SOLUTION: Its been forever, trying to help my kid with similar problems, how to solve for x x^2+7x-44=0 (x^2 is x squared) answer is listed x= -11, 4

Algebra ->  Square-cubic-other-roots -> SOLUTION: Its been forever, trying to help my kid with similar problems, how to solve for x x^2+7x-44=0 (x^2 is x squared) answer is listed x= -11, 4      Log On


   

Question 329149: Its been forever, trying to help my kid with similar problems, how to solve for x
x^2+7x-44=0 (x^2 is x squared)
answer is listed x= -11, 4
Found 2 solutions by Fombitz, solver91311:
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Look for factors of -44 that sum to 7
%28x%2Ba%29%28x%2Bb%29=x%5E2%2B%28a%2Bb%29x%2Bab
%281%29%2B+%28-44%29=+-43
%282%29%2B+%28-22%29=+-20
%284%29%2B+%28-11%29=+-7
%2811%29%2B%28+-4%29=+7<--- That's the one
%2822%29%2B%28+-2%29=+20
%2844%29%2B%28+-1%29=+43
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.
.
a=11, b=-4
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.
.
%28x%2Ba%29%28x%2Bb%29=x%5E2%2B%28a%2Bb%29x%2Bab
%28x%2B11%29%28x-4%29=x%5E2%2B7x%2B44=0
Using the zero product property,
x%2B11=0
x=-11
.
.
.
x-4=0
x=4

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Three ways to do this, two of them practical in this case.

Factoring:

Recognize that and .

Then you can say:



Then use the Zero Product Rule, namely if and only if or , hence:





Or use the quadratic formula, which is the general solution to the quadratic equation :



For your problem:

, , and

So



I'll let you do your own arithmetic to determine that or

John