Final answer:
The correct value for x that satisfies the quadratic equation is 0.00139, as the other solution, x = -0.0024, is considered not possible in the real-world context described.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the values of x that make the equation true, we can solve the quadratic equation presented in the question: x² + 1.2 x 10⁻²x - 6.0 × 10⁻³ = 0. This can be rewritten in standard form as x² + 0.0012x - 0.006 = 0. We use the quadratic formula, x = √(-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a), to find the two possible values of x.
Applying the formula, we get the solutions x = -0.0024 and x = 0.00139. Considering the context and additional information provided, the value x = -0.0024 is not possible in the real-world scenario implied, so the correct value of x is 0.00139.
Understanding the signs in multiplication and division is crucial since, for example, when two positive numbers are multiplied, the result is positive, and the same applies when two negatives are multiplied. Opposite signs result in a negative product.