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Easy problems
Have you ever thought “There has to be an easier way!” when confronted in
a test with something like:
(
)
(
)
1
3
2
1
3
9
4
x
x
−
−
− = −
If you’re sure there is only one answer to a problem, as there is in this case,
then solving it is simply a matter of entering the equation into the
SYMB
view
and solving it.
Harder problems
When you know or suspect that there is going
to be more than one solution to a problem
then the
PLOT
view can help you to obtain
estimates.
For example:
(
)
1
2
2
x
x
+
=
When you plot this you can see that the
solutions are near -2 and 1
.
5. If we now
switch to the
NUM
view we can use these as
initial guesses. This will give solutions of -
2
.
56 and 1
.
56.
In this case the problem shown will graph easily on the default
PLOT
view but
this will not always be the case. You may need to adjust the axes in
PLOT
SETUP
. Your teacher may insist on an answer given as a surd, or on
showing all working, but even in that case you’ll at least be able to check
your answer.