ALGEBRA PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

Algebra problems and solutions

Luis Fernando Mendoza

Eastern University
ALGEBRA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 2

Please solve the following problems:

1. Solve for x
2
x + x−12=0
2. Solve for x
2 x−4
2 =64
3. Solve for x
3 cos ( x ) +2 sin2 ( x )=0

1: x 2+ x−12=0
a) Identify the equation type, in this case it’s a quadratic equation since it can be read in
the form:

ax 2 +bx +c=0

b) Use the kwon numbers to identify each of the coefficients seen in the equation
above:
a=1
b=1
c = -12

c) Find x by substituting the coefficients into the quadratic formula seen below:

−b ± √ b2−4 ac
x=
2a

−1± √ 12−4 (1∗−12)

x=
2

−1± √ 1−(−48)
x=
2

−1± √ 1+48
x=
2
ALGEBRA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 3

−1± √ 49
x=
2
−1± 7
x=
2

Due to the plus-minus symbol, there are two possible solutions for x

X 1 =3 ; X 2 =−4

2: 22 x−4 =64

a) Identify the equation type, in this case it’s an exponential equation since the variables are
present as exponents

b) Identify and simplify the bases if possible, in this case 2 and 64 are different, but since 64 can
be converted to 26 then it’s possible to apply the theorem for exponentials equations with
equal bases:

If a n=am then n=m

If 22 x−4 =26 then 2 x−4=6

c) Find x
2 x=6+ 4

x=10

3: 3 cos ( x ) +2 sin2 ( x )=0

a) Apply the trigonometric identity cos 2 ( x ) +sin2 ( x ) =1 on the second term; by substituting
sin 2 ( x )=1−cos 2 ( x ) into the equation:

3 cos ( x ) +2 [1−cos 2 ( x ) ]=0

b) Change the variable so that cos ( x )=u

3 u+2 [ 1−u2 ]=0

c) Rearrange the equation

2 u2−3 u−2=0
ALGEBRA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 4

It’s a quadratic equation, thus by applying the same procedure used in problem 1, it’s possible
to find the values for u

Coefficients:
a=2
b = -3
c = -2

−b± √ b2−4 ac
u=
2a

−(−3)± √(−3)2−4( 2∗−2)

u=
2∗2

3 ± √ 9−(−16)
u=
4

3 ± √ 25
u=
4

3±5
u=
4

3+5 8
u1 = = =2
4 4
3−5 −2 −1
u2 = = =
4 4 2

d) Equal the obtained values with cos ( x ) to find X

Foru1:

2=cos ( x ) x= None

For real solutions, cos ( x ) can’t be equal to any number higher than 1

Foru2:

−1
=cos ( x )
2
ALGEBRA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS 5

In this case “x” has two general solutions, each one representing the two points in the unit
−1
circle diagram where the cosine function equals
2

Point 1: First quadrant

2π
x ( Radians )= + 2π n
3
x ( Degrees)=120 ° + 360° n

Point 2: Third quadrant

4π
x ( Radians )= + 2π n
3
x ( Degrees )=240 ° + 360° n

By arranging all of the obtained values

2π
X Radians = 3
{
4π
3
+2 π n

+2 π n

X Degrees = 120 ° +360 ° n

{
¿ 240° +360 ° n