How do you solve #x^2(a^2+2ab+b^2) = x(a+b)# by factoring?
1 Answer
Aug 21, 2015
Explanation:
First, notice that you can write
#(a^2 + 2ab + b^2)#
as the square of
#a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = (a + b)^2#
Your equation can now be written as
#x^2 * (a+b)^2 = x * (a + b)#
You can simplify this equation by dividing both sides by
#(x^2 * (a + b)^color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)((a+b)))) = (x * color(red)(cancel(color(black)((a+b)))))/color(red)(cancel(color(black)((a+b))))#
#x^2 * (a + b) = x#
Move all the terms to one side of the equation to get
#(a+b) * x^2 - x = 0#
#x * [(a+b)x - 1] = 0#
This equation will have two solutions,
#(a+b)x - 1= 0 implies x = color(green)(1/(a+b))#