Carcass wrote:
Which of the following is a solution of \(x^2 + 2x – 8 = 7\)?
(A) 4
(B) –3
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 5
One approach is to
test each answer choice.
I'll leave it to students to do that.
Another (and likely faster) approach is the
factor the quadratic (once we have
set the quadratic equal to zero)
Take: \(x^2 + 2x – 8 = 7\)
Subtract 7 from both sides of the equation to get: \(x^2 + 2x – 15 = 0\)
Factor to get: \((x-3)(x+5)=0\)
So EITHER \((x-3)=0\) OR \((x+5)=0\)
If \((x-3)=0\), then \(x=3\)
Check the answer choices...
BINGO!
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent