Question

The square of a number exceeds that number by 12. What are the two possible solutions?

A.) 3 or -4
B.) 3 or 4
C.) -3 or 4

Answer 1

The two possible solutions are -3 or 4.

Explanation:

`x^(2)=x+12\\x^(2) -x-12=0\\x^(2)-+3x-4x-12=0\\x(x+3)-4(x+3)=0\\(x-4)(x+3)=0\\x=-4/x=3`

Answer 2

The correct answer is option C.

Explanation:

Let the number be x.

The square of a number exceeds that number by 12 .Mathematically can be written as:

`x^2-x=12`

`x^2-x-12=0`

Using middle term splitting to factorize the expression:

`x^2-4x+3x-12=0`

`x(x-4)+(3)(x-4)=0`

`(x+3)(x-4)=0`

The two possible solutions are :

1) (x+3)=0

x = -3

2) (x-4)=0

x = 4