(x+3) - 2(x+4) = (x-4)(x-3) Put a 1 before the first parenthesis on the left 1(x+3) - 2(x+4) = (x-4)(x-3) Remove parentheses on left by distributing. Use FOIL on the right x + 3 - 2x - 8 = x² - 3x - 4x + 12 -x - 5 = x² - 7x + 12 0 = x² - 6x + 17 This won't factor Use the quadratic formula: ______ -b ± Öb²-4ac x = ————————————— 2a where a = 1; b = -6; c = 17 ______________ -(-6) ± Ö(-6)²-4(1)(17) x = ———————————————————————— 2(1) _____ 6 ± Ö36-68 x = ———————————— 2 ___ 6 ± Ö-32 x = —————————— 2 __ 6 ± iÖ32 x = —————————— 2 ____ 6 ± iÖ16·2 x = ———————————— 2 _ 6 ± 4iÖ2 x = —————————— 2 _ 6 4iÖ2 x = ——— ± —————— 2 2 _ x = 3 ± 2iÖ2 Edwin