Answer:
a = 7 & a = −7
Explanation:
Rewrite the equation as (x+a)(x−a)=x^2−49
Simplify (x+a)(x−a)
x^2−a^2=x^2−49
Move all terms not containing a to the right side of the equation.
−a^2=−49
Multiply each term in −a^2=−49 by −1
a^2=49
Take the square root of both sides of the equation to eliminate the exponent on the left side.
a = ±√49
The complete solution is the result of both the positive and negative portions of the solution.
a = 7,−7
