Help with factor large numbers

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around factoring large numbers and simplifying roots, specifically focusing on the equation involving the fourth root of 1458. The original poster expresses uncertainty about the skills required for these types of problems, indicating a return to mathematics after a significant break.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the equation w + 14 = 1458 to the fourth root, with some questioning the need for factoring in this context. Others discuss methods for simplifying the fourth root and the process of finding factors of 1458.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to approach the simplification of the fourth root and the factorization of 1458. There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations of the original equation and the methods for simplifying roots.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the properties of roots and factors, as well as the relevance of divisibility rules in the context of simplifying numbers. There is an acknowledgment of the original poster's return to math and the challenges faced in recalling previous knowledge.

Poker-face
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I am 31 and just started back in Math. My first class is Intermediate Algebra. I am sloving equations that force me to factor large numbers. Not sure if this is a skill that I was supposed to rember from high school, but nevertheless it is taking me a long time to do so. Can anyone tell me what the rules are when factor large roots. For example

1. w + 14 = 1458 to the 4th root.

Thanks for any advice.

EG
 
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Poker-face said:
I am 31 and just started back in Math. My first class is Intermediate Algebra. I am sloving equations that force me to factor large numbers. Not sure if this is a skill that I was supposed to rember from high school, but nevertheless it is taking me a long time to do so. Can anyone tell me what the rules are when factor large roots. For example

1. w + 14 = 1458 to the 4th root.

Thanks for any advice.

EG
I'm not sure what your equation is. Is it this?
[tex]w + 14 = \sqrt[4]{1458}[/tex]

Click on the equation I wrote to see the LaTeX script I wrote for this equation.

If that's the equation you want to solve, there is no factoring needed. All you have to do to solve for w is to add -14 to both sides of the equation.
 


Mark44 said:
I'm not sure what your equation is. Is it this?
[tex]w + 14 = \sqrt[4]{1458}[/tex]

Click on the equation I wrote to see the LaTeX script I wrote for this equation.

If that's the equation you want to solve, there is no factoring needed. All you have to do to solve for w is to add -14 to both sides of the equation.

Yes. How do you simplfy the square root?
 


Poker-face said:
Yes. How do you simplfy the square root?
That's a fourth root.
Simplify it by finding all factors and seeing if any are to the fourth or higher power. For this problem, 1458 = 2 * 729 = 2 * 9 * 81 = 2 * 93 = 2 * 36

The last expression can also be written as 34 * 2 * 9 = 34 * 18

Now use the property of square roots, cube roots, fourth roots, etc. that says
[tex]\sqrt[n]{ab} = \sqrt[n]{a}\sqrt[n]{b}[/tex]

For even roots (square root, fourth root, etc.) in the equation above, both a and b have to be nonnegative. For odd roots (cube root, fifth root, etc.) a and be can be any real numbers.
 


I understand the rule but how you get to step two - 2 x 9 x 81
 


729 = 9 * 81. I used the concept I mentioned to you in another thread - if the sum of the digits of a number is 9 or a multiple of 9, the number is divisible by 9.

So 1458 = 2 * 729 = 2 * 9 * 81
 


Mark44 said:
729 = 9 * 81. I used the concept I mentioned to you in another thread - if the sum of the digits of a number is 9 or a multiple of 9, the number is divisible by 9.

So 1458 = 2 * 729 = 2 * 9 * 81

Thanks again both threads were a big help!

EG:approve:
 

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