Calculus help

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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How does e^4x - e^2x - e^x - e^4x simplify?
Does it just go to e^-3x?

And if not, can anyone explain what it does and how you work it out?

TIA.
 

JoPh

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2002
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e^4x cancles with -e^4x

leaving - e^2x - e^x

for some reason i thinks that as far. i dont think u can combine exponents or something since they are different. but i dont remember. its been a long time.
 

JoPh

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2002
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i think this is the rule to reduce exponents when add/sub

Exponents must be the same (Collecting Like Terms).

 

everman

Lifer
Nov 5, 2002
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Seems like more students tend to have problems with the algebra involved than things like derivatives and integrals etc.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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Oh definitely. Most of my students breeze through the calculus steps, only to be hung up on the algebra stuff (or vice versa - get hung up on the algebra that occurs before the calculus step)

(defining the "calculus step" to be the step during which they actually integrate or differentiate)
 

SuPrEIVIE

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Aug 21, 2003
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calculus machine* pleaze depozit a total of 2 dollarz and 20 centz in the paypal zlot below







J/k would like to help you if i could
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
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Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
Actually the most simplified answer would be (-e^x)(e^2 + 1)

That's what I was going to write.

IMO, the difficulties folks have with algebra start with poor understanding (and therefore teaching) of fractions. It's depressing to think how many people think they are "just bad at math" because they had a crappy fourth grade math teacher.
 

ClueLis

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Jul 2, 2003
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Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
Actually the most simplified answer would be (-e^x)(e^2 + 1)

The exponents don't break up that way. It would be (-e^x)(e^x+1)

Edit: note that e^2x=(e^x)^2
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
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Originally posted by: ClueLis
Originally posted by: Dark4ng3l
Actually the most simplified answer would be (-e^x)(e^2 + 1)

The exponents don't break up that way. It would be (-e^x)(e^x+1)

Edit: note that e^2x=(e^x)^2

Whoops, good call. Must have been a typo by Dark. Didn't see that at first.