SOLUTION: How do you solve this question (a+4)(a+1)=0

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Question 702973: How do you solve this question (a+4)(a+1)=0
Answer by mouk(232) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For any given value of a then %28a%2B4%29 and %28a%2B1%29 are just numbers.

if any combination of numbers when multiplied together results in zero as the answer then one (or more) of the numbers must have been zero.

so if %28a%2B4%29%28a%2B1%29=0 then either %28a%2B4%29=0 or %28a%2B1%29=0
if %28a%2B4%29=0 then a=-4
if %28a%2B1%29=0 then a=-1


so there are two solutions: a=-4 or a=-1