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How does factoring help solve quadratic equations

User Kim Major
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

Solution values make the factors be zero. Those values are easy to find.

Explanation:

A quadratic in standard form is ...

ax² +bx +c = 0

When that is factored to ...

a(x -p)(x -q) = 0

The values of p and q are solutions to the equation. The solutions are readily identified from the factored form.

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The zero product rule tells you a product will be zero only if a factor is zero. Hence the factored form will be true only for values of x equal to p or q. If the original and the factored form are equivalent, then p and q are the solutions to the original quadratic equation.

User Chirag Arora
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4.2k points