Solving the Quadratic Equation: (x-4)(x-10) = -9
This article will guide you through the steps to solve the quadratic equation (x-4)(x-10) = -9.
1. Expand the Left Side
First, we expand the left side of the equation by multiplying the terms:
(x-4)(x-10) = x² - 10x - 4x + 40
Simplifying, we get:
x² - 14x + 40 = -9
2. Move the Constant Term
Next, we move the constant term (-9) to the left side of the equation:
x² - 14x + 40 + 9 = 0
This gives us:
x² - 14x + 49 = 0
3. Factor the Quadratic Equation
Now, we factor the quadratic equation. We need to find two numbers that add up to -14 and multiply to 49. These numbers are -7 and -7.
Therefore, we can factor the equation as:
(x - 7)(x - 7) = 0
4. Solve for x
To solve for x, we set each factor equal to zero:
x - 7 = 0 or x - 7 = 0
Solving for x in both cases gives us:
x = 7
Conclusion
The solution to the quadratic equation (x-4)(x-10) = -9 is x = 7. This means that the equation is true only when x is equal to 7.