Question

x^2 + 12x+36=16 give exact and approx amount to 3 decimal places. How do you do this problem?

Answer 1

The first thing you do when you are solving and there is an x^2 term involved is to make it equal to 0.

x^2 + 12x + 20 = 0

Answer 2

then i am supposed to factor it and set the answers = to zero and solve?

Answer 3

In this case you are looking for factors of 20 that add to get 12

1 * 20
2 * 10
4 * 5

the pair that adds to get 12 is the pair you use.... 2 and 10 in this case.

(x + 2)(x + 10) = 0 then you set each one equal to 0 and solve.

x + 2 = 0 or x + 10 = 0
x = -2 or x = -10