Then, in order to get the radical by itself, you have to divide both sides by
(½) or multiply both sides by 2.
In this case, since x is square-rooted, all we have to do is square both sides to
see that x is 144.
Quadratic Equations
Now that we know how exponents work, we can talk about quadratic
expressions, which are just algebraic expressions where some component is
squared. The big celebrity quadratic equation is ax^2 + bx + c = 0. Recognize it
from math class? If not, no worries, we will explain it after this important
message about factoring.
FACTORING
When you see a quadratic expression in a problem, it’s quite likely that in order
to find the solution, you will need to factor, or break down, the quadratic before
you can solve it. Factoring can be an intimidating process. But by asking these
five questions, you can make your life much easier.
- Is there anything in common?
Example: In 3x^2 + 6x, there’s a 3x that both terms have in common.
3 x^2 + 6x = 3x (x + 2)In other words, you can factor 3x out of both terms.
—Samantha- Is there a difference of two squares?
If both terms are perfect squares, the expression is factorable.