Precalculus Examples

$P (x) = x^{6} - 7 x^{3} - 8$

Step 1

Set $x^{6} - 7 x^{3} - 8$ equal to $0$ .

$x^{6} - 7 x^{3} - 8 = 0$

Step 2

Solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

Factor the left side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1.1

Rewrite $x^{6}$ as ${(x^{3})}^{2}$ .

${(x^{3})}^{2} - 7 x^{3} - 8 = 0$

Step 2.1.2

Let $u = x^{3}$ . Substitute $u$ for all occurrences of $x^{3}$ .

$u^{2} - 7 u - 8 = 0$

Step 2.1.3

Factor $u^{2} - 7 u - 8$ using the AC method.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1.3.1

Consider the form $x^{2} + b x + c$ . Find a pair of integers whose product is $c$ and whose sum is $b$ . In this case, whose product is $- 8$ and whose sum is $- 7$ .

$- 8, 1$

Step 2.1.3.2

Write the factored form using these integers.

$(u - 8) (u + 1) = 0$

Step 2.1.4

Replace all occurrences of $u$ with $x^{3}$ .

$(x^{3} - 8) (x^{3} + 1) = 0$

Step 2.2

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$x^{3} - 8 = 0$

$x^{3} + 1 = 0$

Step 2.3

Set $x^{3} - 8$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.1

Set $x^{3} - 8$ equal to $0$ .

$x^{3} - 8 = 0$

Step 2.3.2

Solve $x^{3} - 8 = 0$ for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.1

Add $8$ to both sides of the equation.

$x^{3} = 8$

Step 2.3.2.2

Subtract $8$ from both sides of the equation.

$x^{3} - 8 = 0$

Step 2.3.2.3

Factor the left side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.3.1

Rewrite $8$ as $2^{3}$ .

$x^{3} - 2^{3} = 0$

Step 2.3.2.3.2

Since both terms are perfect cubes, factor using the difference of cubes formula, $a^{3} - b^{3} = (a - b) (a^{2} + a b + b^{2})$ where $a = x$ and $b = 2$ .

$(x - 2) (x^{2} + x \cdot 2 + 2^{2}) = 0$

Step 2.3.2.3.3

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.3.3.1

Move $2$ to the left of $x$ .

$(x - 2) (x^{2} + 2 x + 2^{2}) = 0$

Step 2.3.2.3.3.2

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$(x - 2) (x^{2} + 2 x + 4) = 0$

Step 2.3.2.4

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$x - 2 = 0$

$x^{2} + 2 x + 4 = 0$

Step 2.3.2.5

Set $x - 2$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.5.1

Set $x - 2$ equal to $0$ .

$x - 2 = 0$

Step 2.3.2.5.2

Add $2$ to both sides of the equation.

$x = 2$

Step 2.3.2.6

Set $x^{2} + 2 x + 4$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.1

Set $x^{2} + 2 x + 4$ equal to $0$ .

$x^{2} + 2 x + 4 = 0$

Step 2.3.2.6.2

Solve $x^{2} + 2 x + 4 = 0$ for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.2.1

Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.

$\frac{- b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4 (a c)}}{2 a}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.2

Substitute the values $a = 1$ , $b = 2$ , and $c = 4$ into the quadratic formula and solve for $x$ .

$\frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{2^{2} - 4 \cdot (1 \cdot 4)}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1

Simplify the numerator.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.1

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{4 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.2

Multiply $- 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.2.1

Multiply $- 4$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{4 - 4 \cdot 4}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.2.2

Multiply $- 4$ by $4$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{4 - 16}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.3

Subtract $16$ from $4$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{- 12}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.4

Rewrite $- 12$ as $- 1 (12)$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{- 1 \cdot 12}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.5

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1 (12)}$ as $\sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{12}$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm \sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{12}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.6

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1}$ as $i$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm i \cdot \sqrt{12}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.7

Rewrite $12$ as $2^{2} \cdot 3$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.7.1

Factor $4$ out of $12$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm i \cdot \sqrt{4 (3)}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.7.2

Rewrite $4$ as $2^{2}$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm i \cdot \sqrt{2^{2} \cdot 3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.8

Pull terms out from under the radical.

