David_M
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2014
- Location
- Midway, GA, USA
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OT- Simplified Method for Solving Quadratic Equations
- Thread starter David_M
- Start date
- Replies 21
- Views 2,691
Cole2534
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2010
- Location
- Oklahoma City, OK
X equals negative B, plus or minus square root. B-squared minus 4AC all over 2A!
That equation, to the tune of Pop goes the Weasel, will never be forgotten.
That equation, to the tune of Pop goes the Weasel, will never be forgotten.
EPAIII
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2003
- Location
- Beaumont, TX, USA
His simplified method took the internet equivalent of several A size paper pages.
I can write the good, old fashioned quadratic equation solution on a single line.
x = [-b +/- °√(b^2 - 4 ac)] / 2a
I am 76 years old and still remember that equation/solution from high school (I can also derive it if need be). And it can be solved on a scientific calculator with two steps, one for each possible solution.
Now you tell me which is simpler.
I have seen these web math tricks before. I usually ignore them. In math there is always more than one way to solve any problem. I guess showing those alternate ways does help increase one's understanding of the subject, but they are not new or great discoveries.
Books have been published showing over 100 ways to prove the Pythagorean theorem:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
They are interesting and that book shows that alternate proofs or procedures are common.
I can write the good, old fashioned quadratic equation solution on a single line.
x = [-b +/- °√(b^2 - 4 ac)] / 2a
I am 76 years old and still remember that equation/solution from high school (I can also derive it if need be). And it can be solved on a scientific calculator with two steps, one for each possible solution.
Now you tell me which is simpler.
I have seen these web math tricks before. I usually ignore them. In math there is always more than one way to solve any problem. I guess showing those alternate ways does help increase one's understanding of the subject, but they are not new or great discoveries.
Books have been published showing over 100 ways to prove the Pythagorean theorem:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
They are interesting and that book shows that alternate proofs or procedures are common.
EPAIII
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2003
- Location
- Beaumont, TX, USA
Curse you Red Barron. I will never get that version of "Pop Goes the Weasel" out of my mind.
Lag tables provided, that's just natural ;;;_)
9100
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2004
- Location
- Webster Groves, MO
It’s weird, I remember just about every formula from math, chem, physics and can’t remember where I park the van in a big car park, what day it is or where my keys are, fascinating thing the human brain, what you have can be lost in a few minutes
(Apparently a heart attack broke my short term memory, who’d guess that could happen)
To me maths exams have got easier year on year since I did mine, and when doing “past exam papers” they seemed harder than the one I did,
Mark
(Apparently a heart attack broke my short term memory, who’d guess that could happen)
To me maths exams have got easier year on year since I did mine, and when doing “past exam papers” they seemed harder than the one I did,
Mark
EPAIII
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2003
- Location
- Beaumont, TX, USA
I never had any "maths" exams. MATHEMATICS was a very strong subject for me in high school and my minor in college. I rarely relied on rote memory when being examined. I preferred to understand the subject matter and to be able to derive those pesky formulae when I needed them.
TeachMePlease
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2014
- Location
- FL
ChipSplitter
Titanium
- Joined
- May 23, 2019
- Location
- Maybe
Hmm, yes, indubitably, old chap.
TeachMePlease, I thought you had a mohawk.......
David_M
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2014
- Location
- Midway, GA, USA
^^^^^ Is that a safety monocle? I'm not seeing the side shield.
triumph406
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2008
- Location
- ca
Exactly what I do these days
Cole2534
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2010
- Location
- Oklahoma City, OK
Ah, you're used to Z87+, that is Z1887+. Big Diff.
Bill D
Diamond
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Location
- Modesto, CA USA
The kids today take a picture of the problem then they have an app that solves the equation for them. Not really sure if it is a self contained app or it goes online to do the math so that they have to have wifi or not.
Bill D
Bill D
Nano Vujkovic
Aluminum
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2018
WolframAlpha.com has been around for at least a couple of decades. It can do anything a graphing calculator can do, plus a ton more. And its free.
Bill D
Diamond
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- Location
- Modesto, CA USA
desmos.com is the one the math teachers teach students to use at My high school.
Bill D
Bill D
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