Question

The equation: x^2+3x-4 has two solutions. The smaller is x= _____Find the smaller solution.

Answer 1

The given quadratic equation is:

$x^2+3x-4=0$

Solve by factoriztion as follows:

$\begin{gathered} x^2+4x-x-4=0 \\ x(x+4)-1(x+4)=0 \\ (x+4)(x-1)=0 \\ x+4=0\text{ or x-1=0} \\ x=-4,1 \end{gathered}$

So the smaller solution is x=-4.