Question

Use the zero product property to find the solutions to the equation 3(x – 4)(x + 5) = 0?

1) x = –4 or x = 5
2) x = 3, x = 4, or x = –5
3) x = 3, x = –4, or x = 5
4) x = 4 or x = –5

Answer 1

The solutions to the equation 3(x – 4)(x + 5) = 0 are found by setting each factor equal to zero, resulting in x = 4 or x = -5.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the solutions to the equation 3(x – 4)(x + 5) = 0 using the zero product property, we can set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.

Firstly, we have:

• 3 ≠ 0, which is always true and is irrelevant to finding x.
• (x - 4) = 0 → x = 4
• (x + 5) = 0 → x = -5

Therefore, the solutions to the equation are x = 4 or x = -5. This matches option 4 from the given choices.