How do you decide what operations are needed in a given situation?

What is the value of x in the following equation. -x ^3/2 = -27

Three numbers x, y, and z are in the ratio 2: 7: 8. if 12 is subtracted from y, then three numbers form a geometric sequence (in the order x, y–12, z). find x, y, and z. there are 2 sets.

Find the directions in which the function increases and decreases most rapidly at upper p 0p0. then find the derivatives of the function in these directions. f(x,y)equals=x squared plus xy plus y squaredx2+xy+y2, upper p 0p0left parenthesis 1 comma negative 4 right parenthesis