How do you solve -5x^2=-500?

2 Answers
Jul 26, 2016

x = 10

Explanation:

This is a good example of how operations can act on both sides of an equation in order to simplify and find the value of a variable.

I'll work this out showing each step:
-5x^2 = -500

(1/-5)(-5x^2) = -500(1/-5)

x^2 = 100

sqrt(x^2) = sqrt(100)

x = 10

Jul 26, 2016

x=+-10

Explanation:

Given:" "color(brown)(-5x^2=-500)

To make -5x^2 positive multiply both sides by (-1)

" "color(brown)(5x^2=500)

Divide both sides by color(blue)(5) turning the 5 in 5x^2 into 1

" "color(brown)(5/(color(blue)(5))xx x^2=500/(color(blue)(5)))

" "color(brown)(x^2=100)

Square root both sides

" "color(brown)(sqrt(x^2)=sqrt(100))

" "color(green)(x=+-10)