Question

How can you isolate x² in an algebraic equation? Provide the steps, including adding the opposite of the constant to both sides and factoring a common term out of both the quadratic and linear terms on the left side.

Answer 1

To isolate x² in an algebraic equation, you need to add the opposite of the constant to both sides and factor out a common term from the quadratic and linear terms on the left side. This will allow you to solve for the unknown value of x using methods like factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula.

Step-by-step explanation:

To isolate x² in an algebraic equation, you can follow these steps:

1. Add the opposite of the constant to both sides of the equation.
2. Factor out a common term from both the quadratic and linear terms on the left side.
3. Now you should have a quadratic equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0.
4. Use methods such as factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula to solve for the unknown value of x.