Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
A quadratic equation in which the quadratic trinomial has a leading coefficient of one can be solved by factoring. An example is given that also utilizes the zero factor property.
Practical Problem: How Fast Can Two Workers Mow a Lawn?
A practical problem compares the rate at which two park workers mow the lawn and asks how much lawn the two can mow in an hour. The question is answered by adding rational expressions.
Solving a Quadratic Equation Using the Quadratic Formula
Quadratic equations that cannot be solved by factoring or the square root method can be solved using the quadratic formula. When an equation is in standard form, the values of a, b, and c, including their signs, can be substituted for the letters in...
Practical Problem: Calculate the Children's Dose of a Medication
Using a rational expression to solve a practical problem involving calculating the dose of a liquid medication for a child, given the adult dose and Young's rule.
Practical Problem: Finding the Amount of Electrical Current
Evaluating a rational expression to find out why a fuse keeps blowing out. Using the formula to find the total resistance of a parallel circuit.
Practical Problem: Wages of an Electrician and an Apprentice
Using the elimination method of calculate the hourly pay rates of an electrician and his apprentice on two different jobs given the total cost of each job.
Practical Problem: Finding Average Speed
Complex fractions often appear in formulas used to solve problems. A practical problem involving the rate, time, and distance formula illustrates working with complex fractions.
Estimating Radicals to Set a Safe Speed Limit
A practical problem involving setting a speed limit is solved that involves estimating radicals to find the value of an irrational solution.
Example of Multiplying Both Equations
There is always more than one way to solve a system of equations with the elimination method. This example includes tips for deciding which term to eliminate.
Evaluating a Rational Expression
The method of substituting a value for the variables in a rational expression is called evaluating an expression.