how do you solve a^4-70.25a^2+5a+240=0?

matt000r000

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how do you solve a^4-70.25a^2+5a+240=0? i know it has four solotions because i graphed it using my calculator, but i haven't the slightest idea where to start... i am very familiar with the quadratic formula, so i tried the same approach, but got nowhere. can someone please set me in the right direction? i still want to solve it myself to learn how, but i haven't the slightest idea where to start.
 
Unfortunately, it appears that the roots are irrational, so the usual methods won't work, e.g. Rational Roots Theorem. The best you can do is approximate them, unless you known some numerical methods.
 
sooo.... it has 4 soloutions, but... it isn't possible to find them?...... BRAIN OVERLOAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
matt000r000 said:
a^4-70.25a^2+5a+240=0

So equation is: a^4 - (70.25)a^2 + 5a + 240 = 0 ?
That's a^4 - 281a^2 / 4 + 5a + 240 = 0
or 4a^4 - 281a^2 + 20a + 960 = 0

You sure you posted that correctly?
 
yes, im sure i posted that corectly. and i checked your math, and it too is correct. i simply don't mind having decimals in the equasion.
 
matt000r000 said:
sooo.... it has 4 soloutions, but... it isn't possible to find them?...... BRAIN OVERLOAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is possible to approximate those - by numerical methods like "Newton-Raphson algorithm".
 
matt000r000 said:
... i haven't the slightest idea where to start ...

... i am very familiar with the quadratic formula, so i tried the same approach ...

... but i haven't the slightest idea where to start.


You previously posted at this site that you understand differential equations.

You also previously posted statements regarding your advanced mathematical knowledge.

Yet, in this post, you've demonstrated a clear lack of basic understanding.

You're not fooling me.



 
give me a break! im only in algebra 1! i have entirely skipped alg2! im skipping to calculus(self-taught). i honestly don't know how to do high-powered equasions. i only recently truely understood the quadratic formula. and i learned the delta method just 2 days ago. alg2 simply has not yet perked my intrest.

and, this is basic? i havn't needed to know this until i decided to find the side of a pentagon given the height. but you are right on one thing: i should learn a little alg2 before getting into calculus(i havn't had a problem yet). ill look into it thouroghly.
 
matt000r000 said:
give me a break! im only in algebra 1! i honestly don't know how to do high-powered equasions. i only recently truely understood the quadratic formula. and i learned the delta method just 2 days ago. alg2 simply has not yet perked my intrest.

and, this is basic? i havn't needed to know this until i decided to find the side of a pentagon given the height. but you are right on one thing: i should learn a little alg2 before getting into calculus(i havn't had a problem yet). ill look into it thouroghly.

Ok...I guess that tells us where you ARE...Algebra I.

And, you REALLY need to learn the topics in Algebra II before you proceed to pre-calc. You say you've "entirely skipped Algebra II." which makes NO sense to me. The reason these subjects are called Algebra I and Algebra II are that they are intended to be studied sequentially (Algebra II AFTER Algebra I)...the topics studied in the first of these classes are required for the topics in the second.

Oh...and before you get into calculus, you really need to learn geometry and the basics of trigonometry. There are NO shortcuts. If you haven't achieved a sound foundation in the basics, you'll have endless trouble trying to conquer the advanced areas of math.
 
A formula does exist for calculating the roots of quartic equations, if you wanted an exact, algebraic equation. It should be on Wikipedia and MathWorld.

If you wanted a numerical result, commercial software (i.e. - MathCAD, MATLAB, etc.), and most scientific calculators offer this functionality. If your calculator is powerful enough to draw graphs, it should also have a root-finding function. Alternately, there are several online solvers, for example, Quartic Equation Solver

I quickly ran your equation through a solver. Fortunately, all the results are real, not complex.
 
I do not know English well, but the shape will help you fill in any gaps.

Let's put

\(\displaystyle c = -70.25, d = 5, e = 240\)

\(\displaystyle f(x) = x ^ 4 + cx ^ 2 + dx + e = 0\)

There are known criteria that ensure that \(\displaystyle f\) has two positive and two negative roots (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartic_function - "Nature of the roots"). The interest in this case is that the equation accepts a simple geometric interpretation from which the below method of resolution arises. This means that we will first find the values ​​of the basic parameters of this model, and then we will get the analytical solutions using geometric terms. See the image (the center of the red cross is near the beginning of the axes and not exactly there, ie the shape is right).

One corollary of this interpretation is that the roots of \(\displaystyle f\) will lie within the limits

\(\displaystyle -R \leq x \leq R\)

where

\(\displaystyle R = \sqrt {\frac {d ^ 2} {4e} - c} \approx 8.38308\)

As a resolvent of \(\displaystyle f\) we will use the equation

\(\displaystyle g(z) = z ^ 3 - cz ^ 2 - 4ez + 4ec - d ^ 2 = 0\)

with solutions

\(\displaystyle z_1 \approx -70.24371, z_2 \approx -30.99414, z_3 \approx 30.98785\)

We will then calculate the angles

\(\displaystyle \omega_n = \cos ^ {-1} \sqrt {\frac {1} {2} + \sqrt {\frac {1} {4} - \frac {e} {z_n ^ 2}}}\)

for \(\displaystyle n = 1, 2, 3\).

so we will receive

\(\displaystyle \omega_1 \approx 13.08676 ^ \circ, \omega_2 \approx 44.26230 ^ \circ, \omega_3 \approx 44.54057 ^ \circ\)

For the purpose of designing the model of \(\displaystyle f\), note that it must be \(\displaystyle \omega_n \leq 45 ^ \circ\). If the angle forming a colored system with the \(\displaystyle y-\)axis is equal with \(\displaystyle \omega\), then the \(\displaystyle 90 ^ \circ - \omega\) angle will also be formed. The above relationships calculate the value of the smallest of these angles.

Now the solutions of \(\displaystyle f\) are given by the relations:

\(\displaystyle x_1 = +R \sin (- \omega_1 - \omega_2 - \omega_3) \approx -8.20323\)
\(\displaystyle x_2 = -R \sin (+ \omega_1 - \omega_2 - \omega_3) \approx 8.12392\)
\(\displaystyle x_3 = -R \sin (- \omega_1 + \omega_2 - \omega_3) \approx 1.93778\)
\(\displaystyle x_4 = +R \sin (- \omega_1 - \omega_2 + \omega_3) \approx -1.85847\)

If \(\displaystyle d\) was negative then the roots of \(\displaystyle f\) had to be reversed as the resolvent \(\displaystyle g = 0\) does not know the sign of \(\displaystyle d\).

To design the model of \(\displaystyle f\), we still need the values ​​of the following parameters:

\(\displaystyle a_n = \sqrt {z_n + R ^ 2}\)

for \(\displaystyle n = 1, 2, 3\).

So we will receive

\(\displaystyle a_1 \approx 0.17981, a_2 \approx 6.26753, a_3 \approx 10.06300\)

You can make your own examples and see how the model responds. It always works.

model qq-1-1.jpg
 
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