A student performed the following steps to find the solution to the equation x^2 + 14x + 40 = 0. Where did the student go wrong? Step 1. Factor the polynomial into (x + 4) and (x + 10) Step 2. x + 4 = 0 and x + 10 = 0 Step 3. x = - 4 and x = 10

Question

Mathematics

Fiona Gilmore

9 August, 13:48

A student performed the following steps to find the solution to the equation x^2 + 14x + 40 = 0. Where did the student go wrong? Step 1. Factor the polynomial into (x + 4) and (x + 10) Step 2. x + 4 = 0 and x + 10 = 0 Step 3. x = - 4 and x = 10

+4

Answers (1)

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Eileen Shepherd · Answer 1

The student went wrong in Step 3.

After setting each factor equal to 0, the student solved for x wrong in the second equation. To solve for x in the second equation, the student should subtract 10 from both sides. The solutions of the equation would be X = - 4 and X = - 10.

X + 10 = 0

X + 10 - 10 = 0 - 10

X = - 10