You guys are describing using the factor theorem, which is OK if the roots are rational and coefficients are integers. BUT if they are not rational it might be harder.
In this case, you could use the quartic formula:
or use Wolfram|Alpha
They won't ask you a general case in HSC. They'll ask you to maybe solve an easy case using rational root theorem, factor theorem and later maybe conjugate root theorem. OR they might give a symmetric quartic poly to be solved ie where A=E,B=D eg: x^4+4x^3+6x^2+4x+1.I know Like in a quartic eqn. such as Ax^4 + Bx^3 + Cx^2 + Dx + E
we usually sub in values up to +-4 and find a root, then do long division twice, I am sick of this method.
Does anyone has any other quicker method.
To solve a general quartic which can't be solved by other means such as the factor theorem, one needs to solve a resolvent cubic first.where did the y come from??