text: # using polynomials
  
  • Mar 27th 2009, 12:18 AM
  vidalex
  using polynomials
  The problem states:The volume of the box is 630in^3. The height is 4 in more than the width, the length is 1 in more than than width.What is the width?
  
  I started by forming the equation based on l*w*h=v so,
  
  (1+w)(4+w)(w)=630 and i combined to get
  
  w^3+5w^2+4w=630
  
  And from this point I'm stuck
  • Mar 27th 2009, 12:47 AM
  craig
  Your work so far is correct, rearranging the formula you have above will give you the following cubic equation:
  
  \$\displaystyle w^3 + 5w^2 + 4w - 630 = 0\$
  
  Have you been taught how to solve cubic equations?
  • Mar 27th 2009, 01:02 AM
  vidalex
  No this is an extra credit problem for this unit. We've covered how to find zeros but this problem has me stumped.
  
  Quote:
  
  Originally Posted by craig
  Your work so far is correct, rearranging the formula you have above will give you the following cubic equation:
  
  \$\displaystyle w^3 + 5w^2 + 4w - 630 = 0\$
  
  Have you been taught how to solve cubic equations?
  
  • Mar 27th 2009, 04:26 AM
  stapel
  If you're using graphing calculators in your class, maybe you're expected to use that to find where the polynomial crosses the x-axis...?
explanation: The document is a forum post where a user named vidalex presents a math problem involving polynomials and the volume of a box. The user has formed an equation but is stuck on solving it. Another user, craig, confirms the equation and suggests solving a cubic equation. Vidalex responds that they have not been taught how to solve cubic equations, and another user, stapel, suggests using a graphing calculator to find the solution.
distilabel_metadata.content: Evaluate the user given text extract and determine if it contains a math question and optionally and answer to this question.
  
  Output rules:
  
  1. Briefly describe the document and mention if it contains a question or a question and answer.
  2. Finalize the output with: Label: no-question,question,question-and-answer,multiple-question,multiple-question-and-answer
distilabel_metadata.role: system
distilabel_metadata.content: # using polynomials
  
  • Mar 27th 2009, 12:18 AM
  vidalex
  using polynomials
  The problem states:The volume of the box is 630in^3. The height is 4 in more than the width, the length is 1 in more than than width.What is the width?
  
  I started by forming the equation based on l*w*h=v so,
  
  (1+w)(4+w)(w)=630 and i combined to get
  
  w^3+5w^2+4w=630
  
  And from this point I'm stuck
  • Mar 27th 2009, 12:47 AM
  craig
  Your work so far is correct, rearranging the formula you have above will give you the following cubic equation:
  
  \$\displaystyle w^3 + 5w^2 + 4w - 630 = 0\$
  
  Have you been taught how to solve cubic equations?
  • Mar 27th 2009, 01:02 AM
  vidalex
  No this is an extra credit problem for this unit. We've covered how to find zeros but this problem has me stumped.
  
  Quote:
  
  Originally Posted by craig
  Your work so far is correct, rearranging the formula you have above will give you the following cubic equation:
  
  \$\displaystyle w^3 + 5w^2 + 4w - 630 = 0\$
  
  Have you been taught how to solve cubic equations?
  
  • Mar 27th 2009, 04:26 AM
  stapel
  If you're using graphing calculators in your class, maybe you're expected to use that to find where the polynomial crosses the x-axis...?
distilabel_metadata.role: user
distilabel_metadata.raw_output_q_a_detector_0: The document is a forum post where a user named vidalex presents a math problem involving polynomials and the volume of a box. The user has formed an equation but is stuck on solving it. Another user, craig, confirms the equation and suggests solving a cubic equation. Vidalex responds that they have not been taught how to solve cubic equations, and another user, stapel, suggests using a graphing calculator to find the solution.
  
  Label: question-and-answer