Can someone help me factor this complex equation?

Yes, it's because there are two E^2's in the original expression. So when you factor out the common terms, you are left with an extra E^2, which is why there is a -1 there. It's just a way of making the expression simpler to work with.Ok, so i am not sure what you are saying is a hint or not, but i'll try this and see if i get it. Thanks for your help. In summary, the conversation discussed a problem with factoring a complicated equation and the person asking for help was confused about how to use the symbols and variables involved. The expert helper provided hints on how to approach the problem, including rewriting the equation as a difference of two squares and substit
  • #1
ManyNames
136
0

Homework Statement



A simple way to factor the left hand side of the given equation.

Homework Equations



[tex]E^2-E^2(\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M})+(\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})=-p+(\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



I would, just that i am confused on eactly how to.


Could anyone help me simplify by factoring the left hand side of this equation in an easy and sensible manner?

[tex]E^2-E^2(\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M})+(\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})=-p+(\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})[/tex]

Thanks up-front.
 
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  • #2
ManyNames said:
[tex]\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]
That's one of your common terms.
Hint:
[tex]({\frac{\frac{a^2}{b}}{b}})^2 = \frac{\frac{a^4}{b^2}}{b^2}[/tex]
 
  • #3
noumed said:
That's one of your common terms.
Hint:
[tex]({\frac{\frac{a^2}{b}}{b}})^2 = \frac{\frac{a^4}{b^2}}{b^2}[/tex]


Like

[tex](E+\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{2}M)(E+\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{2}M)[/tex]?
 
  • #4
that won't work. if you multiply out something like:
[tex](A+B) * (A+B)[/tex]
you get
[tex](A^2 + 2AB + B^2)[/tex]

the expression you wanted to simplify is in the form of
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]
if you had
[tex]A = E[/tex]
and
[tex]B = \frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]

looking at the whole equation, couldn't you have subtracted [tex](\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})[/tex]
from both sides and just end up with a simple
[tex]E^2-E^2(\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M})=-p[/tex]?
 
  • #5
noumed said:
that won't work. if you multiply out something like:
[tex](A+B) * (A+B)[/tex]
you get
[tex](A^2 + 2AB + B^2)[/tex]

the expression you wanted to simplify is in the form of
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]
if you had
[tex]A = E[/tex]
and
[tex]B = \frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]

looking at the whole equation, couldn't you have subtracted [tex](\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})[/tex]
from both sides and just end up with a simple
[tex]E^2-E^2(\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M})=-p[/tex]?


You see, i am quite familiar with simple factoring of equations. I am just getting very confused with all these symbols and how to use them when i do factorize. Could you not just show me please, and put me out of my misery. My heads sore.

As for the latter question friend, the added [tex](\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2})[/tex] I cannot subtract.
 
  • #6
noumed said:
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]
if you had
[tex]A = E[/tex]
and
[tex]B = \frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]
Why don't you just work with the equation above instead of all that mess? It's much easier to work with 2 variables, A and B rather than all that frazzle dazzle. The purpose of this forum is not to give out answers but provide hints. See if you can factor
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]

Hint:
You can rewrite the equation above to:
[tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]
That's a difference of two squares factorization.
 
  • #7
noumed said:
Why don't you just work with the equation above instead of all that mess? It's much easier to work with 2 variables, A and B rather than all that frazzle dazzle. The purpose of this forum is not to give out answers but provide hints. See if you can factor
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]

Hint:
You can rewrite the equation above to:
[tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]
That's a difference of two squares factorization.

Agreed. That way is so much easier.

If that is all, thanks a bunch. It was really helpful.
 
  • #8
(But i'll still try and solve this - I'm not off yet ;) ) Plus, I've never seen an equation of the form [tex](A^2-A^2B+B)[/tex]... i don't get out much. :)
 
  • #9
I need to ask so i understand this more clearly, you want me to substitute the B's of [tex](A^2+A^2B+B^2)[/tex] for [tex]\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex], but what about [tex]\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2}[/tex]? Is this going to be A? What about [tex]E^2-E^2[/tex]?

I am a terrible problem solver. There is quicker way through this, and trying to get through my thick skull as noble as it is, is not it.
 
  • #10
ManyNames said:
I need to ask so i understand this more clearly, you want me to substitute the B's of [tex](A^2+A^2B+B^2)[/tex] for [tex]\frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex], but what about [tex]\frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2}[/tex]? Is this going to be A? What about [tex]E^2-E^2[/tex]?

I am a terrible problem solver. There is quicker way through this, and trying to get through my thick skull as noble as it is, is not it.

If you let
[tex]B = \frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]
then
[tex]B^2 = \frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2}[/tex]

Right?

Edit:
and
[tex]A = E[/tex]
so
[tex]A^2 = E^2[/tex]
 
  • #11
noumed said:
If you let
[tex]B = \frac{\frac{F^2vt}{c}}{M}[/tex]
then
[tex]B^2 = \frac{\frac{F^4v^2t^2}{c^2}}{M^2}[/tex]

Right?

