Can anyone explain to me how to solve rational equations and inequalities? I'm taking a summer algebra class, and I'm at a loss, partly because my teacher isn't very helpful. For example.... (2x-1/4x)=(4/6)
Campidoctor
I hate Algebra II
Can anyone explain to me how to solve rational equations and inequalities? I'm taking a summer algebra class, and I'm at a loss, partly because my teacher isn't very helpful. For example.... (2x-1/4x)=(4/6)
"I used to eat people, but now I'm full."
I am not a clever man
Re: I hate Algebra II
1. Answer chuck norris
2. ???
3. Profit
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Campidoctor
Re: I hate Algebra II
This !Originally Posted by Akar
Truth be told at algebra well i'm on third grade level lol I don't really feel in my element when i'm confined and my ideas and answers already determined.
Time for the moral of day kids become adept at making excuses you'll need it in life.
.........
Foederatus
Re: I hate Algebra II
the key to algebra is understanding how an expression can be written in multiple ways at the same time. Yours for example:
(2x-1/4x)=(4/6) is also:
(2-0.25)x = (4/6)
((8/4)-(1/4)) = (2/3)
(7/4)x = (2/3)
7x/4 = 2/3
7x = 8/3
You can take it from here I hope?
The key is seeing that all of these SAY THE SAME THING, just in different ways
Last edited by WuTaNiSt; July 19, 2010 at 10:12 PM.
I'm not really a noob, just a serial lurker.....
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Dux Limitis
Re: I hate Algebra II
Wait what? That equation is like foreign language to me. Well i am bad at math and never really got past a C+ in my math classes. Migth explain why i can't seem to do algebraic math problems.
Praeses
Re: I hate Algebra II
math sucks, always
Dux Limitis
Re: I hate Algebra II
You understand that 1/4 is the same as 0.25?
That 8/4 is the same as 2?
Campidoctor
Re: I hate Algebra II
You havent gotten to the fun stuff yet even. Try matrices, I'll be in AP Calc BC this coming year and I still dont understand them.
Formerly Vuvuzela
Campidoctor
Re: I hate Algebra II
I've done matrices, they weren't too bad other than the row echelon stuff. But I'm having a lot of trouble with logarithms and solving rational equations.
"I used to eat people, but now I'm full."
Comes Rei Militaris
Re: I hate Algebra II
Damn and calculus doesn't even really delve into the theory of matrices. You'll have a blast with the linear algebra course.
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Re: I hate Algebra II
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Re: I hate Algebra II
Algebra II was a pile of. But Geometry was even 10x more retarded, in my opinion. I still remember the dreaded Proofs....
*shudders*
Vicarius
Re: I hate Algebra II
Maths is the greatest
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Analysis should not be diverted by reflections upon the zeal with which the victors at the end of the Second World War punished the defeated for war crimes. The victors were animated by the ideals of the Atlantic Charter and of the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was about to peep over the eastern horizon. But first, they wanted a little hanging.
Praeses
Re: I hate Algebra II
maybe if your very very drunk
Vicarius
Re: I hate Algebra II
Or maybe some people like Maths. Shock horror!
Minister for Home Affairs of the Commonwealth v Zentai [2012] HCA 28 per Heydon J at [75]
Analysis should not be diverted by reflections upon the zeal with which the victors at the end of the Second World War punished the defeated for war crimes. The victors were animated by the ideals of the Atlantic Charter and of the United Nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was about to peep over the eastern horizon. But first, they wanted a little hanging.
Comes Rei Militaris
Re: I hate Algebra II
Alg II was Elementary compared to Calc.
Follow Boof's advice - Reduce, reduce, reduce.
Semisalis
Re: I hate Algebra II
Oh boy... Just you guys wait until you get to complex number calculus. You'll love it.
Senator
Re: I hate Algebra II
I dropped out of Calculus; it sucked so bad.
Ecce Homo
Re: I hate Algebra II
You Americans really are behind the ball in Math for high school students. But thats besides the point. If you are having trouble solving the example you should probably just give up on anything math related now. As what you are struggling with is pretty much the basis of all math except for the most elementary stuff.
(2x-1/4x)=(4/6)
As with solving all equations there are simple steps to follow.
1) Collect like terms
2) Simplify
3) Solve
The equation you have has already collected like terms. So we can move unto simplifying. To simplify first you should add/subtract all the like terms. In this case you have:
2x-(1/4)x (in REALLY simple terms you have two x's minus a quarter x's. Or 2 apples minus a quarter of an apple)
To perform addition and subtraction with fractions (elementary school level math) find the common denominator. In this case 4.
2 can be written as 2/1 (simple fraction stuff) and to make the denominator 4, multiply top and bottom by 4. therefore 8/4. Doing a quick check 8 divided by 4 = 2.
So 8/4 - 1/4 = 7/4.
Therefore the simplified term is:
(7/4)x = 4/6
Time to solve.
To solve the equation remember that what ever you do to one side of the equation you must do to the other side. We would like to solve for x which means we need to get rid of that 7/4 in front of it. So lets multiply both sides of the equation by 4 first.
4 * (7/4)x = 4 * (4/6)
By multiplying by 4 the 4's on the left hand side of the equation cancel out (4/4 = 1). Because you have performed the math on both sides of the equation you haven't altered the equation in any way. I.E. The right side has been modified as well as the left side.
now we have:
7x = 16/6
Now we need to get rid of that 7. So multiply both sides by 1/7.
7x/7 = 16/6*7
7/7 = 1 and 6*7= 42.
Alternatively you could have combined both steps and multiplied both sides of the equation by 4/7.
Therefore x = 16/42. Obviously this isn't simplified enough yet. Find the highest common factor of 16 and 42. That happens to be 2 in this case. So reduce the fraction of 16/21 by dividing numerator and denominator by 2. The final answer is therefore:
X = 8/21 = 0.3809
Or, you can just go to WolframAlpha:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i...+.25x)+%3D+4/6
Senator
Re: I hate Algebra II
Wait is this (2x-1)/4x = 4/6, 2x -(1/4x) = 4/6 or 2x -(x/4) = 4/6 because all have different answers. The previous posts seems to have answered the last one.
Logarithms are generally quite straightforward (just the opposite of raising to a power) and inequalities are almost the same as rational equations but without the equals sign (plus a few other straightforward rules to remember), so feel free to post any queries about them.
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