Solving the Equation (x-1)(x+3) = 0
This equation is a simple quadratic equation in factored form. To find the solutions, we utilize the Zero Product Property.
The Zero Product Property states that if the product of two or more factors is zero, then at least one of the factors must be zero.
Applying the Zero Product Property
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Set each factor equal to zero:
- x - 1 = 0
- x + 3 = 0
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Solve for x in each equation:
- x = 1
- x = -3
Solutions
Therefore, the solutions to the equation (x-1)(x+3) = 0 are x = 1 and x = -3. These are the values of x that make the equation true.
Verification
We can verify our solutions by substituting them back into the original equation:
- For x = 1: (1 - 1)(1 + 3) = 0 * 4 = 0
- For x = -3: (-3 - 1)(-3 + 3) = -4 * 0 = 0
As we can see, both solutions satisfy the original equation, confirming their validity.