If x + a is a factor of x2 + px + q and x2 + mx + n then the value of a in terms of n, q, m and p is?
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Solution
(-a)² + p·(-a) + q = 0 --> a² -ap + q = 0 (-a)² + m·(-a) + n = 0 --> a² -am + n = 0 Since they both equal 0, you can set them equal to each other: a² -ap + q = a² -am + n -ap + q + -am + n am - ap = n-q a(m-p) = n-q