by "Greg Neill" <gneillREM@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Oct 24, 2007 at 04:21 PM
"Dougsd1r" <dougsdir@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:1193230117.800631.320390@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> How do I fully solve this equation?
>
> x^3 + x^2 -5x + 3 = 0
>
> According to MS Math there are three solutions x=-3, x=1 and x=1
>
> here is what i have so far:
>
> x^3 + x^2 -5x = -3
>
> (x)(x^2 + x - 5) = -3
>
> now im stuck :( any helpers?
Leave the right hand side (of the original) alone
and factor the left hand side. With a polynomial,
you can sometimes find at least one root by just
looking at the coefficients. Here the coefficient
of the leading term (x^3) is 1 and the constant
coefficient is 3, so try +/- 1*3, that is, +3 and
-3 in the equation.
