Question

Find the values for "a" and "b" that would make the equality true

-5(3x^2+5x+b)=ax^2-25x+45

a=
b=

Answer 1

a = - 15 and b = - 9

distribute the left side of the equation

- 15x² - 25x - 5b

for - 15x² - 25x - 5b and ax² - 25x + 45 to be equal then the coefficients of like terms must be equal, hence

- 15x² = ax² ⇒ a = - 15

- 5b = 45 ⇒ b = - 9