[Math] Factoring with fractional exponents

algebra-precalculus

I really hate to keep asking questions but I just can't figure this out, I don't know what is wrong with me but I can't figure it out. I stared at it for 5 minutes and not a thought came into my head on how to do it that actually accomplished anything.

$3x^{3/2}-9x^{1/2}+6x^{-1/2}$ I am pretty sure I can't factor this with crazy exponents but I don't know how to get rid of them and keep the problem the same. At least in any way that simplifies things.

Best Answer

Try replacing $x$ with $u^2$ to clear the fractional exponents.

If $u^2=x$, we get $3x^{3/2}-9x^{1/2}+6x^{-1/2} = 3(u^2)^{3/2}-9(u^2)^{1/2}+6(u^2)^{-1/2}$ $= 3u^3-9u+6u^{-1}$

Next, factor out $u^{-1}$ and get $3u^{-1}(u^4-3u^2+2)$.

This is now quadratic in $u^2$ (which is $x$) so we get $3x^{-1/2}(x^2-3x+2) = $

$$ \frac{3(x-2)(x-1)}{\sqrt{x}}$$

Of course, you can avoid introducing $u$ if you see that factoring out $x^{-1/2}$ at the beginning leaves you with a quadratic in $x$.

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