algebra problem

notthereyet0 · Jul 21, 2008

The answer should start out as a positive 3x2 (squared) because when you subtract your whole figure you will automatically subtract. Therefore you start out with the positive and it will be subtracted and wiped out. Does that make sense? Hope you feel better.

dallet6 · Jul 21, 2008

What she said. Just wanted to add that those are exactly the type of problems that I was doing for my telecourse yesterday. :twocents:

AB092504 · Jul 21, 2008

I've been trying for 2 days to figure this out, and I'm stumped.
Anyone have an idea why my answer doesn't match the teacher's on this?
I was really sick w/ the flu during the class and we covered this at 10pm after having been up since 4:30am and so I just can't seem to figure this out. My work is on there and the "real answer" is in red. Any ideas?

3X(squared) Sorry, don't know how to make the exponents! :lol2: would have to be positive, because 3x(squared) times x would be positive 3x(cubed). Remember, you want to come out w/ exactly what's inside the long division sign and then "switch" the signs and subtract..I don't know if that makes sense, not sure how you were taught, but you don't want to get a negative just to cancel out what's already there.

The next step, you're good, where you got -3x(squared)-7x.

So you're good w/ the -3x(squared)-9x, but then you want to change the sign of the 9x to positive and then subtract, so you would end up w/ 2X+8, not the -16x+8. So then you'd have +2 at the top, not -16, multiply that by (x+3) and you'll come up w/ 2X+6, subtracted from 2X+8, gives you a remainder of 2.

I wish I could do the same thing you did w/ showing my work to show you exactly what I mean... I hope this makes sense and helps..Give me a shout if you need any more help!

splinty · Jul 21, 2008

i love it when i can surprise myself....

your first mistake is by starting with a negative number (-3x^3 should be +3x^3)

your second mistake is with the 7x and the 9x (4 and 5 rows up from your last line) since they're both negative numbers your the equation reads: -7x - -9x or -7x+9x which would equal +2x.

let me know if i can explain it better and i'll try

missjennmb · Jul 22, 2008

thank you so much for the help!

I took my test tonight after reading this thread and working through a few problems at school before class started and I got a 100% on my exam :) I really appreciate it! :) The teacher even congratulated me in front of the class (which was very embarassing lol I wanted to crawl into my bookbag when everyone was looking around for "Ms R. who got the 100" :)

AB092504 · Jul 22, 2008

thank you so much for the help!
I took my test tonight after reading this thread and working through a few problems at school before class started and I got a 100% on my exam :) I really appreciate it! :) The teacher even congratulated me in front of the class (which was very embarassing lol I wanted to crawl into my bookbag when everyone was looking around for "Ms R. who got the 100" :)

LOL, that would be embarrassing! Good job though, congratulations on your perfect score! :yeah: