Solve n^2 – n – 90 = 0 to find value of n

Firstly you want to factorise this expression. You have n2, so you know you want to multiple n by itself. Next, you want to think carefully about what two numbers add to get -1 (the coefficient of the second value of the expression, -n) and multiply to get -90. You have two negatives so you know one of your numbers is going to be negative and the other positive (if they were both negative you'd get +90, same if they were both positive). You'll figure out the two numbers you're looking for are - 10 and + 9 ( - 10 + 9 = -1, - 10 x 9 = - 90). So now you have(n + 9)(n - 10) = 0 For this to be true, one of the expressions on the left have to equal 0, so either n + 9 = 0 or n - 10 = 0. The possible values are therefore n = 10 or n = - 9, final answer

AI

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Make x the subject of the formula: 3x - 2 = y + 10


I’m having some trouble understanding functions. Mainly concerning how to know what the input and outputs are. Could you give me an explanation?


Using factorization, solve x^2 + 10x + 24 = 0


Solve the simultaneous equation: x+2y=8 and 2x+y=10 - using a calculator