i need homework help

Question

x squared -x-12=0

Answer 1

x² - x - 12 = 0

There are 3 ways to solve this problem - factoring, graphing, or the quadratic equation. Factoring is usually  the quickest way if you have practice factoring.

We want to re-write this as    (x + ?)(x - ?) = 0

The last term of the left side is -12.  The only way to get a negative with multiplication is a positive times a negative. I need 2 numbers which multiply to give me -12, but they also have to add up to -1 to give me the -x in the middle (-1x , the invisible 1).

4 and 3 work, but one has to be negative. 4 + -3 = 1, so that is no good, but -4 + 3 = -1 that works!

So we have (x + 3)(x - 4) = 0

Now this equation would be true if x + 3 = 0. It would also be true if x - 4 = 0, so we have to try BOTH.

x + 3 = 0 solves to give you x = -3.

x - 4 = 0 solves to give you x = 4.   Therefore your solution is x = -3 and x = 4.

Answer 2

x2 - x - 12 = 0

First, you add 12 to both sides

x2 - x = 12

Then you add x to both sides

X2=12+x

Then you fill in the blanks. Let's try 4

4 squared=16=12+4

Therefore x equals 4.

Let's check this.

x2 - x - 12 = 0

4squared-4-12=0

16-4-12=0

It works.