Solving the Equation: (x-8)^2 = 20
This equation involves a squared term, so we'll use the square root property to solve for x. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
1. Isolate the Squared Term:
The squared term is already isolated on the left side of the equation.
2. Take the Square Root of Both Sides:
Remember that taking the square root of both sides introduces both positive and negative solutions.
√[(x-8)²] = ±√20
3. Simplify:
- √[(x-8)²] = x-8
- √20 = √(4 * 5) = 2√5
Therefore, we have:
x - 8 = ±2√5
4. Solve for x:
Add 8 to both sides of the equation:
x = 8 ± 2√5
Final Solution:
The solutions to the equation (x-8)² = 20 are:
- x = 8 + 2√5
- x = 8 - 2√5
These are the two possible values of x that satisfy the original equation.