Expand (x+4)(x-4)=33 to give values of x

Use FOIL to expand the brackets. To do this, we start by multiplying the FIRST value in each bracket which in this case is x so we get x^2. Then we multiply the OUTSIDE two values, so here that is x and -4 so we get -4x. Then we multiply the INSIDE two values which is x and 4 so we get 4x and then finally the LAST two values giving us 4x-4 which is -16. Then we add up all the four values so we get:x^2 - 4x + 4x - 16 = 33We can then simplify this down by cancelling out the +4x and the -4x so we get:x^2 - 16 = 33Then we carry the '-16' over to the other side of the = sign because we are grouping like terms in order to simplify. To get rid of the '-16' on the left we have to add 16. Whatever we do to one side of the = we have to do to the other so we add 16 to the '33' on the other side giving us 49 so we know x^2=49 therefore x must equal 7 or -7

AB

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Solve the inequality: x^2 - x < 12


prove that (3x+1)^2 - (3x-1)^2 is a multiple of 4 for all positive integer values of x


(This was taken from a GCSE past paper)A bag of 24 spoons costs £19.95. A box of 18 forks costs £15.55. Bags and boxes cannot be split. Gregor decides to buy the same number of spoons as forks. He places an order to buy the smallest number of each


Solve the simultaneous equations: 6x + 2y = -3, 4x - 3y = 11