Advanced MathMediumSimplifying a perfect-square trinomial over a linear factor
Advanced Math practice question
For x ≠ 3, (x² − 6x + 9)/(x − 3) is equivalent to x − k. What is the value of k?
Answer: 3
x² − 6x + 9 = (x − 3)², and dividing by (x − 3) leaves x − 3. So k = 3.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 6
- 6 is the middle coefficient.
- If you answered 9
- 9 is the constant of the numerator, not after simplifying.
- If you answered -3
- −3 would give x + 3, the wrong sign.
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