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#1 2006-01-05 19:35:33

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Simplify

x(x-1)(x+1)
do I multiply the brackets by eachother first, or each bracket by x?


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#2 2006-01-05 19:48:00

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Simplify

Multiplication is commutative, that is 6 x 7 = 7 x 6.
When you have three terms to be multiplied, first multiply the first and the second and the result by the third.It wouldn't make a difference if you multiply the second and the third and then multiply the result by the first.
x(x-1)(x+1) = (x²-x)(x+1) = x³ + x² - x² - x = x³ - x.
(x-1)(x+1)(x) = (x² - 1)(x) = x³ - x
As you can see, the results are the same in both the cases.

When you have a(x-y), you'd have to multiply both the terms inside the bracket by a, you get ax - ay.


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#3 2006-01-05 21:53:46

Rose-Red
Member
Registered: 2006-01-05
Posts: 19

Re: Simplify

or you simply can see a formula (a-b)(a+b)=a² - b² ; as a result (x-1)(x+1)=x²-1²
so x(x-1)(x+1)=x(x²-1²)=x³-x smile

Last edited by Rose-Red (2006-01-05 21:54:54)

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#4 2006-01-06 09:36:37

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Re: Simplify

Thankyou, I was drunk sad
Won't happen again.


Aloha Nui means Goodbye.

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#5 2006-01-06 09:59:01

Rose-Red
Member
Registered: 2006-01-05
Posts: 19

Re: Simplify

Maybe someone could simplify this?

grint1km.jpg
again, I need the whole solution, because the answer is at the end of the book wink

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#6 2006-01-06 10:06:12

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Re: Simplify

I'd start with x/x^2, firstly I'd "reciprocal" which basically means you take the value with the power (x^2) and move it to the top, when you do this you MUST change the sign of the power:

x / x^2  = x * x^-2

I'd then do the same with the next part of the sum, giving you b - ax * x^-3.  Now all that is left is

(x * x^-2) + (b - ax * x^-3), since none of the values share similar powers, I think this is as far as you can go.  (Don't take my word for it, I'm new to this too).

Last edited by rickyoswaldiow (2006-01-06 10:06:35)


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#7 2006-01-06 10:23:02

Rose-Red
Member
Registered: 2006-01-05
Posts: 19

Re: Simplify

well the answer is boo8rp.jpg
I also tried to do that but in quite different way. Still I couldnt get the right answer. That's what I got
too3rf.jpg

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#8 2006-01-06 10:41:02

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Re: Simplify

Sounds like a job for Crazy Holmes wink


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#9 2006-01-06 10:53:31

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Simplify

I think the book's answer isn't correct. We can't eliminate a.
I got the same as you.


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#10 2006-01-06 10:54:31

Rose-Red
Member
Registered: 2006-01-05
Posts: 19

Re: Simplify

yeah, maybe you're right. sad

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#11 2006-01-06 10:58:36

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Simplify

I've just read this "crazy holmes" thing.

Ha, ha, ha, that was VERY VERY... VERY
###     ###    ###   ###
#          #    #  #    #  #    #
#   ##  #     # #     #  #    #
#    #   #     # #     #  #    #
###     ###    ###   ###


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#12 2006-01-06 11:01:22

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Simplify

Actually it was BAD, but I'll forgive you if you promise that you will
NEVER
NEVER
NEVER
do this again
much wink smile


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#13 2006-01-06 11:19:11

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Re: Simplify

appologise, grassy homes.


Aloha Nui means Goodbye.

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#14 2006-01-06 16:39:50

Jai Ganesh
Administrator
Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 45,956

Re: Simplify

Very funny. First krassi_holmz becomes crazy holmes, finally, grassy homes. I really hope krassi_holmz doesn't take offence at that. Maybe, rickyoswaldiow is just being funny. But a word of caution to rickyoswaldiow. People don't like their names (or usernames) spelt or pronouned wrongly. smile


It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

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#15 2006-01-06 22:35:27

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Simplify

Yes, wildrocky, yes.


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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#16 2006-01-07 04:31:12

RickyOswaldIOW
Member
Registered: 2005-11-18
Posts: 212

Re: Simplify

No offence intended.  I play online FPS games and my language in that would get me banned in a flash here. You **...


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#17 2006-01-07 04:56:01

mathsyperson
Moderator
Registered: 2005-06-22
Posts: 4,900

Re: Simplify

I'm a bit late here, but I agree with everyone else.

I'd just scale up the left fraction by x to get a common denominator of x³, and then they can easily be added together.


Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

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#18 2006-01-07 05:41:20

krassi_holmz
Real Member
Registered: 2005-12-02
Posts: 1,905

Re: Simplify

Yes, but the "a" cannot be removed.


IPBLE:  Increasing Performance By Lowering Expectations.

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