Solving the Equation (x+5)² = 0
This equation is a quadratic equation in disguise! Here's how to solve it and understand its standard form:
Understanding the Equation:
- (x+5)²: This represents the square of the binomial (x+5). In other words, it's (x+5) multiplied by itself: (x+5)(x+5).
Expanding and Simplifying:
- Expand the square: (x+5)(x+5) = x² + 5x + 5x + 25
- Combine like terms: x² + 10x + 25 = 0
Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation:
The standard form of a quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c = 0, where 'a', 'b', and 'c' are constants.
Our simplified equation (x² + 10x + 25 = 0) is already in standard form.
Solving for x:
- Factoring: Notice that the left side of the equation is a perfect square trinomial: (x + 5)² = 0.
- Take the square root: √(x + 5)² = √0
- Simplify: x + 5 = 0
- Solve for x: x = -5
Solution:
The solution to the equation (x+5)² = 0 is x = -5.
Important Note: This equation has a single solution, which means the graph of the quadratic function would intersect the x-axis at only one point, making it a "double root".