Advanced Math practice question

Answer: 6

Zeros satisfy (x − 2)² = 9, so x = 2 ± 3: at −1 and 5. The distance is 6.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3

3 is the half-width 2 − (−1); the zeros sit 3 on each side of x = 2, 6 apart.

If you answered 4

The vertex is at x = 2, but the zeros are 2 ± 3, spanning 6.

If you answered 9

9 is the squared half-distance; the zeros are at −1 and 5.

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