You can only use this method when you are presented with an equation that has an exponent on either side, and each exponent has the same base. For example, 6 5 + y = 6 3 {\displaystyle 6^{5+y}=6^{3}} has an exponent on either side of the equation, and each exponent has the same base (6). Polynomial equations with one variable can be written in P(x) = 0, where P is a polynomial, and ax + b = 0 is the general form of linear equations. Here, a and b are parameters. We can practice geometric or algorithmic methods from linear algebra or mathematical analysis to solve these equations. Also, there are different types of equations Thinking of it graphically, if you are solving a linear equation, such as x-3 = 0, this is equivalent to looking at a line y = x-3 and seeing where it crosses the x axis (where y=0). A line can only cross another line in at most one place, so there can be at most one solution (x=3). A parabola, though, curves, so it can cross the x axis in two Take 4 and subtract 4 divided by 3. Then add 4 divided by 5. Then subtract 4 divided by 7. Continue alternating between adding and subtracting fractions with a numerator of 4 and a denominator of each subsequent odd number. The more times you do this, the closer you will get to pi. For some reason, if you want to take the square root of both sides, and you get x= +/- 2, because -2 squared is still equal to four. But, according to the original equation, x is only equal to 2. Therefore -2 is an extraneous solution, and squaring both sides of the equation creates them. Keep your goal in mind. When you finish solving an equation like the one in the video, your answer needs to look like: X = a number. To accomplish this, you need to isolate X on one side of the equation. This means that anything on the same side as X needs to be moved to the other side. In the video, the 2 is on the same side as X. Then we apply the rules of exponents, along with the one-to-one property, to solve for x: 256 = 4x − 5 28 = (22)x − 5 Rewrite each side as a power with base 2. 28 = 22x − 10 Use the one-to-one property of exponents. 8 = 2x − 10 Apply the one-to-one property of exponents. 18 = 2x Add 10 to both sides. x = 9 Divide by 2. First, understand that when we say polynomials of degree 5 and up are unsolvable, we mean 'not solvable by radicals'. That is, there is no formula involving only addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, integer roots, and integer exponents, into which we can plug the coefficients of a 5th-or-higher-degree polynomial, and which spits out all of the roots every time. To solve an quadratic equation using factoring : 1 . Transform the equation using standard form in which one side is zero. 2 . Factor the non-zero side. 3 . Set each factor to zero (Remember: a product of factors is zero if and only if one or more of the factors is zero). 4 . You will need to get assistance from your school if you are having problems entering the answers into your online assignment. Phone support is available Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-10:00PM ET. You may speak with a member of our customer support team by calling 1-800-876-1799. FORDQN.