can someone breakdown this equation for me xsquared plus x minus 12 equals zero?

Answer 1

I assume by saying “breakdown” you mean solve this equation so that is what I will do!
I’m going to give a brief explanation too, afterall, no point in doing the maths if you haven’t learnt anything!! ;)

Solve: x^2 + x – 12 = 0

In order to solve the above equation, we must do something called “factorising”, its basically breaking the equation down into smaller parts, which makes solving it easier.

The method for this is as follows:
1)We must find 2 numbers which add to make x and multiply to make 12
2)Put these into separate brackets with the unknown ‘x’ which u want to find
3)Then solve each bracket separately by equating them to zero

The 2 numbers which add to make 'x' and multiply to make 12 are -3 and +4 because -3 +4 = 1 and -3 X +4 = 12

We put these into two smaller brackets, like so:

(x - 3) X (x + 4) = 0
Which becomes (x – 3)(x + 4) = 0
Note that in algebra the symbol for multiplication disappears.

Solving (x – 3) = 0 gives the solution x = 3
Solving (x + 4) = 0 gives the solution x = -4

Hey presto, we’re done!!

Answer 2

3

Answer 3

As your other answers show this can be simplified by factorising but it is also a quadratic equation for which you must remember the equation
If axsquared + bx +c = 0
x = -b + or - square root (bsquared - 4ac)over 2a
In this case a=1
b=1
c=-12 so 4ac = -48
bsquared - 4ac = 1 - (-48) = 1 +48 = 49
square root of 49 = 7
a + or - 7 = -6 or +8
x = -6/2 or 8/2 = -3 or +4

Answer 4

x*+x-12=0
This is a quadratic equation. By factorising,
(x-4)(x+3)=0
x=4 or x=-3
Check.
When X=4 4*-4-12=0
16-4-12 =0

When x=3 3*+3-12 =0

Answer 5

-4 or +3

Answer 6

X^2+x-12=0
(x-3)(x+4)=0

Therefore, x =3 or x =-4

Answer 7

If this is a school homework question please be careful. This is because it depends on what you mean by BREAKDOWN.
Your equation is: x^2 + x - 12 = 0

This is a quadratic equation and BREAKDOWN could simply mean FACTORISE. Some of the answers have shown you how to do this.

But BREAKDOWN could also mean SOLVE the equation also known as FIND THE ROOTS of the equation. SOLVING means finding the values of x which satisfy the equation given above. FACTORISING is one step towards solving. However, some quadratic equations do not have whole number solutions and you then have to use the quadratic formula.

Is BREAKDOWN your choice of word? I hope you can see that you have to do more work solving than factorising.

Answer 8

This is probably wrong but 3 squared is 9, plus 3 is 12, minus 12 is zero.

So does x = 3, probably not it's a while since I did GCSE maths but I thought I'd give it a go anyway.

Answer 9

x^(2)+x-12 = 0.............(1)

using the quadratic formula,

x= (-1 plus or minus the square root of (1^2 -4(-12))/2

= (-1 plus or minus the square root of 49)/2

= (-1 plus or minus 7)/2 = 3 or -4

therefore, x = 3 or x = -4

substituting these values into equation (1) shows that they are correct

i hope that this different approach helps

Answer 10

x^2 + x -12 = 0

Find two numbers that multiply to -12 and add to 1
(4)(-3) = -12
(4) + (-3) = 1

(x + 4)(x - 3) = 0

Now set each factor equal to zero and solve for x.

Hope this helps. Good Luck.