<em>Answer:</em>
In Odette's solution, <u>7 is the number of </u>
<u>nickels</u> and 8 is the number of dimes
Multiply the 2 by 3 to get 6 square yards
Then multiply that by three to get 18 square feet
Finally times 18 by 1.5 to get 12 tiles
Therefore 12 tiles are needed to cover the floor.
First, I'd simplify this problem by dividing every term by 2:
x^4 - 4x^3 + 5x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0
Then I'd think of the possible factors of that constant term, 4: They would be plus or minus 1, plus or minus 2, or plus or minus 4.
Let's try x = -4 as a possible root. Setting up and using synthetic division:
____________________
-4 / 1 -4 5 -4 4
-4 32
----------------------------
1 -8 37
This result is not helpful. So, try the possible root +4 instead:
________________
+4 / 1 -4 5 -4 4
4 0 20 64
----------------------------
1 0 5 16 68 4 is not a root because the remainder
(68) is not zero.
Try x = 2:
________________
+2 / 1 -4 5 -4 4
2 -4 2 -40
----------------------------
1 -2 1 -2 0
2 is a root because the remainder is zero.
Continue this process until you've found the other 3 roots.
Hint: Try the possible root x = -2 with the following coefficients:
____________
-2 / 1 -2 1 -2
---------------------
3 blue birds
if he sees 5 more than blue 8 - 5 = 3
