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(x+4)(2x-a)=0
In the given equation, 
a is a constant. If the equation has the solutions 
x=4 and 
x=-4, what is the value of 
a ?

(x+4)(2xa)=0 (x+4)(2 x-a)=0 \newlineIn the given equation, a a is a constant. If the equation has the solutions x=4 x=4 and x=4 x=-4 , what is the value of a a ?

Full solution

Q. (x+4)(2xa)=0 (x+4)(2 x-a)=0 \newlineIn the given equation, a a is a constant. If the equation has the solutions x=4 x=4 and x=4 x=-4 , what is the value of a a ?
  1. Identify Solutions: Identify the solutions of the equation.\newlineThe given equation is in factored form, which means that the solutions for xx are the values that make each factor equal to zero. According to the problem, the solutions are x=4x=4 and x=4x=-4.
  2. Apply First Solution: Apply the first solution to the equation.\newlineIf x=4x=4 is a solution, then substituting x=4x=4 into the equation (x+4)(2xa)=0(x+4)(2x-a)=0 should result in a true statement. Let's substitute x=4x=4 into the equation and see what we get.\newline(4+4)(24a)=0(4+4)(2\cdot 4-a)=0\newline(8)(8a)=0(8)(8-a)=0
  3. Solve for aa: Solve for aa using the first solution.\newlineSince (8)(8a)=0(8)(8-a)=0, we know that one of the factors must be zero. The first factor, 88, is not zero, so the second factor, 8a8-a, must be zero. Therefore, we can set 8a=08-a=0 and solve for aa.\newline8a=08-a=0\newlinea=8a=8
  4. Verify with Second Solution: Verify the solution with the second solution.\newlineNow we need to check if a=8a=8 works for the second solution x=4x=-4. Substitute x=4x=-4 into the equation (x+4)(2xa)=0(x+4)(2x-a)=0 with a=8a=8.\newline(4+4)(2(4)8)=0(-4+4)(2*(-4)-8)=0\newline(0)(88)=0(0)(-8-8)=0\newline(0)(16)=0(0)(-16)=0
  5. Confirm Correct Value: Confirm that the value of aa is correct.\newlineSince the second factor is zero when x=4x=-4, the equation is satisfied. This confirms that a=8a=8 is the correct value for aa, as it works for both solutions x=4x=4 and x=4x=-4.

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