Solving the Quadratic Equation: (x-6)^2 - 5 = 0
This article will walk you through the steps to solve the quadratic equation (x-6)^2 - 5 = 0. We'll explore two methods: taking the square root and using the quadratic formula.
Method 1: Taking the Square Root
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Isolate the squared term:
- Add 5 to both sides of the equation: (x-6)^2 = 5
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Take the square root of both sides:
- Remember to include both positive and negative square roots: x - 6 = ±√5
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Solve for x:
- Add 6 to both sides: x = 6 ±√5
Therefore, the solutions to the equation are x = 6 + √5 and x = 6 - √5.
Method 2: Using the Quadratic Formula
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Expand the squared term:
- (x-6)^2 = x^2 - 12x + 36
- The equation becomes: x^2 - 12x + 36 - 5 = 0
- Simplify: x^2 - 12x + 31 = 0
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Identify coefficients:
- In the standard quadratic equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0, we have:
- a = 1
- b = -12
- c = 31
- In the standard quadratic equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0, we have:
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Apply the quadratic formula:
- x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a
- Substitute the values: x = (12 ± √((-12)^2 - 4 * 1 * 31)) / 2 * 1
- Simplify: x = (12 ± √(144 - 124)) / 2
- Further simplification: x = (12 ± √20) / 2
- x = (12 ± 2√5) / 2
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Simplify the solution:
- x = 6 ± √5
We arrive at the same solutions as before: x = 6 + √5 and x = 6 - √5.
Conclusion
Both methods effectively solve the quadratic equation (x-6)^2 - 5 = 0, resulting in the same solutions: x = 6 + √5 and x = 6 - √5. Choosing the appropriate method depends on your preference and the complexity of the equation.