The ACT is multiple choice with little time per question. Solve directly when it's quick. When it's not, try substituting the answer choices. Both are valid.
Work through it
Distribute.
Gather.
. Sum of the solutions?
Factor.
Add.
Square.
Solve.
Check it, since squaring can add false answers.
Watch out for this
Keeping every result after squaring.
Check in the original. has no solution, even though squaring gives 4.
The short version
Isolate the variable with inverse operations. For quadratics, get 0 on one side and factor. Testing the choices is a fair strategy.
Isolate the variable with inverse operations. For quadratics, get 0 on one side and factor. Testing the choices is a fair strategy.
Your turn
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