Solving the Quadratic Equation: (x-3)(x-1) = 15
This article will guide you through the steps to solve the quadratic equation (x-3)(x-1) = 15.
1. Expanding the Equation
First, we need to expand the left side of the equation by multiplying the two binomials:
(x-3)(x-1) = x² - 4x + 3
Now the equation becomes:
x² - 4x + 3 = 15
2. Rearranging the Equation
Next, we need to rearrange the equation into standard quadratic form (ax² + bx + c = 0):
x² - 4x - 12 = 0
3. Factoring the Equation
Now we can factor the quadratic equation:
(x - 6)(x + 2) = 0
4. Solving for x
To find the solutions for x, we set each factor equal to zero and solve:
- x - 6 = 0 => x = 6
- x + 2 = 0 => x = -2
Conclusion
Therefore, the solutions to the quadratic equation (x-3)(x-1) = 15 are x = 6 and x = -2.