Simplifying (6a + -8b)(6a + 8b) = 0 Multiply (6a + -8b) * (6a + 8b) (6a * (6a + 8b) + -8b * (6a + 8b)) = 0 ((6a * 6a + 8b * 6a) + -8b * (6a + 8b)) = 0 Reorder the terms: ((48ab + 36a2) + -8b * (6a + 8b)) = 0 ((48ab + 36a2) + -8b * (6a + 8b)) = 0 (48ab + 36a2 + (6a * -8b + 8b * -8b)) = 0 (48ab + 36a2 + (-48ab + -64b2)) = 0 Reorder the terms: (48ab + -48ab + 36a2 + -64b2) = 0 Combine like terms: 48ab + -48ab = 0 (0 + 36a2 + -64b2) = 0 (36a2 + -64b2) = 0 Solving 36a2 + -64b2 = 0 Solving for variable 'a'. Move all terms containing a to the left, all other terms to the right. Add '64b2' to each side of the equation. 36a2 + -64b2 + 64b2 = 0 + 64b2 Combine like terms: -64b2 + 64b2 = 0 36a2 + 0 = 0 + 64b2 36a2 = 0 + 64b2 Remove the zero: 36a2 = 64b2 Divide each side by '36'. a2 = 1.777777778b2 Simplifying a2 = 1.777777778b2 Take the square root of each side: a = {-1.333333333b, 1.333333333b}