Solve the following equation: (x^2-2)/3+((x^2-1)/5)^2=7/9(x^2-2)x223+(x215)2=79(x22)?

2 Answers
May 3, 2016

x=-sqrt11,-sqrt19/3,sqrt19/3,sqrt11x=11,193,193,11

This explanation gives a rather in-depth method of determining the steps to finding possible factors into which to rewrite a quadratic-type equation so that it is solvable without the quadratic equation and/or a calculator.

Explanation:

First square the term on the left hand side of the equation.

(x^2-2)/3+(x^2-1)^2/25=7/9(x^2-2)x223+(x21)225=79(x22)

Expand the squared binomial. Recall that (x^2-1)^2=(x^2-1)(x^2-1)(x21)2=(x21)(x21).

(x^2-2)/3+(x^4-2x^2+1)/25=7/9(x^2-2)x223+x42x2+125=79(x22)

We can clear out the fractions by multiplying the equation by the least common denominator of 3,25,3,25, and 9,9, which is 225225.

Note that 225=3^2*5^2225=3252, so 225/3=752253=75, 225/25=922525=9, and 225/9=252259=25.

Multiplying through by 225225 gives:

75(x^2-2)+9(x^4-2x^2+1)=25(7)(x^2-2)75(x22)+9(x42x2+1)=25(7)(x22)

Distribute each multiplicative constant.

75x^2-150+9x^4-18x^2+9=175x^2-35075x2150+9x418x2+9=175x2350

Move all terms to one side and reorder the equation.

9x^4-118x^2+209=09x4118x2+209=0

This has the potential to be factorable: the lack of x^3x3 and xx terms means that this may be able to be factored in the form (x^2+a)(x^2+b)(x2+a)(x2+b).

To test for factors, note that we should find a pair of integers whose product is the product of the first and final coefficients, which is 9xx209=3^2*11*199×209=321119. The same integers whose product is 3^2*11*19321119 should have a sum of -118118.

Since the product is positive and sum is negative, we know both the integers will be positive.

The trick now is to find some combination of numbers that comes from 3^2*11*19321119 whose sum is 118118. (If we find the positive version, we can switch both numbers to their negative form easily.)

We should attempt to come up with groupings of the factors from 3^2*11*19321119 that don't exceed 118118.

We can preemptively eliminate the possibility of 3^2*193219 and 11*191119 occurring as either one of our two integers, since both of these are greater than 118118. Thus, if we focus on 1919 since it is the largest factor, we know it will only exist as either 1919 or 3*19319.

So, our only two options for the integers are:

{:(bb"Integer 1"," ",bb"Integer 2"," ",bb"Sum"),(19," ",3^2*11=99," ",118),(19*3=57," ",3*11=33," ",90):}

Hence our pair of numbers whose product is 3^2*11*19 and sum is 118 is 19 and 99.

From this we can write the quartic as:

9x^4-118x^2+209=9x^4-99x^2-19x^2+209

Factor by grouping:

9x^2(x^2-11)-19(x^2-11)=(9x^2-19)(x^2-11)=0

Split this into two equations:

9x^2-19=0" "=>" "x^2=19/9" "=>" "x=+-sqrt19/3

x^2-11=0" "=>" "x^2=11" "=>" "x=+-sqrt11

May 3, 2016

Equations with fractions always look worse than they are. As long as you have an equation and not an expression, you can get rid of the denominators by multiplying through by the LCM of denominators.

Explanation:

(x^2 -2)/3 + ((x^2-1)/5)^2 = 7/9(x^2-2)

Let's start by squaring the denominator in the second term.

(x^2 -2)/3 + ((x^2-1)^2)/25 = 7/9(x^2-2)

Now multiply each term by 225 to cancel the denominators.
cancel(225)^75xx((x^2 -2))/cancel3 + cancel(225)^9 ((x^2-1)^2)/cancel25 = cancel(225)^25xx7/cancel9(x^2-2)

75(x^2 -2) + 9(x^2-1)^2= 175(x^2-2)

This is clearly a quadratic, so make it equal to 0.

75(x^2 -2) + 9(x^2-1)^2 - 175(x^2-2) = 0

Notice that the first and third terms are like terms, so we can add them together. Also square the middle term.

9(x^4 - 2x^2 +1) -100(x^2 -2) + = 0

Remove the brackets by the distributive law:

9x^4 - 18x^2 +9 -100x^2 + 200 = 0

Simplify: 9x^4 - 118x^2 + 209 = 0

Exploring the factors of 9 and 209 leads to
9 = 3x3, or 9x1 and 209 = 11 x 19

The combination of factors which adds to 118 is 99+19

Factorising gives (x^2 - 11)(9x^2- 19) = 0

If x^2 - 11 = 0
x^2 = 11
x = +-sqrt11

If 9x^2- 19 = 0
9x^2 = 19
x^2 = 19/9

x = (+-sqrt19)/3