The problem
FACTORING EXPONENTS QUESTION .
Hello , I had another question about the quadratic formula format , this time , it's about the exponents .
The quadratic formula is ax^2 + bx + c .
Where the 1st term is to the 2nd power and the middle to the 1st , but in this equation
x^8 -11b^2x^4 +24b^4 the 1st term is to the 8th power and the middle to the 4th .
So , I guess the quadratic formula means that the 1st term's exponent has to be twice the 2nd terms ? Example , 1st term x^12 , middle x^6 ............ n^10 , n^ 5 etc ... If so , then I understand how they got the answer , my question is just about the exponents , thank you .
Answer provided by our tutors
Yes that is correct (and the third term can not have the power at all)
This is the case for 'normal' quadratic expression as well since the middle term exponent is really equal to 1
but we don't write it explicitly
ax^2 + bx^1 + c