Explain why the following quotient is incorrect:

When you divide a positive number (such as 1,000) by a number greater than 1 (such as 5), the answer must be smaller than the number you started with. The answer must be smaller than 1,000. 2,000 is greater than 1,000, so it cannot be correct. The correct quotient is 1,000/5 = 200.

a4 - 3a2 - 1

step-by-step explanation:

step   1   :

equation at the end of step   1   :

  ((a4) -   3a2) -   1

step   2   :

trying to factor by splitting the middle term

2.1     factoring   a4-3a2-1  

the first term is,   a4   its coefficient is   1 .

the middle term is,   -3a2   its coefficient is   -3 .

the last term, "the constant", is   -1