What type of equation is this? Quadratic? How to solve it?

Blondeneff18 said:
Solve for x:(x-7)(x-7)-4=(x+1)(x+1)
Click to expand...
Don't get rattled when you see something new.

Is it a quadratic? Yes and no.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to start manipulating an equation until you see something familiar.

Let's expand BOTH sides of the equation.

\(\displaystyle (x - 7) * (x - 7) = what?\)

\(\displaystyle So\ (x - 7) * (x - 7) - 4 = what?\)

\(\displaystyle (x + 1) * (x + 1) = what?\)

Restate your equation in expanded form.

What do you get?

Do you see a way to simplify that equation?

Can you solve that simplified equation?
 
Blondeneff18 said:
What type of equation is this?
Click to expand...

Trick question!

Simplify the equation first (as Jeff suggests), and then decide. :D



Have you learned the FOIL method, for multiplying two binomials?

(a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd



After multiplying everything, move all terms to one side of the equation, and finish the simplification by combining like-terms.

If you need more guidance, please show your work so far, or ask specific questions, so that we may determine where to help you. Cheers.
 
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