Edit:
and
[tex]A = E[/tex]
so
[tex]A^2 = E^2[/tex]

Right...
 
  • #12
So if you just keep in mind that A and B represents those things, once you've factored
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]
You can plug in the original values of A and B into your answer to get what you wanted in the first place.
 
  • #13
So why is there two [tex]A^2[/tex]'s in [tex](A^2-A^2B+B^2)[/tex] - just a typo?
 
  • #14
Because
[tex]A = E[/tex]
And there are two [tex]E^2[/tex]'s in the original expression.
 
  • #15
Oh no, i get it now... my mistake
 
  • #16
Oh please can you just show me. I am trying over at this end, but none of the answers i got i don't like. Just tell me please?
 
  • #17
Is this what you are on about? [tex](A^2-B)(A^2+B^2)[/tex]... No?
 
  • #18
It's similar to that, but there's a sleight of hands because of the [tex]-A^2B[/tex] term inside. I gave you a pretty good hint [tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]... You're almost there! =D
 
  • #19
Patience please, but what is the (minus one) part? Why has it been plugged in there? I need to know these things, otherwise i am lost. I assume it has something to do with subtracting one of the [tex]E^2[/tex]?
 
  • #20
Nope the minus sign in there is just another sleight of hands. Multiply it out and you should verify that:
[tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2) = A^2 - A^2B + B^2[/tex]
 
  • #21
Well, i get [tex]A^22B^2=A^2-A^2B+B^2[/tex]? This aint right is it?
 
  • #22
Can't quite follow what you did there... What I did was basically rewrite the expression
[tex]A^2 - A^2B + B^2[/tex]
because I do not know how to factor that expression at that state, but I do know how to factor
[tex](B^2 - A^2(B-1))[/tex] or [tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]

All three expressions are equivalent to each other.
 
  • #23
Then i too admit i do not know how to factor the latter state, so please assist me in my teaching. Cheers,
 
  • #24
And take me through it too...?
 
  • #25
I suppose you've struggled far enough.
Let's look at:
[tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]
We agree that the expression is equivalent to
[tex](A^2 - A^2B + B^2)[/tex]
Which is equivalent to your original complex expression that you wanted to factor.

Disregard the minus sign and the [tex](B-1)[/tex] on the first expression, and you're left with something you might be familiar with:
[tex](A^2 - B^2)[/tex]
Which is the difference of squares that I mentioned about.
We know how to factor that, right?
[tex](A-B)(A+B)[/tex]

Now, what to do with [tex](B-1}[/tex] that we left out? Since we're dealing with difference of squares, let's play with [tex]\sqrt{(B-1)}[/tex] and stick that to [tex]A[/tex] to get:
[tex](A\sqrt{(B-1)} - B) (A\sqrt{(B-1)} + B)[/tex]
If you put the minus sign back into the expression above to get
[tex]-(A\sqrt{(B-1)} - B) (A\sqrt{(B-1)} + B)[/tex]
And multiply it out, you should get back to the original expression:
[tex]-(A^2(B-1) - B^2)[/tex]

After you've verified that
[tex]-(A\sqrt{(B-1)} - B) (A\sqrt{(B-1)} + B)[/tex]
is indeed the factor of the first expression of this post, then all you have to do is replace A and B with its original forms.

So there. You've basically factored that complex equation with a few sleight of hands coupled with trial and error.
 
Last edited:
  • #26
Certainly NOT what i had in my mind lol

Thank you, i will memorize this process for future solving. Nice to meet you, and thanks for your patience.
 
  • #27
That's brilliant. It works out fine.
 
  • #28
No problem. The idea is not to memorize any cookbook process. It's to break down a complex problem into small parts that you are familiar with. That's why in most exams your professor or teacher might ask you to state all the known equations that are relevant to the problem before you attempt a solution. Keep that in mind, practice diligently, and you should do great. :approve:
 
  • #29
Argh, I'm dead chuffed. I would never have been able to solve it on my own... well maybe, but i would have took time.
 

1. What is factoring in a complex equation?

Factoring in a complex equation involves breaking down the equation into smaller parts that are easier to solve. This process helps to find the roots or solutions of the equation.

2. Why is factoring important in solving complex equations?

Factoring is important because it simplifies complex equations, making it easier to find the solutions. It also allows for the identification of common factors, which can lead to a more efficient and accurate solution.

3. What are the steps for factoring a complex equation?

The steps for factoring a complex equation are as follows:
1. Identify the greatest common factor (GCF)
2. Determine the number of terms in the equation
3. Use appropriate factoring methods (such as difference of squares or grouping)
4. Check the factored terms to ensure they are correct.

4. Can all complex equations be factored?

No, not all complex equations can be factored. Some equations may not have any common factors or may involve higher degree polynomials which cannot be factored using traditional methods. In these cases, other techniques such as the quadratic formula may be used to solve the equation.

5. How can factoring be applied in real-life situations?

Factoring can be applied in various real-life situations, such as finding the dimensions of a rectangular room given the area, or determining the number of possible combinations for a given set of items. It can also be used in financial situations, such as calculating compound interest or loan payments.

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