to ask you to simplify this (GCSE maths mock)

[nojellybabies]

x-to-the-5 MINUS 4*x-cubed
OVER
3x-6

I've got A level maths and I'm stuck...

I’m going to fail 😢

thank you. Green Eggs.

how did you get that?

For the second question

you've got four months to go imip.
you can do it.

is

1/xsquared

the same as
x -to-the-power-of-minus-2?

Yeah

Solution to the second question

Oops. Missed p2.

so when the superscripted "to the power of" number/symbol moves above or below the line, its sign switches from positive to negative or vice versa?

That’s right. So 1 over x5 = x-5

Think others have beat me to it, had to sort toddlers dinner!

Roots become fractional indices eg square root x = x^1/2

thanks pass the pigs x

thanks purple.

DS1 is most impressed by mumsnet now. I'll have to name change so he can't discover my secrets!

I took so long to post that thread overtook me...

Don't worry too much about missing the difference of two squares. For questions like this you can have a check list in your mind.

1. go for the highest power of x (or whatever variable is being used) and take that outside the bracket (factorise). So in this case we have a common factor of x^3.

2. Then look for any numerical factors (for example in the denominator we have a common factor of 3)

3. Look at any remaining expression that you suspect might still be able to factorise. Usually this will be either the difference of two squares or a quadratic equation which can be factorised.

For example you might have 2x4 - 4x3 -30x2 = First take out a factor of x2 = x2(2x2 - 4x - 30x) . Then take out another factor of 2 = 2x2(x2 - 2x - 15). Then look at the remaining quadratic equation - can it be factorised? Yes! = 2x^2(x+3)(x-5). WE now have three factors none of which can be factorised any further

Thank you Bacon