1. ## I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Hi!
Could someone please solve this equation for me and try to explain how you did that. 4*(x-1)^2+1/3=7/9

I do know the answer for this equation. But I don't know how to think when solving it and how to get the answer.

2. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Originally Posted by jimutt
Hi!
Could someone please solve this equation for me and try to explain how you did that. 4*(x-1)^2+1/3=7/9

I do know the answer for this equation. But I don't know how to think when solving it and how to get the answer.
$4(x-1)^2 + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{7}{9}$

multiply every term by 9 to clear the fractions ...

$36(x-1)^2 + 3 = 7$

subtract 3 from both sides ...

$36(x-1)^2 = 4$

divide both sides by 36 and reduce ...

$(x-1)^2 = \frac{1}{9}$

"un"square both sides ...

$x-1 = \pm \frac{1}{3}$

add 1 to both sides ...

$x = 1 \pm \frac{1}{3}$

so, the two solutions are $x = \frac{4}{3}$ and $x = \frac{2}{3}$

3. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

This is a second grade problem? Seven year olds are expected to be able to do this?

4. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Thank you very much skeeter!
Never realised that it was so easy.

HallsofIvy: Well, not really :P I just translated the name we use for this kind of equations here in Sweden directly to english. So It maybe isn't very correct

5. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
This is a second grade problem? Seven year olds are expected to be able to do this?
check this out ...

http://http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/07/ff_khan/all/1

... won't be long until we're all out of a job.

6. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Okey, here you've got one more equation to help me out with. I have to say that this book really sucks at explaining (and so does my math teacher also, sadly enough).

2x^2+4x+40=3x^2-2x

And by the way. It would be extreamly nice if you could help me out two factorizing problems also:

1. 2x+2a2b(x+a)

2. a^(x+2)-a^(2x)

7. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Put all the terms to one side, so you get:
$2x^2+4x+40-3x^2+2x=0$
$\Leftrightarrow -x^2+6x+40=0$
Use the quadratic formula to continue.

Ex 2:
Determine which factor the terms have in common, for example:
2. $a^{x+2}-a^{2x}=a^{x}\cdot a^{2} - (a^{x})^2=...$

8. ## Re: I need help with a 2nd grade equations

Originally Posted by jimutt
Okey, here you've got one more equation to help me out with. I have to say that this book really sucks at explaining (and so does my math teacher also, sadly enough).

2x^2+4x+40=3x^2-2x

And by the way. It would be extreamly nice if you could help me out two factorizing problems also:

1. 2x+2a2b(x+a)

2. a^(x+2)-a^(2x)
start new problems with a new post, please ... no more than 3 in any one post.