assignment  r4

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course Mth 158

9/9 5

005. `*   4 

*   R.4.36 (was R.5.30). What is the single polynomial that is equal to 8 ( 4 x^3 - 3 x^2 - 1 ) - 6 ( 4 x^3 + 8 x - 2 )?

 

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Your solution:

first use distributive law on 8 ( 4 x^3 - 3 x^2 - 1 ) - 6 ( 4 x^3 + 8 x - 2 ) until you get

32x^3- 24x^2 - 8 - 24x^3 - 48x + 12

and simplify by adding like terms until you get

8x^3- 24x^2 - 48x+4

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* *  ** ERRONEOUS STUDENT SOLUTION: To make this problem into a single polynomial, you can group like terms together. (8-6)+ (4x^3-4x^3) + (-3x^2) + (8x) + (-1+2).

 

Then solve from what you just grouped...2 (-3x^2+8x+1).

 

INSTRUCTOR CORRECTION:

 

8 is multiplied by the first polynomial and 6 by the second. You need to follow the order of operations.

 

Starting with  

8 ( 4 x^3 - 3 x^2 - 1 ) - 6 ( 4 x^3 + 8 x - 2 ) use the Distributive Law to get

32 x^3 - 24 x^2 - 8 - 24 x^3 - 48 x + 12. Then add like terms to get

8x^3 - 24x^2 - 48x + 4 **

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Self-critique (if necessary): ok

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Self-critique Rating: ok

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Question:

*   R.4.60 (was R.5.54). What is the product (-2x - 3) ( 3 - x)?

 

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Your solution:

distributive law applied, you get -2x(3-x) -3(3-x) which = -6x + 2x^2 - 9 +3x

put like terms together and get 2x^2 -3x -9

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* *  ** Many students like to use FOIL but it's much better to use the Distributive Law, which will later be applied to longer and more complicated expressions where FOIL does not help a bit.

 

Starting with

 

(-2x - 3) ( 3 - x) apply the Distributive Law to get

 

-2x ( 3 - x) - 3 ( 3 - x). Then apply the Distributive Law again to get

 

-2x(3) - 2x(-x) - 3 * 3 - 3 ( -x) and simiplify to get

 

-6x + 2 x^2 - 9 + 3x. Add like terms to get

 

2 x^2 - 3 x - 9. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):ok

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Self-critique Rating: ok

 

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Question:

*   R.4.66 (was R.5.60). What is the product (x - 1) ( x + 1) and how did you obtain your result using a special product formula?

 

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Your solution:

(x - 1) ( x + 1) because you have -1 and +1, you know that when distributing, 2 numbers are going to cancel each other out. So you can cut the process short by saying (x)^2 - 1^2

and get x^2-1

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

Starting with

 

(x-1)(x+1) use the Distributive Law once to get

 

x ( x + 1) - 1 ( x+1) then use the Distributive Law again to get

 

x*x + x * 1 - 1 * x - 1 * 1. Simplify to get

 

x^2 +- x - x + - 1. Add like terms to get

 

x^2 - 1. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): ok

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Self-critique Rating: ok

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Question:

*   R.4.84 (was R.5.78). What is (2x + 3y)^2 and how did you obtain your result using a special product formula?

 

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Your solution:

using a^2 +2*ab+ b^2 = (a+b)^2 you get (2x)^2 +2 (2x*3y) +(3y)^2

simplify to 4x^2 + 12xy + 9y^2

confidence rating #$&*: 3

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Given Solution:

* *  ** The Special Product is

 

(a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2 a b + b^2.

 

Letting a = 2x and b = 3y we substitute into the right-hand side a^2 + 2 a b + b^2 to get

 

(2x)^2 + 2 * (2x) * (3y) + (3y)^2, which we expand to get

 

4 x^2 + 12 x y + 9 y^2. **

 

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Self-critique (if necessary): ok

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Self-critique Rating: ok

 

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Question:

*   R.4.105 \ 90 (was R.5.102). Explain why the degree of the product of two polynomials equals the sum of their degrees.

 

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Your solution:

confidence rating #$&*: 0

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Given Solution:

* *  ** STUDENT ANSWER AND INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS: The degree of the product of two polynomials equals the sum of their degrees because you use the law of exponenents and the ditributive property.

 

INSTRUCOTR COMMENTS: Not bad.

 

A more detailed explanation:

 

The Distributive Law ensures that you will be multiplying the highest-power term in the first polynomial by the highest-power term in the second.

 

Since the degree of each polynomial is the highest power present, and since the product of two powers gives you an exponent equal to the sum of those powers, the highest power in the product will be the sum of the degrees of the two polynomials.

 

Since the highest power present in the product is the degree of the product, the degree of the product is the sum of the degrees of the polynomials. **

 

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I have to admit that my mind went completely blank at this question because I didn't know how to explain why that rule is the way it is. I just always thought of that as one of those things that are just the way they are, period, the end, so remember the rule and apply it where needed.

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Self-critique Rating: ok..

 

*   Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced as a result of this assignment.

I wasn't prepared for that last question, but have been trying to find an answer for it that doesn't just go over my head. "

Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

 

*   Add comments on any surprises or insights you experienced as a result of this assignment.

I wasn't prepared for that last question, but have been trying to find an answer for it that doesn't just go over my head. "

Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique rating:

#*&!

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