WEBVTT

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Here is the problem: x cubed minus x squared minus 8x plus 12 equals 0.

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A polynomial equation of degree 3 in x.

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Start with the equation.

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Move every term to one side.

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Test candidates from the rational root theorem: x equals negative 3 is a root. Synthetic division by (x plus 3) leaves a polynomial of degree 2.

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Test candidates from the rational root theorem: x equals 2 is a root. Synthetic division by (x minus 2) leaves a polynomial of degree 1.

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Test candidates from the rational root theorem: x equals 2 is a root. Synthetic division by (x minus 2) leaves a polynomial of degree 0.

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Collect the real solutions.

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Now look at the graph of the left side minus the right side.

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It crosses zero exactly at the solutions we found.

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So the answer is x equals negative 3, x equals 2.

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A degree-3 polynomial has exactly 3 roots counted with multiplicity (some may be complex). Exact rational roots are found first, then the rest are solved exactly or approximated.

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x equals negative 3: left side equals 0, right side equals 0, which checks out.

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x equals 2: left side equals 0, right side equals 0, which checks out.