Question

Solve the quadratic equation by factoring: x^2 - 144= 0

Answer 1

Steps:

• Difference of Squares rule: $x^2-y^2=(x+y)(x-y)$
• Zero Product Property: If a × b = 0, then either a or b = 0 or both a and b = 0.

So firstly, apply the difference of squares rule:

$\sqrt{x^2}=x\\\sqrt{144}=12\\\\x^2-144=(x+12)(x-12)\\\\(x+12)(x-12)=0$

Next, we are going to be applying the Zero Product Property to solve for x as such:

$x+12=0\\x=-12\\\\x-12=0\\x=12$

Answer:

In short, x = ± 12 or the 2nd option.

Answer 2

Answer:

x = +-12

Step-by-step explanation:

x^2 -144 =0

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

using the zero product property

x-12=0  x+12 =0

x=12   x=-12