1. ## Simplify the Trinomial

How can I simplfy the trinomial 3x^3 + 5y^3 + 14?

Is this the sum of cubes?

If so, how is it done?

Further instructions say to write CANNOT BE SIMPLIFIED if that is the case.

I say this cannot be simplified more than it is.

Am I correct?

2. ## Re: Simplify the Trinomial

Hey nycmath.

You have to specify what kind of simplification, but usually simplification refers to collecting like terms and then factorizing the expression.

If we assume the above, then you are correct in saying that no further simplification exists.

Just for your information, factorization means turning an expression into things like (x-a)(x-b) and so on. If we don't want to factorize but still simplify then we collect like terms like say 2y + y + 3 = 3y + 3 = 3(y+1).

3. ## Re: Simplify the Trinomial

Yes that is why this trinomial cannot be simplified.
I believe the answer is SIMPLIFIED.

4. ## Re: Simplify the Trinomial

Originally Posted by nycmath
How can I simplfy the trinomial 3x^3 + 5y^3 + 14?

Is this the sum of cubes?

If so, how is it done?

Further instructions say to write CANNOT BE SIMPLIFIED if that is the case.

I say this cannot be simplified more than it is.

Am I correct?
Simplifying a question like this is quite ambiguous statement. Perhaps you need to understand it in the context of what was discussed in the chapter. It could be that the book wanted to simplify the trinomial by rewriting it in the form y = f(x). For that you should set the trinomial to 0, then place the x term and the constant on one side side of the equal sign and get the value of y from there.

5. ## Re: Simplify the Trinomial

Believe it or not, this question is from a 9th grade algebra textbook I was looking through at the library.
I doubt that a ninth grader is expected to solve for y which, for this expression, means to take the cube root of both sides of the equation.

6. ## Re: Simplify the Trinomial

Originally Posted by nycmath
Believe it or not, this question is from a 9th grade algebra textbook I was looking through at the library.
I doubt that a ninth grader is expected to solve for y which, for this expression, means to take the cube root of both sides of the equation.