How do you solve #x^2-8=8# by factoring?

1 Answer
Aug 20, 2015

The solutions are
# color(blue)(x=-4#
# color(blue)(x=4#

Explanation:

#x^2−8=8#

#x^2−8-8=0#

#x^2−16=0#

#x^2−4^2=0#

By property
#color(blue)(a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)#

Applying the same:
#x^2−4^2=(x+4)(x-4)#
#(x+4)(x-4)# is the factorised form of the expression.
Now we equate these factors to the R.H.S.

#x+4=0, color(blue)(x=-4#
#x-4=0, color(blue)(x=4#