Question

what is 16x^2 = 56x ?

Answer 1

`x=7/2`

Explanation:

Divide both sides by `x.` This will cause `x` to cancel out on the right hand side.

`(16x^2)/x=(56cancelx)/cancelx`

Recall that `x^a/x^b=x^(a-b)`

Thus, we have

`16x^(2-1)=56`

`16x=56`

Divide both sides by `16:`

`(cancel16x)/cancel16=56/16`

Simplify:

`x=56/16=color(red)(7/2`

Answer 2

`x=0` or `x=3 1/2`

Explanation:

Given
`color(white)("XXX")16x^2=56x`

After subtracting `56x` from both sides:
`color(white)("XXX")16x^2-56x=0`

Factoring out the `x` on the left side
`color(white)("XXX")x(16x-56)=0`

This implies that
#{: ("either",x=0," or ",16x-56=0), (,,,rarr x=56/16=7/2=3 1/2) :}#