Is my fx-300 capable of factoring trinomials?

This is a scientific calculator that can perform many operations on numbers but not on letter symbols. It does not have a Computer Algebra System.

The TI 86 calculator does not manipulate algebraic expressions. If does not have a Computer Algebra System or CAS. Try the TI 89 Titanium, TI92/92PLUS, Voyage 200 PLT, TI Nspire CAS, TI Nspire CX CAS. In Casios you have the ClassPad series (300, 300Plus, 330 Plus and the latest 400. The ClassPad 400 has a color screen. It is also orientable portrait or landscape. Other Casios are the Algebra FX 2 and 2, and the FX 9860 G Plus/ SD. In HP you have HP 50G, HP49C, HP49G+.

There is a program called Prime Factor Analysis on this site. It is written for the FX-9750GPlus calculator but I suspect you should be able to use it on the FX-9860G. To access the site you must have an account. You can register and it is free.

The calculator itself does not have a computer algebra system and therefore cannot handle algebraic expressions.

Natively, the calculator cannot factor polynomials because it does not have a Computer Algebra System or (CAS). You can however find the roots of the polynomial equation P(x)=0 and factor approximately.

On the Internet, there is a program which you can download and transfer to your calculator. Here is the link (the page is in French).

The short story is that this calculator does have a computer algebra system or CAS and thus cannot factor polynomials with arbitrary (unknown) coefficients or known coefficients.
However if the coefficients are given you can ,if you are willing to travel that way, factor approximately a polynomial P(x).
Basically, the idea is that any polynomial P(X) of degree n can be written in the factored form (X-x_1)(X-x_2)...(X-x_n), where x_1, x_2, x_3,...x_n are the roots (real or complex) of the equation P(X)=0.


The procedure ( for a 3rd degree polynomial) is as follows:
If you want to factor a cubic polynomial P3(X) = aX^3 bX^2 cX d , you write the corresponding cubic equation as aX^3 bX^2 cX d =0 , then you divide all terms of the equation by a to obtain

X^3 (b/a)X^2 (c/a)X (d/a)=0.

You use the calculator to solve (approximately) this equation.
Suppose you find the 3 roots X1,X2,and X3. Then the polynomial X^3 (b/a)X^2 (c/a)X (d/a) can be cast in the factored form (X-X1)(X-X2)(X-X3) and the original polynomial P3(X) can be written as

P3(X) = a*(X-X1)(X-X2)(X-X3)

You can handle the quadratic polynomial the same way.
P2(X) =a*(X-X1)(X-X2) where X1, X2 are the two real roots.

Sorry but the calculator does not have a solving routine. You can however use the graphing capabilities of the Casio FX-7400GPLUS to solve an equation f(X)=0.

1. Graph the function Y=f(X)
2. Use the trace function to locate the point(s) where the function vanishes (has value Zero)

See the screen capture for an example.

If you were hoping that this calculator would be able to factorize polynomials for your, sorry my friend it cannot.

You cannot factor a polynomial with the help of this calculator. It does not have a Computer Algebra System or CAS. You can factor it approximately.

1. You can however rewrite the equation 7k^2+23k+6=0 in the canonical form X^2+ (23/7)X+(6/7)=0
2. Calculate its discriminant Delta= (23/7)^2-4*(6/7), which is positive, meaning that real solutions exist.
3. Calculate the two roots x1 and x2 (approximately).
4. The polynomial can be factored as (X-x1)(X-x2)
   

Sorry but the calculator does not have a solving routine. You can however use the graphing capabilities of the Casio FX-7400GPLUS to solve an equation f(X)=0.

1. Graph the function Y=f(X)
2. Use the trace function to locate the point(s) where the function vanishes (has value Zero)

See the screen capture for an example.

If you were hoping that this calculator would be able to factorize polynomials for your, sorry my friend it cannot.

Hello,
The FX-300MS cannot handle symbolic algebra. It cruches numbers but does manipulate litteral expressions. Sorry, it does not factor algebraic expressions.
Hope it helps.