Solving Polynomials

Solving Polynomials by Factoring:

Step 1:	Write the equation in the correct form. To be in the correct form, you must remove all parentheses from each side of the equation by distributing, combine all like terms, and finally set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2:	Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3:	Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4:	Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.

Example 1 – Solve: 3x³ = 12x

Step 1: Write the equation in the correct form. In this case, we need to set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2: Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3: Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4: Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.

Example 2 – Solve: x³ + 5x² = 9x + 45

Step 1: Write the equation in the correct form. In this case, we need to set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2: Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3: Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4: Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.

Example 3 – Solve: 6x³ – 16x = 4x²

Step 1: Write the equation in the correct form. In this case, we need to set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2: Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3: Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4: Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.

Example 4 – Solve: 3x²(3x + 4) = 12x(x + 3)

Step 1: Write the equation in the correct form. In this case, we need to remove all parentheses by distributing and set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2: Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3: Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4: Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.

Example 5 – Solve: 16x⁴ = 49x²

Step 1: Write the equation in the correct form. In this case, we need to set the equation equal to zero with the terms written in descending order.
Step 2: Use a factoring strategies to factor the problem.
Step 3: Use the Zero Product Property and set each factor containing a variable equal to zero.
Step 4: Solve each factor that was set equal to zero by getting the x on one side and the answer on the other side.