How do you factor x^2+14x=-49?

2 Answers
Apr 7, 2018

(x+7)^2=0

Explanation:

x^2+14x=-49|+49
x^2+14x+49=0

"Complete the perfect square"

(x+14/2)^2+49-49=0
(x+7)^2=0

Apr 7, 2018

(x+7)^2

Here's how I factored it:

Explanation:

x^2 + 14x = -49

To factor this, we first have to make one side equal to zero. We do this by adding 49 to both sides of the equation:
x^2 + 14x + 49

This is a perfect square trinomial:
images.tutorvista.comimages.tutorvista.com

We know that:

  • 14 = 2 xx 1 xx 7
  • 49 = 7 xx 7

Therefore, the expression x^2 + 14x + 49 is equivalent to:
(x+7)^2

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To check our answer, let's see if (x+7)^2 equals to the original expression:
(x+7)(x+7)
x * x = x^2

x * 7 = 7x

7 * x = 7x

7 * 7 = 49

And when we combine this we get:
x^2 + 7x + 7x + 49

We can still combine like terms (7x + 7x):
x^2 + 14x + 49

Therefore, we know that (x+7)^2 is correct.

Hope this helps!