Question

Which of the following methods would be the easiest to use to solve 12x2 – 48 = 0?

isolating the x2 term and finding the square root of both sides

All three methods would be easy and effective.

using the quadratic formula

factoring

Answer 1

All three methods are easy and effective. Here's solving the equation using all three methods.

First Option:

`12x^2-48=0\\ 12x^2=48\\ x^2=4\\ x=+/-√(4) \\ x=2,-2`

Third Option (Remember that the equation for the quadratic formula is
`x=(-b+√(b^2-4ac))/(2a),(-b-√(b^2-4ac))/(2a)` , with a = x^2 coefficient, b = x coefficient, and c = constant):

`x=(-0+√(0^2-4*12*(-48)))/(2*12),(-0-√(0^2-4*12*(-48)))/(2*12)\\\\ x=(-0+√(2304))/(24),(-0-√(2304))/(24)\\ \\ x=(48)/(24),(-48)/(24)\\\\ x=2,-2`

Fourth Option:

`12x^2-48=0\\12(x^2-4)=0 \\ 12(x+2)(x-2)=0\\ \\ x+2=0\\ x=-2\\ \\ x-2=0\\ x=2`

Answer 2

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