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Algebra Difficulty 2.5 Junior Find the answer

If x=18x=18 is one of the solutions of the equation x2+12x+c=0x^{2}+12x+c=0, what is the other solution of this equation?

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Since x=18x=18 is a solution to the equation x2+12x+c=0x^{2}+12x+c=0, then x=18x=18 satisfies this equation. Thus, 182+12(18)+c=018^{2}+12(18)+c=0 and so 324+216+c=0324+216+c=0 or c=540c=-540. Therefore, the original equation becomes x2+12x540=0x^{2}+12x-540=0 or (x18)(x+30)=0(x-18)(x+30)=0. Therefore, the other solution is x=30x=-30.

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