what does this mean?

Question

Solve the following equation.


x^2=5x

x= ______, ______

 

Answer 1

You posted a different question that is similar to this one.  Are you familiar with factoring and solving trinomials with a squared value for the variable?  This is another one similar but a little bit easier.

 

Your question "what does this mean" means maybe  you are not fully understanding what needs to be done.

 

You are looking for "answers" or values of "x" that would make the equation true.

 

The equation is x squared equals 5x.

 

So you are looking for all values of x that would solve that equation.  There are two solutions, which is why they have a space for two answers.  Many times when x has a squared value there will be possibly as many as two answers.  

Answer 2

It means solve for x; that is, find the values of x that make the equation true.

 

     x² = 5x

     x² - 5x = 0

     x(x-5) = 0

 

The values of x that make this equation true are:

 

     x = 0, 5

 

Plug them to verify