Question

What method(s) would you choose to solve the equation: x^2 + 2x - 6 = 0

A )Quadratic formula, graphing; the equation cannot be factored easily since the numbers are large.

B) Quadratic formula, completing the square or graphing; the coefficient of x2 term is 1, but the equation cannot be factored.

C) Square roots; there is no x-term.

D) Factoring; the equation is easily factored.

Answer 1

It would be B. "Regular" factoring without the quadratic formula can't be done. Completing the square will work easily since the coefficient on the squared term is a 1. I personally wouldn't graph this to find the solutions, although you could with and x/y chart to give you enough coordinates to plot the graph correctly.