Can somebody please help clarify something in Algebra for me
I'm in a higher math course now, but I struggled with this in algebra and forgot it, so I'm in trouble if I don't clarify this.
1. 6(3^x) = 6
I say divide each side by 6, but doesn't the (3^x) on the left make it an unlike term?
And after dividing by 6, would it be (3^x) = 1 OR (3^x)/6 = 1
2. 5(4xy)
is it 20xy or 20(4x)(4y)
if it's 20xy, then why in (xy)^2, why is the solution x^2(y^2) ?
3. (x + 5)^2
(x * 5)^2
I would assume the answer to be x^2 * 25 in both?
Thank you! I'm probably overthinking it, but I just want to be clear for now on.
January 28, 2013
6 Comments • Newest first
I believe I am a little clearer on these. Thanks everyone!
Your avatar is kawaii.
3 is wrong, ur missing +10x
so it should be
x^2 + 10x + 25.
(x*5)^2 = (5x)^2 = 5x*5x = 25x^2
@above, yea my bad on #2.
1. (3^x)=1
2. It should be 20xy, since it appears you are just multiplying it (um, distribution applies to addition/subtraction only?). (xy)^2 equals x^2(y^2) because it is simply x*y*x*y or x*x*y*y.
3. There is FOIL and there is simple multiplication. There should be a difference.
@poetry: I got that answer, thank you.
@doute: ah, i can't believe I forgot distribution. Thank you. So for 3., are those two equations I wrote the same?
@whitefire: Thanks, you cleared that thing up for me.
for 1, you gotta use log/inverse rules to isolate the x i think.
2. its the rule of distribution so its the 24 *4x* 4y
3. again, its (x*5)(x*5) so expand it for x^2+ 5x+5x+25 : just combine like terms