-4x^2-(-8x^2)+3x^2

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skwyrlnutt

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Apr 19, 2007
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New to this...studying for finals next week.
I cannot figure out how to do this problem. I don't even know where to start.

-4x^2-(-8x^2)+3x^2

I have tried many different ways but none came out the right answer...please help!

:(
 
Don't even know where to start?
Surely you know how to combine like terms?

Have you studied how to solve a polynomial? Maybe you havn't...sense I don't see an equation there.

To solve for this:

Your highest degree is 2... so you know that you are going to be simplifying everything in that expression into a secound degree polynomial:

-4x^2-(-8x^2)+3x^2

combine all like terms.

Get your expression in the form of ax^2+bx+c = 0

and then solve your trinomial using factor or completing the square method.

Best of luck.
 
Been out of school for a long time

Thanks, but it didnt help very much.
I have been out of school for over ten years now. This is my first math class this semester...we are taking finals next week.
I did this at the beginning & I did well. However it seems all new to me now!
If you could simplify just the first step to get started I might remember.
I don't know what you mean by degree. We use like greatest common factor, like terms, but never heard of degree. Plus this is just order of operations. You think you can help me more?
 
Sure.

-4x^2-(-8x^2)+3x^2

can be simplified.

take it in peices, and combine like terms.

you have a -4x^2
you have a -(-8x^2) = 8x^2
and you have a 3x^2

3x^2 + 8x^2 = 11x^2

11x^2 - 4x^2 = 7x^2

We simplified down to 7x^2


Will you be required to solve this single term polynomial?
If so, set it equal to 0 and solve for x

7x^2 = 0
7x^2/7 = 0/7
x^2 = 0
x = sqrt(0)
x = 0

So the only solution to this, is x = 0


Hope this helped.
 
Your answer sheet in incorrect, I am afraid.

The steps I gave you are correct, and the answer of 7x^2 is correct, unless you posted the wrong question. :p
 
Ok so the answer must be wrong on my answer sheet
Because I keep getting that same answer too
 
ok so i did give you the wrong problem essentially
it is written :
-4x^2-(-8x^2)+(3x)^2


Does that change anything?
 
Yes, because (3x)^2 = 9x^2

where 3(x^2) = 3x^2

that changes your answer to 13x^2
 
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