So I fully realize I need to brush up on my Algebra.. but...

sev

So im getting the the point where I can set up the problems, but the alebra.. it's been a long time..

how do you solve the following? Does it require FOIL?

14s=6s^2

Neo2000 · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject:

All you have to ensure is that you perform the same mathematical operation on both sides to get "s" all by itself and you'll be fine

Divide by s on both sides

14 = 6s

Divide by 6 on both sides
s = 14/6 = 7/3

Stacey Koprince · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject:

That is not all you have to ensure, unfortunately. That method will find you ONE factor, but not all of them. If you are ever trying to find factors (or values for a particular variable), do NOT divide out the variable you are supposed to solve for - or you will lose a factor (typically zero).

This is a quadratic so we first to set everything equal to zero:
14s=6s^2
0 = 6s^2 - 14s
then, factor out (NOT divide out) an s
0 = s(6s-14)
now set each factor equal to zero
0 = s
0 = 6s-14 => 14 = 6s => 14/6 = s

So 7/3 is one factor, but 0 is also a factor.