Multiple solutions on an algebraic equation with one variable?
Okay, this was a question on my math exam today that completely baffled me.
Find three solutions to this equation and graph it:
8 - 2x = 0
Okay, how do you find three solutions to that? I'd understand if there were two variables, but there's only x.
Isn't the only correct answer 4?
8 - 2(4) = 0
8 - 8 = 0
0 = 0
JOY!
I mean, usually we choose random numbers, but nothing makes sense.
x = 1
8 - 2(1) = 0
8 - 2 = 0
6 = 0
What.
x = -4
8 - 2(-4) = 0
8 + 8 = 0
16 = 0
What.
x = 42 (Which, clearly, should be an answer. ;))
8 - 2(42) = 0
8 - 84 = 0
-76 = 0
Lies. :(
It would have made sense had it been an inequality, but it wasn't. I was so confused that I basically just graphed a vertical line on (4,0) and wrote, "WTF? How can this have three solutions?" on my test and hoped to at least get partial points for attempting.
Am I just blind here? I'm in an Elementary Algebra I class (which was way too slow for me :/), but I've worked ahead and was planning on testing into Precalculus I for fall quarter assuming I complete the work on my own for Intermediate Algebra by the end of August. Now I'm doubting myself because I cannot figure this out. D:
Thanks muchly in advance. This is driving me mad.
Find three solutions to this equation and graph it:
8 - 2x = 0
Okay, how do you find three solutions to that? I'd understand if there were two variables, but there's only x.
Isn't the only correct answer 4?
8 - 2(4) = 0
8 - 8 = 0
0 = 0
JOY!
I mean, usually we choose random numbers, but nothing makes sense.
x = 1
8 - 2(1) = 0
8 - 2 = 0
6 = 0
What.
x = -4
8 - 2(-4) = 0
8 + 8 = 0
16 = 0
What.
x = 42 (Which, clearly, should be an answer. ;))
8 - 2(42) = 0
8 - 84 = 0
-76 = 0
Lies. :(
It would have made sense had it been an inequality, but it wasn't. I was so confused that I basically just graphed a vertical line on (4,0) and wrote, "WTF? How can this have three solutions?" on my test and hoped to at least get partial points for attempting.
Am I just blind here? I'm in an Elementary Algebra I class (which was way too slow for me :/), but I've worked ahead and was planning on testing into Precalculus I for fall quarter assuming I complete the work on my own for Intermediate Algebra by the end of August. Now I'm doubting myself because I cannot figure this out. D:
Thanks muchly in advance. This is driving me mad.