So, before I got into this class I was nervous, I didn't think I'd be able to handle all the work and be able to keep up with the rest of the class. I was also thinking that because of the fact that I didn't know how to do the packet over the summer and had to get help from Ryan Chauvin that I was definitely going to fall very far behind. After the first three day I got over my nervousness because I was picking up a lot of the concepts pretty quickly.
For example, i stuff, even though I don't know the mathematical name of it I do understand how to use the chart and divide the exponent by four. If you had i^34 to find the answer you divide the exponent by four so 34 divided by four is 8.5. After you get that number you look at the decimal. If it's .25 the answer is i, if it's .5 the answer is -1, if it's .75 the answer is -i, and if its a whole number the answer is 1. In this case it's .5 so the answer would be -1.
On the other hand, I'm still kind of hazy with the completing the square. I can do the first step, dividing the linear term by two and squaring it, and I can add it to both sides, but for some reason when I have to do the problems on my own I forget what I have to do after that.
Good reflection Ryan.
ReplyDeleteokay. I get it. I have that problem a lot too. What helps me to remember is once I add to both sides, i have to take that same number that was added, but before it was squared, and your squared term.
ReplyDeleteso say..
x^2+4x+1=0
(4/2)=2
2^2=4
x^2+4x+4=-1+4
**here is where my clue comes in. Refer back to where I divided my linear term by two, but before i squared it. See how my answer is two? Now plug back in.**
(x+2)^2=3
then take the square of both sides to end with
x=negative two, plus/minus the square root of three.
Then finally, you get to put your answers in coordinate notation. And there you go.