Solve the Polynomial Equation: 12x⁴ - 3x³ = 0

Polynomial Factoring with Common Factor Extraction

12x43x3=0 12x^4-3x^3=0

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:05 Let's find the value of X.
00:08 First, factor using the term 3 X to the power of three.
00:18 Next, remove the common factor from inside the parentheses.
00:34 Great! This gives us one solution where the equation equals zero.
00:44 Now, let's find which solutions make the second factor zero.
00:49 Let's work on isolating X in this step.
00:52 And that's how we solve the question!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

12x43x3=0 12x^4-3x^3=0

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this polynomial equation, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify and factor out the greatest common factor (GCF).
  • Step 2: Solve the resulting simpler equations for xx.
  • Step 3: Verify the solutions.

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: Factor out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

The given equation is 12x43x3=0 12x^4 - 3x^3 = 0 .
Both terms share a common factor of 3x3 3x^3 . Factoring out this common factor, we get:

3x3(4x1)=0 3x^3(4x - 1) = 0

Step 2: Solve the factored equation

We now have two factors: 3x3 3x^3 and (4x1) (4x - 1) . Set each factor to zero to find possible solutions:

  • For the factor 3x3=0 3x^3 = 0 :
    Solving this gives x3=0 x^3 = 0 , which implies x=0 x = 0 .
  • For the factor 4x1=0 4x - 1 = 0 :
    Solving this gives 4x=1 4x = 1 , leading to x=14 x = \frac{1}{4} .

Step 3: Verification

Substitute x=0 x = 0 and x=14 x = \frac{1}{4} back into the original equation to verify:

  • Substituting x=0 x = 0 :
    12(0)43(0)3=0 12(0)^4 - 3(0)^3 = 0 , which is true.
  • Substituting x=14 x = \frac{1}{4} :
    Calculations show 12(14)43(14)3=0 12\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^4 - 3\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^3 = 0 , which also holds true.
Therefore, the solutions to the problem are x=0 x = 0 and x=14 x = \frac{1}{4} .

The correct choice from the given options is x=0,14 x = 0, \frac{1}{4} .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is x=0,14 x=0,\frac{1}{4} .

3

Final Answer

x=0,14 x=0,\frac{1}{4}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Factor First: Always extract greatest common factor before solving equations
  • Technique: Factor 12x43x3 12x^4 - 3x^3 as 3x3(4x1)=0 3x^3(4x - 1) = 0
  • Check: Substitute both solutions back: x=0 x = 0 and x=14 x = \frac{1}{4} both work ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Trying to solve without factoring first
    Don't attempt to solve 12x43x3=0 12x^4 - 3x^3 = 0 directly by moving terms = makes it unnecessarily complex! Without factoring, you miss the simple zero product property. Always factor out the greatest common factor first to create simpler equations.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Break down the expression into basic terms:

\( 2x^2 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I find the greatest common factor of polynomial terms?

+

Look for the largest coefficient that divides both numbers and the lowest power of each variable. In 12x43x3 12x^4 - 3x^3 , the GCF is 3 (divides 12 and 3) times (lowest power), giving 3x3 3x^3 .

Why does factoring make the equation easier to solve?

+

Factoring creates a product equal to zero. By the zero product property, if A×B=0 A \times B = 0 , then either A = 0 or B = 0. This turns one complex equation into two simple ones!

What if one factor is just a number, like 3?

+

Constants like 3 can never equal zero, so ignore pure number factors. Only set factors with variables equal to zero. That's why we solve x3=0 x^3 = 0 and 4x1=0 4x - 1 = 0 , not 3=0 3 = 0 .

How many solutions should I expect from this type of equation?

+

The degree of the polynomial tells you the maximum number of solutions. Since this is degree 4, expect up to 4 solutions. However, repeated roots like x=0 x = 0 (which appears 3 times from x3=0 x^3 = 0 ) count as one unique solution.

Do I need to show all the algebra steps when factoring?

+

Yes, always show your work! Write out: identify the GCF, factor it out, set each factor to zero, and solve each equation separately. This helps you avoid mistakes and makes your solution easy to follow.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Algebraic Technique questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations