Online Course Discussion Forum

question on II-A 5.20

 
 
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question on II-A 5.20
by Bober Yang - Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:56 AM
 

so I am on this step

3x^4-x^2+12=0

and I don't know how to solve it 

can I get some help 


Thank you very much.

 
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Re: question on II-A 5.20
by Areteem Professor - Monday, July 13, 2020, 6:57 PM
 

I have the feeling that something is missing in there. You got that by clearing denominators and simplifying, right

 Multiplying the whole equation by $4x^2(x^2+3)$, we have $4(x^2+3)-4x^2 = 3(x^2)(x^2+3)$, so $12 = 3(x^2)^2 + 9(x^2)$. Try solving first for $x^2$, and then for $x$ from there.