How do you solve 3(4 - x)(2x + 1) = 0?

1 Answer
May 15, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, divide each side of the equation by color(red)(3) to eliminate the constant while keeping the equation balanced"

(3(4 - x)(2x + 1))/color(red)(3) = 0/color(red)(3)

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3)))(4 - x)(2x + 1))/cancel(color(red)(3)) = 0

(4 - x)(2x + 1) = 0

Solve each term on the left side of the equation for 0:

Solution 1)

4 - x = 0

-color(red)(4) + 4 - x = -color(red)(4) + 0

0 - x = -4

-x = -4

color(red)(-1) xx -x = color(red)(-1) xx -4

x = 4

Solution 2)

2x + 1 = 0

2x + 1 - color(red)(1) = 0 - color(red)(1)

2x + 0 = -1

2x = -1

(2x)/color(red)(2) = -1/color(red)(2)

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = -1/2

x = -1/2

The solutions are: x = 4 and x = -1/2