Solving (x-7)^2 = 64 using the Square Root Method
This article will guide you through solving the equation (x-7)² = 64 using the square root method. This method provides a straightforward way to isolate the variable x.
Understanding the Square Root Method
The square root method relies on the principle that for any number a, the square root of a² is simply a. We can apply this principle to solve equations where a variable is squared.
Steps to Solve the Equation
- Isolate the squared term: In this case, the squared term is already isolated: (x-7)² = 64.
- Take the square root of both sides: Applying the square root to both sides gives us: √(x-7)² = ±√64.
- Simplify: √(x-7)² simplifies to (x-7), and √64 equals 8. Therefore, we have: (x-7) = ±8.
- Solve for x: Now we have two separate equations:
- x - 7 = 8
- x - 7 = -8
- Solve for x in each equation:
- x - 7 = 8 Adding 7 to both sides gives us x = 15.
- x - 7 = -8 Adding 7 to both sides gives us x = -1.
Conclusion
By applying the square root method, we successfully solved the equation (x-7)² = 64, obtaining two solutions: x = 15 and x = -1. Remember to consider both positive and negative square roots when solving equations using this method.