Question
what are the solution sets to x^5-2x^3+x=0 and how do you get them?
Answers
jackie
the answers are 1,-1, and 0 but i'm not sure how to explain how i got them.
Reiny
x^5 - 2x^3 + x = 0
x(x^4 - 2x^2 + 1) = 0
x(x^2 - 1)^2 = 0
so x = 0 or x^2 - 1 = 0 --->(x+1)(x-1) = 0
x = 0 or x =1 or x = -1
x(x^4 - 2x^2 + 1) = 0
x(x^2 - 1)^2 = 0
so x = 0 or x^2 - 1 = 0 --->(x+1)(x-1) = 0
x = 0 or x =1 or x = -1