Solve the Cubic Equation: x³ + x² - 12x = 0

Question

x3+x212x=0 x^3+x^2-12x=0

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:05 Let's find X.
00:08 First, factor out using X.
00:19 Take out the common factor from the parentheses.
00:36 This gives us one solution that makes the equation zero.
00:42 Now let's solve the second factor.
00:49 Factor the trinomial by identifying the coefficients.
00:54 Find two numbers whose sum is B, which is 1.
00:59 And whose product is C, which is negative twelve.
01:05 These are the numbers we need. Substitute them into the parentheses.
01:10 Find what makes each factor zero.
01:15 And that's how we solve this problem!

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the equation x3+x212x=0 x^3 + x^2 - 12x = 0 , follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Factor out the greatest common factor. The common factor here is x x .
  • Step 2: The equation becomes x(x2+x12)=0 x(x^2 + x - 12) = 0 .
  • Step 3: Apply the zero-product property. This gives us two equations to solve: x=0 x = 0 and x2+x12=0 x^2 + x - 12 = 0 .
  • Step 4: Solve x=0 x = 0 . This is a straightforward solution: x=0 x = 0 .
  • Step 5: Solve the quadratic equation x2+x12=0 x^2 + x - 12 = 0 . We will factor it:
    • Factor as (x3)(x+4)=0 (x - 3)(x + 4) = 0 .
    • Set each factor equal to zero: x3=0 x - 3 = 0 or x+4=0 x + 4 = 0 .
    • Solving these, we obtain x=3 x = 3 and x=4 x = -4 .

Therefore, the solutions to the equation are x=0 x = 0 , x=3 x = 3 , and x=4 x = -4 .

Thus, the complete solution set for x x is x=0,3,4 x = 0, 3, -4 .

Answer

x=0,3,4 x=0,3,-4