How do you solve $-2(x+3)^2 + 7 = -25$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-10-03T20:56:11

$x =-1 " or " x=-7$

The usual approach with a quadratic equation is to make it
equal to 0. However, this one is a special case - there is no $x$ term.

First isolate the bracket:

$-2(x+3)^2 color(red)(+7) =-25$

$-2(x+3)^2 =-25 color(red)(-7)$

$color(blue)(-2)(x+3)^2 =-32$

$(x+3)^2 = (-32)/(color(blue)(-2)) = 16$

$x+3 = +-sqrt16$

$x = +4-3 = 1$

$x =-4-3 =-7$

How do you solve -2(x+3)^2 + 7 = -25-2(x+3)^2 + 7 = -25?