Question

solve for the polynomial equation by factoring, then using the zero product principle. This is just the example problem Please explain where the 3 comes in. I'm so lost- and I'm using the example to help me solve the question I'm doing.

Answer 1

-3 comes from combining 1 and -4

Explanation:

The -3 under the radical is the result of combining the terms

16 -4(16) = 16(1 -4) = 16(-3) = -3(16)

16 is factored out. It is done this way because 16 is a perfect square factor, so wants to maintain that identity while you figure out the rest of the radical.

`=(-4\pm√(16-4(16)))/(2)=(-4\pm√(16(1-4)))/(2)=(-4\pm√(-3(16)))/(2)\\\\=(-4\pm√(-3(4^2)))/(2)=(-4\pm 4√(-3))/(2)=-2\pm2√(-3)=-2\pm2i√(3)`