Determine the value of X:
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Determine the value of X:
Let's solve the given equation:
First, let's arrange the equation by moving terms:
Now we notice that the coefficient of the squared term is 1, therefore, we can (try to) factor the expression on the left side using quick trinomial factoring:
Let's look for a pair of numbers whose product equals the free term in the expression, and whose sum equals the coefficient of the first-degree term, meaning two numbers that satisfy:
From the first requirement mentioned, that is - from the multiplication, we notice that the product of the numbers we're looking for needs to yield a negative result, therefore we can conclude that the two numbers have different signs, according to multiplication rules, and now we'll remember that the possible factors of 10 are 2 and 5 or 10 and 1, fulfilling the second requirement mentioned, along with the fact that the numbers we're looking for have different signs will lead to the conclusion that the only possibility for the two numbers we're looking for is:
Therefore we'll factor the expression on the left side of the equation to:
From here we'll remember that the result of multiplication between expressions will yield 0 only if at least one of the multiplied expressions equals zero,
Therefore we'll get two simple equations and solve them by isolating the unknown in each:
or:
Let's summarize then the solution of the equation:
Therefore the correct answer is answer A.
\( x^2+6x+9=0 \)
What is the value of X?
Look for two numbers that multiply to give the constant term (-10) and add to give the middle coefficient (3). Since we need a negative product, the numbers must have opposite signs!
If factoring doesn't work easily, try the quadratic formula: . It works for any quadratic equation!
Quadratic equations typically have two solutions because a parabola can cross the x-axis at two points. Both and are correct!
Expand your factored form back out! ✓ This matches our equation.
If two things multiply to give zero, then at least one of them must be zero. So if , then either or (or both).
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