(x+7)2-4=0

2 min read Jun 17, 2024
(x+7)2-4=0

Solving the Quadratic Equation: (x+7)² - 4 = 0

This article will guide you through the process of solving the quadratic equation (x+7)² - 4 = 0. We will use various methods to find the solutions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

1. Expanding and Simplifying

First, we can expand the squared term:

(x+7)² = (x+7)(x+7) = x² + 14x + 49

Now, substitute this back into the original equation:

x² + 14x + 49 - 4 = 0

Simplifying the equation gives us:

x² + 14x + 45 = 0

2. Factoring

We can now factor the quadratic expression:

(x + 5)(x + 9) = 0

This means either:

x + 5 = 0 or x + 9 = 0

Solving for x in each case, we get:

x = -5 or x = -9

3. Quadratic Formula

Alternatively, we can use the quadratic formula to solve for x:

x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / 2a

where a = 1, b = 14, and c = 45 from the simplified equation x² + 14x + 45 = 0.

Substituting these values into the formula:

x = (-14 ± √(14² - 4 * 1 * 45)) / 2 * 1

x = (-14 ± √(196 - 180)) / 2

x = (-14 ± √16) / 2

x = (-14 ± 4) / 2

This gives us two solutions:

x = (-14 + 4) / 2 = -5

x = (-14 - 4) / 2 = -9

4. Conclusion

Therefore, the solutions to the quadratic equation (x+7)² - 4 = 0 are x = -5 and x = -9. We have solved this equation using multiple methods, demonstrating the versatility and power of different approaches in solving quadratic equations.

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