SOLUTION: "suppose x^2+a^2x+a^2 factors into (x+a)^2. what is the value of a, that is not zero?"

Question 183200: "suppose x^2+a^2x+a^2 factors into (x+a)^2. what is the value of a, that is not zero?"
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since we're supposing that "x^2+a^2x+a^2 factors into (x+a)^2", this means that

Start with the given equation.

FOIL the right side

Subtract from both sides. Note: the terms cancel out.

Subtract from both sides. Note: the terms cancel out.

So we're left with:

Divide both sides by "x". Once again, the "x" terms cancel

Simplify

Subtract 2a from both sides.

Factor the left side

Now set each factor equal to zero:

or

or Now solve for "a" in each case

Note: since we want a value of "a" "that is not zero", this means that we'll ignore the value

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Answer:

So the solution is

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