Solving the Quadratic Equation: (2x-1)² = (x+1)²
This article will walk you through the steps of solving the quadratic equation (2x-1)² = (x+1)².
Understanding the Problem
We're given an equation with squared terms on both sides. Our goal is to find the values of x that satisfy the equation.
Solving the Equation
-
Expand the squares:
- (2x-1)² = 4x² - 4x + 1
- (x+1)² = x² + 2x + 1
-
Set up the equation:
- 4x² - 4x + 1 = x² + 2x + 1
-
Simplify by combining like terms:
- 3x² - 6x = 0
-
Factor out a common factor:
- 3x(x - 2) = 0
-
Set each factor equal to zero:
- 3x = 0 or x - 2 = 0
-
Solve for x:
- x = 0 or x = 2
The Solutions
Therefore, the solutions to the quadratic equation (2x-1)² = (x+1)² are x = 0 and x = 2.
Verification
To verify our solutions, we can substitute each value of x back into the original equation:
-
For x = 0: (2(0)-1)² = (-1)² = 1; (0+1)² = 1² = 1. The equation holds true.
-
For x = 2: (2(2)-1)² = (3)² = 9; (2+1)² = 3² = 9. The equation holds true.
Conclusion
We have successfully solved the quadratic equation (2x-1)² = (x+1)² by expanding, simplifying, factoring, and solving for x. The solutions are x = 0 and x = 2, which can be verified by plugging them back into the original equation.