Need help! X^3 question

ryan_kidz

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2005
Messages
89
If x^2= x+3, then x^3=

sounds simple, but i can't solve it ^-^

thnx for ur help.
 
If x<sup>2</sup> = x + 3, then:

. . . . .x<sup>2</sup> - x - 3 = 0

. . . . .x = [1 ± sqrt(13)] / 2

. . . . .x<sup>3</sup> = [1 ± sqrt(13)]<sup>3</sup> / 8

. . . . .x<sup>3</sup> = [1 ± 3sqrt(13) + 39 ± 13sqrt(13)] / 8

. . . . .x<sup>3</sup> = [40 + 16sqrt(13)] / 8 or [40 - 16sqrt(13)] / 8

. . . . .x<sup>3</sup> = 5 ± sqrt(13)

I'm fairly certain this is not what they're looking for -- they're expecting a nicer answer using cleverness, such as is suggested by Unco's hint -- but I'm not coming up with anything better than the above. Sorry.

Eliz.
 
thnx for ur helps stapel and the others, i really appreciate it.

i know that is kinda tricky question. but i still can't figure it out.
do u guys want to help me again about this problem?

The key answer is 4x+3
 
Hello, ryan_kidz!

I looked for a clever way to answer this one, but failed . . .
. . I had to resort to Brute Force.

If \(\displaystyle x^2\,=\,x\,+\,3\), then \(\displaystyle x^3\,=\.?\)
We have the quadratic: .\(\displaystyle x^2\,-\,x\,-\,3 \:= \:0\)

Using the Quadratic Formula: .\(\displaystyle \displaystyle{x \:= \;\frac{1\, \pm\, \sqrt{13}}{2}}\)

Then: . \(\displaystyle x \:= \:\left(\frac{1\,\pm\,\sqrt{13}}{2}\right)^3 \;= \;\frac{1\,\pm\,3\sqrt{13}\,+\,39\,\pm\,13\sqrt{13}}{8} \;= \;\frac{40\,\pm\,16\sqrt{13}}{8} \;= \;5\,\pm\,2\sqrt{13}\)

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Blast! . . . I just saw the follow-up postings.
. . What a stupid problem!
. . There are dozens of correct answers . . .

I had that answer, too, but I thought it was too silly.


We have: .\(\displaystyle x^2 \:= \:x\,+\,3\)

Multiply by \(\displaystyle x:\;\;x^3 \:= \:x^2\,+\,3x\)

Since \(\displaystyle x^2 \:= \:x\,+\,3\), we have:

. . . \(\displaystyle x^3 \:= \:(x\,+\,3)\,+\,3x \:= \:4x\,+\,3\)

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Here are some <u>other</u> correct answers . . .

Since \(\displaystyle x^2 \:= \:x\,+\,3\), raise both sides to the power \(\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}:\)
. . . \(\displaystyle x^3 \:= \:(x + 3)^{\frac{3}{2}}\)


Since \(\displaystyle x \:= \:x^2\,-\,3\), cube both sides: .\(\displaystyle x^3 \:= \:(x^2\,-\,3)^3\)


We have: .\(\displaystyle x^2 \:= \:x\,+\,3\). .Divide both sides by \(\displaystyle x:\;\;x \:= \:\frac{x\,+\,3}{x}\)
. . Now cube both sides: .\(\displaystyle x^3 \:= \:\left(\frac{x\,+\,3}{x}\right)^3\)
 
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