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Question 1209885:  Let f be the piecewise function such that 
f(x) = 
x^2 - 5x - 64 & \text{if} \ x \le 0, \\ 
x^2 + 3x - 38 & \text{if} \ x > 0.
 
Find all x such that f(x) = 50. 
 
 Answer by CPhill(1987)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! We are given the piecewise function:
 
$$ f(x) = \begin{cases} x^2 - 5x - 64 & \text{if } x \le 0 \\ x^2 + 3x - 38 & \text{if } x > 0 \end{cases} $$
 
We want to find all $x$ such that $f(x) = 50$.
 
**Case 1: $x \le 0$**
 
We have $x^2 - 5x - 64 = 50$, which simplifies to $x^2 - 5x - 114 = 0$. 
We can use the quadratic formula to solve for $x$: 
$$ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} $$ 
In this case, $a = 1$, $b = -5$, and $c = -114$. 
$$ x = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{(-5)^2 - 4(1)(-114)}}{2(1)} = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{25 + 456}}{2} = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{481}}{2} $$ 
We have two possible solutions: 
$$ x_1 = \frac{5 + \sqrt{481}}{2} \approx \frac{5 + 21.93}{2} \approx 13.465 $$ 
$$ x_2 = \frac{5 - \sqrt{481}}{2} \approx \frac{5 - 21.93}{2} \approx -8.465 $$ 
Since we are considering $x \le 0$, only $x_2$ is a valid solution. 
Thus, $x = \frac{5 - \sqrt{481}}{2}$ is a solution.
 
**Case 2: $x > 0$**
 
We have $x^2 + 3x - 38 = 50$, which simplifies to $x^2 + 3x - 88 = 0$. 
We can factor the quadratic as $(x - 8)(x + 11) = 0$. 
The solutions are $x = 8$ and $x = -11$. 
Since we are considering $x > 0$, only $x = 8$ is a valid solution. 
Thus, $x = 8$ is a solution.
 
Therefore, the solutions are $x = \frac{5 - \sqrt{481}}{2}$ and $x = 8$.
 
Final Answer: The final answer is $\boxed{8, \frac{5 - \sqrt{481}}{2}}$ 
 
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