SOLUTION: Would someone please clarify my math on this? The quadratic equation came out to: 4+/- 2 times radical 10, all divided by 4. To solve, I divided each term in the numerator by

Question 979810: Would someone please clarify my math on this?
The quadratic equation came out to: 4+/- 2 times radical 10, all divided by 4.
To solve, I divided each term in the numerator by 4, yielding 1 +/- radical 10 divided by 2.
However, the solution factored the 4 in the numerator and denominator, then canceled out three 2s to yield 2 +/- radical 10, all divided by 2.
They both calculate out to the same thing. But, so that I don't make future mistakes, it seems that either the solution didn't go all the way, or I did something that may have worked here, but is in fact wrong and may not work in the future.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Helen

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
4+/- 2 times radical 10, all divided by 4.



You can either do as you did and make two fractions:



The simplify as



Or else you can factor 2 out of the numerator:



Then divide numerator and denominator by 2



They are both correct and equal.

It's very similar to the question of whether we 
prefer  to .  Your teacher could not 
mark either one wrong.

Edwin

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