Solve: x2 + 4x - 12 = 0
x = 2, x = -6
x = -2, x = -6
x = 3, x = -4
x = -3, x = 4
Solution:
Let us factorise the polynomial to find the value of x by splitting the middle term.
Step 1:
Identify the values of a, b and c.
In the above equation, a is coefficient of x2 = 1, b is the coefficient of x = 4 and c is the constant term = - 12.
Step 2:
Multiply a and c and find the factors that add up to b.
1 × (- 12) = - 12
⇒ 6 and - 2 are the factors that add up to b.
Step 3:
Split bx into two terms.
x2 + 6x - 2x - 12 = 0
Step 4:
Take out the common factors by grouping.
x(x + 6) - 2(x + 6) = 0
(x - 2) (x + 6) = 0
By putting the factors equal to zero we get two values of x
x - 2 = 0 and x + 6 = 0
x = 2 and x = -6
Thus, the two values that satisfy the equation are 2 and - 6.
Solve: x2 + 4x - 12 = 0
Summary:
The values of x for the equation x2 + 4x - 12 = 0 is x = 2, -6 which satisfies the equation.
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