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How do I solve this by factoring?

How do I solve this by factoring?-example-1

2 Answers

2 votes
um, whats the first part?
(reply with the whole equation please)
User Raj Damani
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7.7k points
7 votes
First, add 5n^2 to both sides of the equation. This results in

n^2 + 6n + 16 = 0

You may now solve this for n using one of the following approaches:
1) completing the square
2) quadratic formula
3) factoring
4) graphing

Let's compare n^2 + 6n + 16 = 0 to ax^2 + bx + c = 0. see that a=1, b=6 and c=16?
-(6) plus or minus sqrt(6^2 - 4(1)(16)
Then n = --------------------------------------------------
2

Notice that the discriminant, 6^2 - 4(1)(16) is negative: 36-64 = -28

Thus, the two roots of this quadratic are complex: they have real and imaginary parts both.
-6 plus or minus sqrt (-28)
n = -------------------------------------
2

sqrt(-28) comes out as i sqrt(4)sqrt(7), or i2sqrt(7).

Thus, the roots are
-6 plus or minus 2isqrt(7)
n = --------------------------------------
2

One is -3 + sqrt(7); the other is -3 - sqrt(7).

User Hosane
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8.0k points