Is it possible to factor y= x^4 -3x^2 -4 ? If so, what are the factors?

1 Answer
Roella W.
Dec 24, 2015

Yes. x = +-2 or x = +-i

Explanation:

First represent the equation as a quadratic by substituting z = x^2
Then y = z^2 -3z - 4
This can be factored as y = (z- 4)(z+1)
Therefore z = 4 or z = -1
Given z =x^2 this means that x = +-2 or x = +- sqrt(-1) = +-i

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