8
advanced-math

Solve: x2+8x+16=0x^2 + 8x + 16 = 0

A

x=4x = 4

B

x=4x = -4

C

x=4,4x = 4, -4

D

x=8,2x = 8, 2

Correct Answer: B

Choice B is the correct answer. This quadratic is a Perfect Square Trinomial.

  1. Notice that half of 8 is 4, and 42=164^2 = 16.
  2. This fits the pattern (a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.
  3. Factor as (x+4)2=0(x + 4)^2 = 0.
  4. Take the square root: x+4=0x=4x + 4 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -4.

Since the factor is squared, -4 is a "repeated root" (multiplicity 2).

Choice A is incorrect because of a sign error. Choice C is incorrect because a perfect square equal to zero has only one distinct solution. Choice D is incorrect because these values do not satisfy the equation.