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm i \cdot (2 \sqrt{3})}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.1.9

Move $2$ to the left of $i$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm 2 i \sqrt{3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.2

Multiply $2$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{- 2 \pm 2 i \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.3.3

Simplify $\frac{- 2 \pm 2 i \sqrt{3}}{2}$ .

$x = - 1 \pm i \sqrt{3}$

Step 2.3.2.6.2.4

The final answer is the combination of both solutions.

$x = - 1 + i \sqrt{3}, - 1 - i \sqrt{3}$

Step 2.3.2.7

The final solution is all the values that make $(x - 2) (x^{2} + 2 x + 4) = 0$ true.

$x = 2, - 1 + i \sqrt{3}, - 1 - i \sqrt{3}$

Step 2.4

Set $x^{3} + 1$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.1

Set $x^{3} + 1$ equal to $0$ .

$x^{3} + 1 = 0$

Step 2.4.2

Solve $x^{3} + 1 = 0$ for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.1

Subtract $1$ from both sides of the equation.

$x^{3} = - 1$

Step 2.4.2.2

Add $1$ to both sides of the equation.

$x^{3} + 1 = 0$

Step 2.4.2.3

Factor the left side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.3.1

Rewrite $1$ as $1^{3}$ .

$x^{3} + 1^{3} = 0$

Step 2.4.2.3.2

Since both terms are perfect cubes, factor using the sum of cubes formula, $a^{3} + b^{3} = (a + b) (a^{2} - a b + b^{2})$ where $a = x$ and $b = 1$ .

$(x + 1) (x^{2} - x \cdot 1 + 1^{2}) = 0$

Step 2.4.2.3.3

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.3.3.1

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$(x + 1) (x^{2} - x + 1^{2}) = 0$

Step 2.4.2.3.3.2

One to any power is one.

$(x + 1) (x^{2} - x + 1) = 0$

Step 2.4.2.4

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$x + 1 = 0$

$x^{2} - x + 1 = 0$

Step 2.4.2.5

Set $x + 1$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.5.1

Set $x + 1$ equal to $0$ .

$x + 1 = 0$

Step 2.4.2.5.2

Subtract $1$ from both sides of the equation.

$x = - 1$

Step 2.4.2.6

Set $x^{2} - x + 1$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.6.1

Set $x^{2} - x + 1$ equal to $0$ .

$x^{2} - x + 1 = 0$

Step 2.4.2.6.2

Solve $x^{2} - x + 1 = 0$ for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.6.2.1

Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.

$\frac{- b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4 (a c)}}{2 a}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.2

Substitute the values $a = 1$ , $b = - 1$ , and $c = 1$ into the quadratic formula and solve for $x$ .

$\frac{1 \pm \sqrt{{(- 1)}^{2} - 4 \cdot (1 \cdot 1)}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1

Simplify the numerator.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.1

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 1}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.2

Multiply $- 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 1$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.2.1

Multiply $- 4$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 - 4 \cdot 1}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.2.2

Multiply $- 4$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 - 4}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.3

Subtract $4$ from $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{- 3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.4

Rewrite $- 3$ as $- 1 (3)$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{- 1 \cdot 3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.5

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1 (3)}$ as $\sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{3}$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{- 1} \cdot \sqrt{3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.1.6

Rewrite $\sqrt{- 1}$ as $i$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm i \sqrt{3}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.3.2

Multiply $2$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm i \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 2.4.2.6.2.4

The final answer is the combination of both solutions.

$x = \frac{1 + i \sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1 - i \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 2.4.2.7

The final solution is all the values that make $(x + 1) (x^{2} - x + 1) = 0$ true.

$x = - 1, \frac{1 + i \sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1 - i \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 2.5

The final solution is all the values that make $(x^{3} - 8) (x^{3} + 1) = 0$ true.

$x = 2, - 1 + i \sqrt{3}, - 1 - i \sqrt{3}, - 1, \frac{1 + i \sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{1 - i \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Step 3