I have absolutely no idea how to factor the following:
b² + 4b = 4b²
I think you subtract 4b² from both sides:
3b² + 4b = 0
Then
b(3b + 4) = 0
Then
b = 0 and b = -4/3
Is this correct?
Thank you.
Your first step is wrong. Just subtract b². It should be
4b = 3b²
3b² - 4b = 0
b(3b-4) = 0
b=0 or b=4/3
b = -4/3 should immediately be seen not to work, since you have
b² + 4b = 4b²
If b is negative, there is no way you could subtract something from b² and wind up with 4b².
Thank you Steve! I see where I made my mistake.
Yes, your solution is correct! Let me walk you through the steps of factoring the equation and finding the solutions:
Step 1: Start with the equation b² + 4b = 4b².
Step 2: To simplify the equation, move all the terms to one side by subtracting 4b² from both sides:
b² + 4b - 4b² = 0.
Step 3: Combine like terms on the left side of the equation:
-3b² + 4b = 0.
Step 4: Factor out the common factor from the left side of the equation to get:
b(-3b + 4) = 0.
Step 5: Set each factor equal to zero to find the solutions:
b = 0 or -3b + 4 = 0.
Step 6: Solve the second equation:
-3b + 4 = 0.
Subtract 4 from both sides:
-3b = -4.
Divide both sides by -3:
b = -4/3.
So the potential solutions to the equation are b = 0 and b = -4/3. Well done!