How do you solve x^4-13x^2+36<=0?

1 Answer
Oct 29, 2016

The answer is -3<=x<=-2 and 2<=x<=3

Explanation:

Let's start by factorising the expression
x^4-13x^2+36=(x^2-4)(x^2-9)
=(x-2)(x+2)(x-3)(x+3)

So (x-2)(x+2)(x-3)(x+3)<=0
Let's do a sign chart
xcolor(white)(aaaaaaaaaaa)-3color(white)(aaaa)-2color(white)(aaaa)2color(white)(aaaa)3
x+3color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaa)+
x+2color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaa)+
x-2color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)+color(white)(aaa)+
x-3color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaaa)-color(white)(aaa)+