How do you solve
1/2x^2 - x + 4 ?
2 answers
There is no equal sign, nothing to solve.
if it's 1/(2x^2) - x + 4 = 0
Multiply across by 2x^2 to get
1 - 2x^3 + 8x^2 = 0
2x^3 - 8x^2 - 1 = 0
Which is a nasty enough cubic with only 1 root.
If the question is (1/2)x^2 - x + 4 = 0
use the -b formula which gives 2 complex roots: 1 + sqrt(7)i and 1 - sqrt(7)i.
Hope that helps
Multiply across by 2x^2 to get
1 - 2x^3 + 8x^2 = 0
2x^3 - 8x^2 - 1 = 0
Which is a nasty enough cubic with only 1 root.
If the question is (1/2)x^2 - x + 4 = 0
use the -b formula which gives 2 complex roots: 1 + sqrt(7)i and 1 - sqrt(7)i.
Hope that helps