How do you solve #3x^2 - 8 = 4#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-06-19T01:31:28

Set the expression equal to 0, then simplify and solve to get to #x=2, -2#

Let's start with the original:

#3x^2-8=4#

Subtract 4 from both sides to set the right side of the equation to 0 and we have:

#3x^2-12=0#

We can then divide both sides by 3:

#x^2-4=0#

And factor that:

#(x+2)(x-2)=0#

Now let's solve each one:

#x+2=0#
#x=-2#

#x-2=0#
#x=2#

And so #x=2, -2#