Quadratic formula

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Can someone dummy it down.... and I mean alot. I still cant get factoring most the time but the quad forms are really going to have me in trouble if i cant figure it out soonish. Since i have issues with factoring its really hard to grasp this. Id appreciate any help or ideas for a different approach, Ive gone through tutoring and ughhhh ....

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[SARLDO 0]

lol... wow, it's been a while. Try looking here for some help, i doubt i could explain it withought confusing you even more.

http://www.1728.com/quadratc.htm

Good luck.

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest" ~Samuel Clemens

MB#4300
Dudeist Skydiver #68

[ladyskydiver 0]

Clicky

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Therein lies the problem.... I cant bring that clicky with me to the test lol. The issue is something I cant pinpoint and Ive had several different tutors I think it may be with completing the squares and maybe the fact I hate that there are two solutions. Im just not comprehending the way to work it out and WHY it works out that way. I can factor enough just to pass that section but thats still an iffy. Jump ticket to whoever can make my little brain comprehend why this shit exist and how i can slide in to at least a passing.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[sundevil777 102]

Two answers exist because a negative number squared is the same as if it were positive.

Following the steps of the "Deriving the Quadratic Formula" link toward the bottom of the page on the link should help. Is there a certain part of the derivation that gives you trouble. You mentioned the 'completing the square', that is intentionally manipulating the expression so that you can easily take the square root. All of it depends on the expression fitting a certain form Ax^2 + Bx + C = 0.

I like the way that the derivation shown uses an example with numbers for the Constants A,B,C, and then does it with the constants left in.

I hope that helps.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[adventurechick 0]

Are you having trouble applying the quadratic formula? If you give me a call sometime tomorrow I can walk ya through it! I'm a bit of a math dork!

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
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[lisamariewillbe 1]

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Two answers exist because a negative number squared is the same as if it were positive.

This will sound bad , but why? There should only be one answer, one solution, if like in your example its a neg squared, then the only answer should be positive , however thats not the case, right?. Im always getting my signs mixed up. The "rules" dont make sense to me I guess. I think Im just putting things in the wrong place. I tried to scan an example of how I work it out but well Im as good at computer things as I am algebra.

When I show my work, the step that usually is messed up is right after ive added the squared to both sides, sometimes ill end up with the right answer but the work shown is not the way I was supposed to do it. Theres also the fact that I just dont understand this stuff unless I can put it into real world need.

Its extremely fustrating right now, if I got a better hold of factoring would that help me with the quad? Some of them seem like all I have to do is factor but then the steps arent right because I didnt use the formula

Im highly confused, even more so after trying to explain where I suck at it

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[lisamariewillbe 1]

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If you give me a call sometime tomorrow I can walk ya through it! I'm a bit of a math dork!

Will do, about what time?

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[mpohl 1]

Where I am from (European Union), ppl are expected to have mastered quadratic equations by the time they are allowed to drink in public: which is at age 14.

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If you give me a call sometime tomorrow I can walk ya through it! I'm a bit of a math dork!

Will do, about what time?

[jakee 1,500]

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There should only be one answer, one solution, if like in your example its a neg squared, then the only answer should be positive

What?

If X is negative, X^2 is positive but X is still negative.

Basically, a quadratic equation describes a curved line on a graph, there are two possible values of X when the line on the graph crosses the X-axis at two points.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[lisamariewillbe 1]

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Where I am from (European Union), ppl are expected to have mastered quadratic equations by the time they are allowed to drink in public: which is at age 14

Is that the standard now? Or was that the standard in the early 90s when I was 14? Either way I dropped out very early and just got my GED, never had algebra class. Im now around 30. since you mastered it at such a young age maybe you could offer some advice on why I am getting stuck besides the fact Im not smart, then maybe I can pass because at this point I on a practice test am only making about a 63ish

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[lisamariewillbe 1]

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What?

If X is negative, X^2 is positive but X is still negative.

Basically, a quadratic equation describes a curved line on a graph, there are two possible values of X when the line on the graph crosses the X-axis at two points.

Ive recieved similar pm's to this. Got a date with THE Vinny later and if he cant help then Gail tomorrow. See theres just to many rules and ways to do things that I get them all jumbled and I do problems wrong because I can figure out which formula for which and why.

Thanks all for your help... BTW I hate math

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[mpohl 1]

That's the standard now that I just pulled off the on-line German curriculum. But still sounds about right relative to my experience in the late 70ies!

In the late 70ies there wasn't an Internet or dropzone.com to fake stupid. There were just books to learn from. Of course, these things (and enthusiasm for it) tend to come easier at 14 than at 30.

Hence, make your kids learn early; that's their job!

/M

P.S.: Did you know that i^2 = -1?

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Where I am from (European Union), ppl are expected to have mastered quadratic equations by the time they are allowed to drink in public: which is at age 14

Is that the standard now? Or was that the standard in the early 90s when I was 14? Either way I dropped out very early and just got my GED, never had algebra class. Im now around 30. since you mastered it at such a young age maybe you could offer some advice on why I am getting stuck besides the fact Im not smart, then maybe I can pass because at this point I on a practice test am only making about a 63ish

[jcd11235 0]

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Therein lies the problem.... I cant bring that clicky with me to the test lol.

