Solving the Equation: (x + 4)² = 25
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
Since the left side of the equation is squared, we can isolate the variable by taking the square root of both sides:
√(x + 4)² = ±√25
2. Simplify
The square root of (x + 4)² is simply (x + 4), and the square root of 25 is 5. Remember, when taking the square root, we need to consider both positive and negative values:
x + 4 = ±5
3. Solve for x
Now we have two separate equations:
- x + 4 = 5
- x + 4 = -5
Solving the first equation: Subtract 4 from both sides: x = 5 - 4 x = 1
Solving the second equation: Subtract 4 from both sides: x = -5 - 4 x = -9
Solution
Therefore, the solutions to the equation (x + 4)² = 25 are:
x = 1 and x = -9