## solve 4x^2-2xy+3y^2=2 for x in terms of y

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### solve 4x^2-2xy+3y^2=2 for x in terms of y

This is the beginning of our algebra course and I am already lost! This seems so simple, solve for x in terms of y:

4x^2-2xy+3y^2=2

I can't figure out how to isolate x on one side. The y keeps popping up! Help please!
Mumina

Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:41 pm

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Mumina wrote:...solve for x in terms of y: 4x^2-2xy+3y^2=2

The trick here is to view this as a quadratic in y:

. . . . .3y2 - 2xy + 4x2 = 2

You can apply the Quadratic Formula to the equation, with a = 3, b = -2x, and c = 4x2.

. . . . .$y\, =\, \frac{-(-2x)\, \pm\, \sqrt{(-2x)^2\, -\, 4(3)(4x^2)}}{2(3)}$

...and so forth.

You will get "y=" two different things, one from the "plus" and the other from the "minus" of the "plus / minus" in the Formula.

stapel_eliz

Posts: 1797
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 4:22 pm

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