What can you take with you to the test? There are several calculators on the market that will solve quadratic equations quite easily (Texas Instruments TI-89 or Hewlett Packard HP-49g+ are two such models). Still others can be programmed to do so with relative ease. Perhaps one or more such models is allowed in your class? They may be, since often professors are quite unaware of the capabilities of calculators.

It might be easier to teach keystrokes from a distance.

Having said that,

If the discriminant (b²-4ac) is equal to zero, you will have only one answer. If it is greater than zero, you will have two answers. If it is less than zero, the quadratic equation cannot be factored (without using imaginary numbers, which tends to be beyond the scope of College Algebra).

Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

[lisamariewillbe 1]

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make your kids learn early

Yes my 2nd grader is already learning the beginnings of algebra. Im not good at learning from a book, never was able to read something then put it into use when it comes to math hence why this isnt the first time Ive been in this class, or the second... etc. I just do not have a mathmatical mind.

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Did you know that i^2 = -1?

Right now I barely know what 2+2 is with the headache this has given me today. Oh well, Ill get through the test, gonna see if THE Vinny is ample drunk, as he will need it to get me to grasp it...

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[mpohl 1]

There are worlds of beauty, awe, and clarity of mind out there, that most people will never be able to visit.

But in order to communicate w/ the natives, you need to move past "2+2"; see you on the other side.

/M

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make your kids learn early

Yes my 2nd grader is already learning the beginnings of algebra. Im not good at learning from a book, never was able to read something then put it into use when it comes to math hence why this isnt the first time Ive been in this class, or the second... etc. I just do not have a mathmatical mind.

Quote

Did you know that i^2 = -1?

Right now I barely know what 2+2 is with the headache this has given me today. Oh well, Ill get through the test, gonna see if THE Vinny is ample drunk, as he will need it to get me to grasp it...

[jakee 1,500]

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P.S.: Did you know that i^2 = -1?

Only in your imagination


(Groan)

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[ladyskydiver 0]

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Got a date with THE Vinny later

Trust me...THE Vinny can help with math.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[kallend 2,027]

Enough with quadratics!

Let's move on to integration by parts

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[ladyskydiver 0]

As long as we're not talking about partial fraction decomposition, it's all good.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[Squeak 17]

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As long as we're not talking about partial fraction decomposition, it's all good.

Back on topic, can anyone remmebr a rhyme for Quadratic...it statrts out "OUT SIDE INSIDE .....somthing somtinhg...I cant rememebr the rest,?

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[stitch 0]

The answer is 42.

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[Michele 1]

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There are worlds of beauty, awe, and clarity of mind out there, that most people will never be able to visit.

But in order to communicate w/ the natives, you need to move past "2+2"; see you on the other side.

There are worlds of beauty awe and clarity of mind everywhere, even in places where it doesn't really matter if you understand quadratic equations.

Now, not to send out a personal attack, but you seem to be missing Lisamarie's point; she has difficulty in math. You're not helping her, and you're instead hurting her. I don't know if you mean to, but I think, if you do, you should take a long look in the mirror and reconsider your communication style.

And frankly, I don't understand quadratic equations and can still admire the world in it's awe and breathtaking beauty... g'head, tell me that a 14 year old is smarter than me...and then let them work an intervention with a suicidal lady, or a girl with a razor to their wrist in algebra class. See if they can handle it, and come away with an understanding of the beauty and awe and wonder that is here right before everyone's eyes.

There are worlds and worlds other than quadratic equations. People understand different things. And people can appreciate the gloriousness of this amazing planet when they are 3...and have no idea that quadratic equations exist.

LM, I can't help you. I can tell you that I am in a similar boat, and am working harder in my math class than in any class I've ever taken in my life. It's hard for me...but it's got to get done. So you and I will buck up and get it done, and know that whatever grade we get has been hard won, and came with more sweat and effort than some of our As. And we'll both be proud that we undertook a challenge and came through it.

And once we're at our goal, we never have to look at another damned math book in our lives!!!!! (That's what keeps me focussed...that if I don't get it now, I will have to do all this over again. And I really, really don't want to do this again...).

Good luck, know that this is conquerable, and that you can win out over it. And you're not stupid; there are some minds (here and in Europe) who do not get mathmatics easily. But then again, there are minds who don't understand the things you are good at, and the things I am good at...and that's the balance of the universe.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[waltappel 1]

The quadratic equation is not intuitive, but is definitely doable. Why are you interested in it?

Walt

[lisamariewillbe 1]

That was a awesome post. Couldnt say it near as well but thanks. Spent time with Vinny, its easy if I can memorize the two formulas and just stop questioning why I need to memorize two formulas, now I just need to memorize them, and Im practicing some things he taught me in regards to other algebra, Im now getting between a 68 and 71 ish on the practice tests. If I can just get the 71 when it matters.

One thing Vinny stressed to me was baby steps. Alot of my problem is going to fast and Im doubling steps and so when moving to the next part of a problem Im just writing it down wrong. Im still doing it a bit with the simplified factoring but not as much. It was nice to get a little advice. When you hit a stumbling block, he well helped a bit. Im gonna keep working on it, gonna try to pull a 75 out my ass or something.

I dont care if I should already know this math or that a 14 year old can factor circles around me. I work really hard at math and I may never get an A but I sure in hell will pass it.

Thank you Michelle. And thank you Vinny, and to the others who offered their numbers to me to call, I am adding them to my list of when i get stuck again.

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this