Solve and Compare: Tackle the Equations 3 + x + 17 - 56x = 18x + 44 and (x-2)(x+2) = 0

Equation Comparison with Mixed Solution Types

Solve each equation separately and find which x is the largest.

  1. 3+x+1756x=18x+44 3+x+17-56x=18x+44

  2. (x2)(x+2)=0 (x-2)(x+2)=0

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the largest X
00:03 First find X from section 1
00:15 Collect terms
00:30 Arrange the equation so that X is only on the left side
00:58 Collect terms
01:12 Isolate X
01:22 This is the solution for X in section 1
01:26 Now let's calculate X from section 2
01:39 Find the solutions that make the equation equal to zero
01:43 These are the possible solutions for X in section 2
01:50 We can see that in section 2 one of the possible solutions is the largest
01:54 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve each equation separately and find which x is the largest.

  1. 3+x+1756x=18x+44 3+x+17-56x=18x+44

  2. (x2)(x+2)=0 (x-2)(x+2)=0

2

Step-by-step solution

Let's solve each equation step-by-step and find the largest x x .

Equation 1: 3+x+1756x=18x+44 3 + x + 17 - 56x = 18x + 44

This is a linear equation. We will simplify and solve for x x .

  • Combine like terms on the left side: 3+17+x56x=2055x 3 + 17 + x - 56x = 20 - 55x .
  • Equate the simplified expression to the right side: 2055x=18x+44 20 - 55x = 18x + 44 .
  • Move all terms involving x x to one side: 2044=18x+55x 20 - 44 = 18x + 55x .
  • This simplifies to 24=73x -24 = 73x .
  • Solve for x x by dividing both sides by 73: x=2473 x = -\frac{24}{73} .

The solution for x x from the first equation is x=2473 x = -\frac{24}{73} .

Equation 2: (x2)(x+2)=0(x-2)(x+2) = 0

This equation is a difference of squares, (x24)=0(x^2 - 4) = 0.

  • Apply the zero-product property: x2=0 x - 2 = 0 or x+2=0 x + 2 = 0 .
  • Solve each equation: x=2 x = 2 and x=2 x = -2 .

The solutions from the second equation are x=2 x = 2 and x=2 x = -2 .

Conclusion

From both equations, we have the possible values of x x as 2473-\frac{24}{73}, 2-2, and 22.

The largest value among these is 22.

Therefore, the largest x x is 2 2 .

3

Final Answer

2

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Linear Solving: Combine like terms, then isolate variable systematically
  • Zero Product: For (x-2)(x+2) = 0, set each factor to zero: x = 2, x = -2
  • Compare Solutions: Check -24/73 ≈ -0.33, -2, and 2 to find largest ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to compare all solutions from both equations
    Don't just solve each equation separately without comparing = missing the final step! Students often solve correctly but forget to identify which x value is actually largest. Always list all solutions and compare their numerical values to find the maximum.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Solve:

\( (2+x)(2-x)=0 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does the second equation have two solutions?

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The equation (x-2)(x+2) = 0 is a product of two factors. When a product equals zero, at least one factor must be zero. So either x-2 = 0 (giving x = 2) or x+2 = 0 (giving x = -2).

How do I compare a fraction like -24/73 with whole numbers?

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Convert the fraction to a decimal: -24/73 ≈ -0.33. Now you can easily compare: -2 < -0.33 < 2, so 2 is the largest.

Can I expand (x-2)(x+2) instead of using zero product property?

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Yes! Expanding gives x² - 4 = 0, then x² = 4, so x = ±2. Both methods work, but zero product property is usually faster for factored equations.

What if I made an algebra mistake in the linear equation?

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Always check your work! Substitute x = -24/73 back into the original equation 3 + x + 17 - 56x = 18x + 44. Both sides should give the same value.

Why do we need to find the largest x from all equations?

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The question asks us to compare solutions from different equations. We're not solving a system (where x must satisfy both), but finding which individual solution has the greatest value.

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