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The difference of the square of a number and 24 is equal to 5 times that number. Find the negative solution.

1 Answer

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Answer:

n = -3

Explanation:

The difference of the square of a number and 24 is equal to 5 times that number. Find the negative solution.

I'm going to call the number "n."

n² - 24 = 5n subtract 5n from both sides to get the equation equal to zero

- 5n -5n

n² - 5n - 24 = 0 factor the trinomial into the multiplicatin of two binomials

we need factors (numbers that multiply) to -24 that add up to

-5. The only factors for -24 that will add up to -5 are -8 and 3.

(n-8)(n+3) = 0 set each binomial equal to zero and solve for n

n-8 = 0 or n+3 = 0

+8 +8 -3 -3

n = 8 or n = -3 n = -3 is the negative solution

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