Please help-I'm stuck really bad

Thank you for any help you can provide


What are the roots of the equation x^2 -4x + 3 = 0
x^2 - 4x = 3
x^2 +2(-2)x + -2^2 = -3 = -2^2
x^2 + -4x + 4 = 1
(x + -2)^2 = 1
qrt (x+-2)^2 = sqrt 1
x+-2 = plus or minus 1
therefore x=1
x=3 roots are 1 and 3

You did this about the most difficult way.

Consider:
x^2-4x-3=0
(x-1)(x-3)=0
x= 1, or 3

x^2 -4x + 3 = 0

factor
(x-3)(x-1) = 0
x = 3 or x = 1
or complete the square as you tried
x^2 -4 x = -3 note sign change of 3
x^2 - 4 x + 4 = -3 +4 = 1
(x-2)^2 = 1
x = 2 +/- 1
x = 1 or x = 3

I believe you are trying to factor the polynomial.

so x^2 -4x+3

(x-1)(x-3) =0
x= 1,3

Alison, I am sure Sheila was trying to do it by completing the square. Note taking half of the coef. of x and squaring it. Factoring is too easy.

I did do it the long way-you way is much simpler Thank you all

To solve the equation x^2 - 4x + 3 = 0, you can use the quadratic formula or factorization. Let's use factorization to find the roots:

1. Start with the equation x^2 - 4x + 3 = 0.
2. Look for two numbers that multiply to give 3 and add up to give -4. In this case, the numbers are -1 and -3.
3. Rewrite the middle term of the equation using these numbers: x^2 - 1x - 3x + 3 = 0.
4. Group the terms: (x^2 - 1x) + (-3x + 3) = 0.
5. Factor out the common terms from each group: x(x - 1) - 3(x - 1) = 0.
6. Combine the factors: (x - 1)(x - 3) = 0.
7. Set each factor equal to zero and solve for x:
- x - 1 = 0, so x = 1.
- x - 3 = 0, so x = 3.

Therefore, the roots of the equation x^2 - 4x + 3 = 0 are x = 1 and x = 3.