SOLUTION: In question #8318 can you help me understand where 40 came from in the equation. Is there a way to simplify or shorten? Thanks & sorry I don't understand.

Algebra.Com
Question 8324: In question #8318 can you help me understand where 40 came from in the equation. Is there a way to simplify or shorten? Thanks & sorry I don't understand.
Answer by bonster(299)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
when you multiply (x)(26+x) and equal that to 560 it becomes:
26(x)+(x)(x)=560 which equals 26x+=560

=0
(x+40) and (x-14) comes from factoring =0

In order to factorize this, you must ask yourself...
what two numbers must I multiply to get 560 AND who's difference=26
If you multiply 40 and 14, you'll get 560 AND the difference of 40-14 is 26.

BUT, we can safely conclude that we will not use (x+40)=0 because then, we would be saying that someone would be a negative age.

In this case, it would only be x-14=0 which would be used because the value of "x" would be a positive number.

Does that make sense?

RELATED QUESTIONS

I need to solve these quadratic equations using the method that came from India. I am... (answered by solver91311)
This is a word step equation. I'll type it down. Renting in-line skates and safety... (answered by Theo,MathTherapy)
Can you help me with this equation. My son came up with the wrong answer and when i used... (answered by funmath)
I dont remember what the rules are for reducing a linear equation with this many... (answered by elima)
What is the easier way of finding the fourth positive root of 81 Do I have to start at (answered by Alan3354,stanbon)
I have a story question that is really bugging me and my family. If you can help it would (answered by stanbon,ankor@dixie-net.com)
The equation of a mirror in a particular telscope is y = x2/780 where x is the radius and (answered by jim_thompson5910)
Find the equation of a line that passes through the points (1/3,4/5) and -5/7,1/4). Put... (answered by lwsshak3,richwmiller)
In school i lerned how to slove the quadratic equations by spliting it into seperate... (answered by Earlsdon)