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Math I Videos 77 videos

SAT Math 2.4 Algebra and Functions
186 Views

SAT Math 2.4 Algebra and Functions

Solving Proportions Using Cross Products
6802 Views

This video covers how to use cross products to solve for a missing number in a proportion by setting that proportion with a variable over the produ...

GED Math 2.4 Rational Numbers
190 Views

GED Math 2.4 Rational Numbers. Lucius's favorite restaurant is how many km from his home?

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ACT Math 3.3 Elementary Algebra 233 Views


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Description:

ACT Math Section: Elementary Algebra Drill 3, Problem 3. Solve for x.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

And here is your shmoop de jour.

00:05

Solve for x: x squared plus 6x plus 8 equals 0

00:09

And here are the potential answers...

00:16

OK. Any time we see equations in this format -- where there's an x squared then and

00:21

x then an integer -- odds are high that they're asking us to factor.

00:25

What 2 numbers can be multiplied to get 8... and can also be added to get 6?

00:31

Well, the factors of 8 are 1 and 8; that won't work...

00:38

...what about 2 and 4? Ding ding ding!

00:40

So... 2 times 4 is 8... and 2 PLUS 4 is 6... so we can just rewrite the factored version as

00:49

The quantity x plus 2 times the quantity x plus 4... equals zero.

00:54

Now if either of these guys is 0, the whole equation is zero because zero times anything...

00:59

is zero. Yeah, it brings everyone else down to its level.

01:00

So if x is negative 2, this part is 0... and if x is negative 4, this part is 0.

01:06

x has to be one of those answers... and OUR answer here is either A or B... which is...

01:11

option D. Done

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