Solving the Equation (x + 5)² = 169
This equation involves a squared term, which means we need to use the square root property to solve for x. Here's how:
1. Isolate the Squared Term
We already have the squared term isolated on the left side of the equation: (x + 5)² = 169
2. Take the Square Root of Both Sides
Remember that when taking the square root of both sides, we need to consider both positive and negative solutions:
√(x + 5)² = ±√169
3. Simplify
This simplifies to:
x + 5 = ±13
4. Solve for x
Now we have two separate equations to solve:
-
Case 1: x + 5 = 13
- Subtract 5 from both sides: x = 8
-
Case 2: x + 5 = -13
- Subtract 5 from both sides: x = -18
Solution
Therefore, the solutions to the equation (x + 5)² = 169 are x = 8 and x = -18.