Question

What is the solution set to the equation 4(x+3)(x-2)=0

Answer 1

To simplify, let’s distribute the 4 through the first binomial:

4(x+3)=4x+12

We now have the equivalent equation:

(4x+12)(x-2)=0

We can apply the zero product property which states that if a•b=0, then a=0 or b=0:

4x+12=0

Solve for x:

4x=-12

x=-12/4

x=-3

(x-2) may also equal zero, so let’s find x that would equate to zero:

x-2=0

Solve for x:

x=2

Therefore the solution is: x = -3, 2