What strategy is the most appropriate strategy to solve the following equation?

Question

Which strategy is the most appropriate strategy to solve x^2 - 8x = 242

is it zero product property

complete the square

square root property

Answer 1

To use the zero product property, you would have to find two integer factors of -242 that combine to -8. That will not happen in this case.

You will have to use complete the square instead, which is not all that difficult. Note that this method also involves use of the square root property in the final steps.

Also, there is a quadratic formula calculator website online to check your result.