Solving the Equation: (2x - 5)^2 = 81
This equation involves a squared term, making it a quadratic equation. Here's how to solve it:
1. Take the Square Root of Both Sides
To get rid of the square, we take the square root of both sides of the equation:
√((2x - 5)²) = ±√81
This gives us:
2x - 5 = ±9
2. Solve for Two Possible Cases
Now we have two separate equations to solve:
Case 1: 2x - 5 = 9
Case 2: 2x - 5 = -9
3. Solve for x in Each Case
Case 1:
- Add 5 to both sides: 2x = 14
- Divide both sides by 2: x = 7
Case 2:
- Add 5 to both sides: 2x = -4
- Divide both sides by 2: x = -2
4. Solutions
Therefore, the solutions to the equation (2x - 5)² = 81 are x = 7 and x = -2.