Completely Simplifying Quadratics

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Bailey Moore

August 01, 2017 11:23
Edited

This was listed as the final answer for a Quadratic Equation:

So, why did they not simplify this further (to -1/-2)? I thought you were supposed to. Will it not be the same answer? As long as it is proportional, right? I just need to know why they sometimes simplify it and other times do not, and why.

I have tried both and have seen that the answers are different. So how do I know when to simplify?

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Inger Hohler

August 02, 2017 18:54
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Hi Bailey, in order to simplify you need to be able to keep it as one fraction. If you want to divide both divisor and dividend by 7 or -7, you must divide them entirely: both -7 and -/+ sqrt301 as well as -14. Dividing the square root of 301 by 7 gives the same number as dividing 301 by 49. That does not give a whole number. so you don't get a simplified expression.

You'd get = 1/2 +/- (sqrt301)/-14 which is not one fraction, it's two.

I hope this helps.

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Completely Simplifying Quadratics

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