Find the value of x: x^2-3x-3=1

To begin this question you need to bring all of the terms to one side, so the equation equals 0. It is easiest to do this by subtracting 1 from each side.x^2-3x-3-1=1-1x^2-3x-4=0Now we need to factorise the equation into the form (ax+b)(cx+d)=0. Begin by working out what numbers multiply to equal 1 (the number before x^2), which is 1 and 1. Therefore, and c are both 1:(x+b)(x+d)=0To work out b and d, you need to work out what numbers multiply to equal -4, which could be -4 and +1, +4 and -1, or -2 and +2. However, these numbers must add to -3, so b and d must equal -4 and +1.(x-4)(x+1)=0
To find x, we can see one of the two factors equals zero, so:x-4=0 or x+1=0x=4 or x=-1

EH

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A rectangle has sides of length 4x cm and (x+3)cm and has an area less than 112 cm^2, find the set of values x can take


Rearrange the following formula to make x the subject. y=4x-7


Factorize 2(x^2) - 2x - 12 fully


Solve the equation ((2x+3)/(x-4))-((2x-8)/(2x+1)) = 1 to 2 decimal places.