Question

Dmitri and Jillian were trying to solve the equation: (x + 1)(x + 3) = 12. Dmitri said, "The left-hand side is factored, so I'll use the zero product property." Jillian said, "I'll multiply (x + 1)(x + 3) and rewrite the equation as x² + 4x + 3 = 12. Then I'll solve using the quadratic formula with a = 1, b = 4, and c = 3." Whose solution strategy would work?

1) Dmitri's solution strategy would work.
2) Jillian's solution strategy would work.
3) Both Dmitri's and Jillian's solution strategies would work.
4) Neither Dmitri's nor Jillian's solution strategies would work.

Answer 1

Jillian's solution strategy would work. By multiplying (x + 1)(x + 3) and rewriting the equation, she can solve using the quadratic formula.

Step-by-step explanation:

Jillian's solution strategy would work. By multiplying (x + 1)(x + 3) and rewriting the equation as x² + 4x + 3 = 12, she has transformed the equation into a quadratic equation that can be solved using the quadratic formula. Dmitri's strategy of using the zero product property would not work in this case because the equation is not already factored.