document.write( "Question 987360: Hi. I have a question for you. I am working on a problem and here it is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "4x^2-44x+72=0
\n" ); document.write( "The least common multiple would be 4 so if I divide each term by 4, I end up with 4(x^2-11x+18=0) My confusion is this. I checked the answer and the answer is (x=2)(x=9) what happened to the four? Can you shed some light on this?
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #608107 by MathTherapy(10552)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi. I have a question for you. I am working on a problem and here it is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "4x^2-44x+72=0
\n" ); document.write( "The least common multiple would be 4 so if I divide each term by 4, I end up with 4(x^2-11x+18=0) My confusion is this. I checked the answer and the answer is (x=2)(x=9) what happened to the four? Can you shed some light on this?
\n" ); document.write( "
FYI: 4 is the GCF (greatest common factor) of the equation, NOT the LCM
\n" ); document.write( "When you divided by 4, you were supposed to get: \"4%28x%5E2+-+11x+%2B+18%29+=+4%280%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "Do you see how this was done? You should've divided BOTH sides by 4, not just the left side
\n" ); document.write( "Now, 4 = 4, and what's in the parentheses are set equal to each other
\n" ); document.write( "So, we have: 4 = 4 (TRUE), and \"highlight_green%28x%5E2+-+11x+%2B+18+=+0%29\". The quadratic equation is then factored and solved for x to get roots of 2 and 9. \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );