Applying the Square Root Property to the Given Equation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 30 views

Introduction

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and solving them is a crucial skill for students and professionals alike. In this article, we will explore the square root property, a powerful technique for solving quadratic equations. We will apply this property to the given equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ and demonstrate the step-by-step process of solving it.

What is the Square Root Property?

The square root property is a mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ . It states that if $a$ is a real number and $a \neq 0$ , then the equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ has a solution given by:

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

This formula is derived from the quadratic formula, which is a more general method for solving quadratic equations.

Applying the Square Root Property to the Given Equation

Now that we have introduced the square root property, let's apply it to the given equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ . To do this, we need to rewrite the equation in the standard form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ .

First, let's simplify the right-hand side of the equation:

9 + 16 = 25

So, the equation becomes:

x^2 - 8x + 16 = 25

Next, let's move all terms to the left-hand side of the equation:

x^2 - 8x - 9 = 0

Now, we have a quadratic equation in the standard form. We can apply the square root property to solve for $x$ .

Step 1: Identify the Coefficients

To apply the square root property, we need to identify the coefficients $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in the quadratic equation. In this case, we have:

a = 1, b = -8, c = -9

Step 2: Plug in the Coefficients into the Square Root Formula

Now that we have identified the coefficients, we can plug them into the square root formula:

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Substituting the values of $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ , we get:

x = \frac{-(-8) \pm \sqrt{(-8)^2 - 4(1)(-9)}}{2(1)}

Simplifying the expression, we get:

x = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{64 + 36}}{2}

x = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{100}}{2}

x = \frac{8 \pm 10}{2}

Step 3: Simplify the Expression

Now that we have simplified the expression, we can solve for $x$ .

We have two possible solutions:

x = \frac{8 + 10}{2} = 9

x = \frac{8 - 10}{2} = -1

Therefore, the solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ are $x = 9$ and $x = -1$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we have applied the square root property to solve the quadratic equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ . We have demonstrated the step-by-step process of solving the equation using the square root formula. We have also identified the coefficients $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in the quadratic equation and plugged them into the square root formula. Finally, we have simplified the expression and solved for $x$ .

The square root property is a powerful technique for solving quadratic equations, and it is an essential tool for students and professionals alike. By applying this property, we can solve a wide range of quadratic equations and gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mathematics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the square root property?

A: The square root property is a mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ . It states that if $a$ is a real number and $a \neq 0$ , then the equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ has a solution given by:

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Q: How do I apply the square root property to a quadratic equation?

A: To apply the square root property, you need to identify the coefficients $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in the quadratic equation. Then, you can plug them into the square root formula and simplify the expression to solve for $x$ .

Q: What are the solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ ?

A: The solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ are $x = 9$ and $x = -1$ .

References

[1] "Quadratic Equations" by Math Open Reference. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/quadratic.html
[2] "Square Root Property" by Khan Academy. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f4f7c/square-root-property

Glossary

Quadratic equation: An equation of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are real numbers.
Square root property: A mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ .
Coefficients: The numbers $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in a quadratic equation.
Solutions: The values of $x$ that satisfy a quadratic equation.
Quadratic Equations Q&A ==========================

Introduction

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and solving them is a crucial skill for students and professionals alike. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about quadratic equations, including the square root property, solving quadratic equations, and more.

Q: What is a quadratic equation?

A: A quadratic equation is an equation of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are real numbers. Quadratic equations can be solved using various methods, including factoring, the quadratic formula, and the square root property.

Q: What is the square root property?

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Q: How do I apply the square root property to a quadratic equation?

Q: What are the solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ ?

A: The solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ are $x = 9$ and $x = -1$ .

Q: How do I solve a quadratic equation using factoring?

A: To solve a quadratic equation using factoring, you need to express the equation as a product of two binomials. For example, the equation $x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0$ can be factored as:

(x + 3)(x + 2) = 0

This means that either $x + 3 = 0$ or $x + 2 = 0$ , which gives us the solutions $x = -3$ and $x = -2$ .

Q: What is the quadratic formula?

A: The quadratic formula is a mathematical formula used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ . It is given by:

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Q: How do I use the quadratic formula to solve a quadratic equation?

A: To use the quadratic formula, you need to identify the coefficients $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in the quadratic equation. Then, you can plug them into the quadratic formula and simplify the expression to solve for $x$ .

Q: What are the differences between the square root property and the quadratic formula?

A: The square root property and the quadratic formula are both used to solve quadratic equations, but they are not the same thing. The square root property is a specific technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , while the quadratic formula is a more general formula used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ .

Q: Can I use the square root property to solve all quadratic equations?

A: No, the square root property can only be used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ where $a \neq 0$ . If $a = 0$ , then the equation is not quadratic and cannot be solved using the square root property.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when solving quadratic equations?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when solving quadratic equations include:

Not identifying the coefficients $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ correctly
Not plugging the correct values into the square root formula or quadratic formula
Not simplifying the expression correctly
Not checking for extraneous solutions

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about quadratic equations, including the square root property, solving quadratic equations, and more. We hope that this article has been helpful in clarifying some of the concepts and techniques used to solve quadratic equations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a quadratic equation?

A: A quadratic equation is an equation of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are real numbers.

Q: What is the square root property?

A: The square root property is a mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ .

Q: How do I apply the square root property to a quadratic equation?

Q: What are the solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ ?

A: The solutions to the equation $x^2 - 8x + 16 = 9 + 16$ are $x = 9$ and $x = -1$ .

References

[1] "Quadratic Equations" by Math Open Reference. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/quadratic.html
[2] "Square Root Property" by Khan Academy. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/x2f4f7c/square-root-property

Glossary

Quadratic equation: An equation of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are real numbers.
Square root property: A mathematical technique used to solve quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ .
Coefficients: The numbers $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ in a quadratic equation.
Solutions: The values of $x$ that satisfy a quadratic equation.