Solving equations

Question

How to solve a number minus 17 divided by 2 squared equals 1

Answer 1

Alright, then. I'm going to assume it's either one of the first two. One at a time:

 

x - 17/2² = 1

x - 17/4 = 1

 

x = 1 + 17/4

x = 1 +4 + 1/4

x = 5 ¹/₄

 

x - (17 / 2)² = 1

 

Step one is to factor the square:

 

x - 17 * 17 / 2 / 2 = 1

x - ²⁸⁹/₄ = 1

x = 1 + ²⁸⁹/₄

x = 1 + 72 ¹/₄

x = 73 ¹/₄

 

As you can see by the difference of these two answers, just what is getting squared changes the answer radically.

Answer 2

If the teacher didn't specify otherwise, the first interpretation above is it -- i.e., assume no parentheses at all. --> a little more than 2 (but you must show work!)