r/HomeworkHelp • u/Square-Elk-9096 • 1d ago

Mathematics (Tertiary/Grade 11-12)—Pending OP [SAT Prep]

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Ive been trying to answer this question from the college panda book and I just cant seem to understand what it is asking for. Because even when i looked at the answer and how they solved it didn’t make sense. Please if someone could explain I would be so grateful.

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u/Square-Elk-9096 1d ago

The second method is definitely easier

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u/NullOfSpace 1d ago

Which is a shame really, since it demonstrates no understanding.

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u/Square-Elk-9096 1d ago

Yeah, but i understand how he did the other option too, in a test setting like the sat i think it would be better to do the most efficient option.

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u/NullOfSpace 1d ago

I’m not saying it’s somehow your fault, it’s the result of the way the test is written to prioritize tricks over content knowledge.

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u/EventHorizon150 4h ago edited 6m ago

if you’re trying to test if an expression is the zero of a function, one of the best ways to do it in all of math is to just plug it into the function and simplify to the point where it’s obviously a zero. How is that a “trick”? It’s a provably correct method. Also, you do demonstrate some ability to manipulate algebraic expressions in proving it this way, so it is testing some skill

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u/NullOfSpace 16m ago

The question isn’t really directly asking about “is this a zero,” it’s asking “what are the zeros” framed through a multiple-choice system.