Solving the Quadratic Equation: (x-1)^2 - 5(x-1) + 6 = 0
This article will guide you through solving the quadratic equation (x-1)^2 - 5(x-1) + 6 = 0. We will utilize the factoring method to find the solutions for x.
Understanding the Equation
The equation is a quadratic equation in disguise. To make it more obvious, let's use a substitution:
Let y = (x - 1). Now, our equation becomes:
y^2 - 5y + 6 = 0
Factoring the Equation
We can now factor this quadratic equation:
- Find two numbers that add up to -5 (the coefficient of y) and multiply to 6 (the constant term).
- The numbers -2 and -3 satisfy these conditions.
- Therefore, we can factor the equation as follows:
(y - 2)(y - 3) = 0
Solving for y
For the product of two terms to be zero, at least one of the terms must be zero. This gives us two possibilities:
- y - 2 = 0
- y - 3 = 0
Solving for y in each case:
- y = 2
- y = 3
Finding the Values of x
Now, we need to substitute back our original expression for y:
- x - 1 = 2
- x - 1 = 3
Solving for x in each case:
- x = 3
- x = 4
Conclusion
Therefore, the solutions to the quadratic equation (x-1)^2 - 5(x-1) + 6 = 0 are x = 3 and x = 4.