Question 130618
Let x=Melinda's age now;  x-8=Melinda's age 8 years ago

Then x+30=Melinda's dad's age now; x+30-8=x+22=dad's age 8 years ago

Now we are told that:

x+22=(x-8)^2  get rid of parens

x+22=x^2-16x+64  subtract x and also 22 from each side

x-x+22-22=x^2-16x-x+64-22  collect like terms

x^2-17x+42=0--------------------quadratic in standard form and it can be factored

(x-3)(x-14)=0

x=3 years old (NO GOOD!!! 8 YEARS AGO SHE WOULD BE -5????)
and x=14 years old-----------------Melinda's age now

x+30=14+30=44 years old her dad's age now

CK

8 years ago dad's age was equal to the square of Melinda's--
44-8=(14-8)^2

36=6^2
36=36


Hope this helps---ptaylor