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Advanced Math / Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables Difficulty: Medium

open parenthesis, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, open parenthesis, x plus 3, close parenthesis, equals, open parenthesis, x minus 2, close parenthesis, times, open parenthesis, x minus 3, close parenthesis, plus 10

Which of the following is a solution to the given equation?

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Explanation

Choice A is correct. Applying the distributive property on the left- and right-hand sides of the given equation yields x squared, plus 2 x, plus 3 x, plus 6, equals, x squared, minus 2 x, minus 3 x, plus 6, plus 10, or x squared, plus 5 x, plus 6, equals, x squared, minus 5 x, plus 16. Subtracting x squared from and adding 5 x to both sides of this equation yields 10 x plus 6, equals 16. Subtracting 6 from both sides of this equation and then dividing both sides by 10 yields x equals 1.

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Substituting 0, negative 2, or negative 5 for x in the given equation will result in a false statement. If x equals 0, the given equation becomes 6 equals 16; if x equals negative 2, the given equation becomes 0 equals 30; and if x equals negative 5, the given equation becomes 6 equals 66. Therefore, the values 0, negative 2, and negative 5 aren’t solutions to the given equation.