EDIT:
Seems I'm too late to help, heh.

[Red Fortune]

I get those, don't worry 

(x-3)(x-3) or alternatively (x-3)²

I'm doing cubics and division using factor theorem

x³-2x²+4x-8

Using factor theorem:
P(2)=(2)³-2(2)²+4(2)-8
      = 8-8+8-8
      = 0
=> (x-2) is a factor of x³-2x²+4x-8
(Too lazy to go through the process and everything, here's a picture)

(x-2)/(x³-2x²+4x-8) = x²+4 with 0 remainder.
=> (x-2)(x²+4)=0

[ToonyMan]

You don't seem to have any problems.

[Red Fortune]

And (x-2)³, forgot to add.

Could go instantly, but went through process

[Red Fortune]

Well, off to the test! Wish me luck.

[Vector]

Alternatively,

x³-2x²+4x-8 = x²(x-2)+4(x-2) = (x-2)(x²+4)

by distribution.

Much easier way to do it... anyway, I've got more to post in here later.

[Heron TSG]

good luck!

Another method for cubic polynomials is to build a perfect cube with algeblocks. If you're interested, I will show you the infallible magic that are manipulatives.

[Red Fortune]

Back.

I definitely passed, and attempted every question... But I didn't really have enough time...

Also, how do you get the point of inflexion from turning point form? Like y=(x-a)³+k?
(ISFAILATMATHANDMUSTBEEUTHANIZED)