ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


ACT Math Videos 164 videos

ACT Math 1.1 Pre-Algebra
1062 Views

Pre-Algebra Drill 1, Problem 1. Calculate 23 + 53(7 – 4).

ACT Math 1.1 Trigonometry
355 Views

ACT Math: Trigonometry Drill 1, Problem 1. What is the length of y?

ACT Math 1.2 Coordinate Geometry
252 Views

ACT Math: Coordinate Geometry Drill 1, Problem 2. Solve the inequality and determine which solution is shown on the number line.

See All

ACT Math 3.3 Elementary Algebra 233 Views


Share It!


Description:

ACT Math Section: Elementary Algebra Drill 3, Problem 3. Solve for x.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

And here is your shmoop de jour.

00:05

Solve for x: x squared plus 6x plus 8 equals 0

00:09

And here are the potential answers...

00:16

OK. Any time we see equations in this format -- where there's an x squared then and

00:21

x then an integer -- odds are high that they're asking us to factor.

00:25

What 2 numbers can be multiplied to get 8... and can also be added to get 6?

00:31

Well, the factors of 8 are 1 and 8; that won't work...

00:38

...what about 2 and 4? Ding ding ding!

00:40

So... 2 times 4 is 8... and 2 PLUS 4 is 6... so we can just rewrite the factored version as

00:49

The quantity x plus 2 times the quantity x plus 4... equals zero.

00:54

Now if either of these guys is 0, the whole equation is zero because zero times anything...

00:59

is zero. Yeah, it brings everyone else down to its level.

01:00

So if x is negative 2, this part is 0... and if x is negative 4, this part is 0.

01:06

x has to be one of those answers... and OUR answer here is either A or B... which is...

01:11

option D. Done

Related Videos

ACT Math 3.1 Plane Geometry
2559 Views

ACT Math: Plane Geometry Drill 3, Problem 1. What is the area of the trapezoid shape in the video?

Inequalities in Number Lines
3235 Views

ACT Math: Coordinate Geometry Drill 1, Problem 1. Which inequality is expressed by the number line?

ACT Math 3.1 Intermediate Algebra
1956 Views

ACT Math: Intermediate Algebra: Drill 3, Problem 1. Find the fifth number in the series.

Solving Rational Equations with One Variable
4719 Views

You don't want to leave a bunch of unsolved rational equations sitting around.

Solving Inequalities Using Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division
6355 Views

Solving inequalities using blob fish? Yes, please!