How do you solve 4x² - 20x + 25 = 0?

1 Answer
Jul 1, 2015

I would solve by factoring.

Explanation:

4x^2-20x+25 = 0

Look at 4x^2-20x+25

the first term is a perfect square: 4x^2 = (2x)^2

the last term is a perfect square: 25 = 5^2

If we double the product f the things we squared, we get:

2*(2x)(5) = 20x, which is the absolute value of the middle term.

(ax-b)^2 = a^2x^2-2abx+b^2, so we can factor:

4x^2-20x+25 = (2x-5)^2

With practice, there is no need to write the stuff up to this point, we can write:

4x^2-20x+25 = 0

(2x-5)^2=0

2x-5=0

x=5/2