Question

2x^2− 4 = 8
find the smaller root

Answer 1

You can solve it by using the quadratic formula, set one side to 0

Answer 2

Or by doing
2x^2 = 8 + 4
2x^2 = 12
x^2 = 12/2
x^2 = 6
\[x=\pm \sqrt{6}\]
Smallest root will be
\[x=-\sqrt{6}\]