This week in polynomials we covered many different methods for ways to solve different polynomial questions. I had one question I was meaning to ask, it was “what method do we use in certain situations, and know do we know when to use each different one”. Before asking I was determined to try my best to figure it out myself. I took a bit of extra time to look at these different methods and investigate my question. After a bit of extra work I answered my own question, making a few notes of what to look for when trying to figure out what method to use. I made a video explaining only a few of the methods I looked into. I tried to explain my way of knowing how you know when to use each different method.
Different solving methods:
- the pattern
- GCF (greatest common factor)
- conjugates (zero pairs or difference of squares)
The pattern:
- has to factor to a simple binomial
- no leading coefficient (GCF first to reduce and simplify)
- has to have x² in front (no exponent higher than 2) if so reduce with GCF first
- the last term has to have a factor that adds up to the middle term
GCF (greatest common factor)
- all numbers have to have something in common
- all numbers have to be divisible by the same # or variable
- used to simplify the polynomial so you can do the pattern after
Conjugates:
- no middle term
- a factor of the negative last term has to equal 0
- can use the pattern if you recognize that the middle term has t0 add to 0
Leave a comment