Question

What method would you choose to solve the equation 2x2 – 7 = 9? Explain why you chose this method.

Answer 1

Sample Response/Explanation: I would use the square root property of equality. Because there is no x term, I would just add and divide to get x2 by itself. Then I would take the square root.

Answer 2

I would add 7 to get ...

... 2x² = 16

then divide by 2 to get

... x² = 8

Now, I would take the square root, recognizing that both positive and negative values will solve the problem.

... x = ±√8

The root can be simplified, so we have ...

... x = ±2√2

_____

The above method seemed the most obvious method to me. One could use the quadratic formula, but that seems to involve more operations.

... 2x² -16 = 0 . . . . subtract 9

... x = (-0 ± √(0² -4·2·(-16)))/(2·2) . . . . put the coefficients into the formula

... x = ±(√128)/4 = ±√8 = ±2√2 . . . . . simplify the result