Question

x² – 13x – 30 = 0

Answer 1

Given: x² – 13x – 30 = 0

On splitting the middle term –13x as –15x + 2x, we get:

x² – 15x + 2x – 30 = 0

$\Rightarrow$x(x – 15) + 2(x – 15) = 0

$\Rightarrow$(x – 15) (x + 2) = 0

We know that if the product of two numbers is zero, then at least one of them must be zero.

Thus,

x – 15 = 0 or x + 2 = 0

$\Rightarrow$x = 15 or x = $-$ 2

Therefore, the solution of the given equation is x = 15, $-$ 2.