Hey there, guys! Since I have some TCs and items to burn, I've decided to spend it on a little event.

Uncle Dave? What is this sh&#?
I'll post a math problem. If you solve it, and provide a step-by-step guide on how you solved it, I'll give you the amount of TCs plus an item specified below. Cheating (using a program to do it for you) will be apparent to me, and you'll be disqualified. You can either PM me your solution, or if you are feeling brave, you can post it here.

That sounds great! Show me the problem!
Our first problem will be the following equation. I'd like to know the real roots of it (x€R).
2x^4-5x^3-8x^2-5x+2=0

Neat! The prize?
2000 TC +

Remember, your answer is valid only if you provide a step-by-step solution! Have fun, lads

Well, I'm fucked. :|

Heres go nothin. Let's hope Honors Math helps. xD
2x^4-5x^3-8x^2-5x+2=0
2x^4=16x
5x^3=125x
8x^2=64x
16x-125x-64x-5x+2=0
-2 -2
16x-125x-64x-5x=-2
16x-125x=-109x
-109x-64x=-173x
-173x-5x=-178x
-178x=-2
/-178 /-178
0.011235955056179775280898876404494 with a remainder of -8
___________________________________
-178|-2.0000000000000000000000000000
-178||||||||||
-220|||||||||
-420||||| |||
-640|||| |||
-1060||| |||
-1700|| |||
-980| |||
-900|||
-1000|
-1100
-320
-178
-1420
-1740
-1380
-1340
-940
-500
-1440
-1600
-1760
-1580
-1560
-1360
-1140
-720
-800
-880
-1680
-720
-8
x=
0.011235955056179775280898876404494 with a remainder of -8 I think. :/

Fuck. Can't do this. Now you think that I suck. But I haven't learned this. Maybe next year. Just for explaining.

Umm, nope. 5x^3 isn't 125x, for example, it's 5x*x*x


This is high school maths. So maybe then.

That explains a lot. I kept wondering if the ^3 applied only to the variable or to the number too.

If it's (abcdx)^3, then it's (a^3)*(b^3)*...*(x^3). If it's abcdx^3, then it means a*b*c*d*(x^3). Rising to a power is a higher level operator than division and multiplication.

2x^4-5x^3-8x^2-5x+2=0

2x(4x4x4x4)=512
-5x(3x3x3)=135
-8x(2x2)=32
5x2.... i have no clue.. ;'(

Not really. x is a variable, not an operator.

/invade
[no longer /invade tho]

2x^4-5x^3-8x^2-5x+2=0
x^3(2x+5)+x(-8x -5) + 2 = 0
x^3+x +2 = 0
2x+5 = 0
-8x-5=0
x^3+x=-2
2x=-5
-8x=5
x + x = cubert(-2)
x=-2.5
x=-5/8
2x = cubert(-2)
2x = .629 + 1.091 i (wolfram alpha)
x = .314 + .545i (lolpie)
real roots are

2.5
and
5/8

But wolfram thinks im wrong, so i dunno lol.