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Algebra Difficulty 2.6 Junior Find the answer

If (x+a)(x+8)=x2+bx+24(x+a)(x+8)=x^{2}+bx+24 for all values of xx, what is the value of a+ba+b?

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

Solution

Since (x+a)(x+8)=x2+bx+24(x+a)(x+8)=x^{2}+bx+24 for all xx, then x2+ax+8x+8a=x2+bx+24x^{2}+ax+8x+8a=x^{2}+bx+24 or x2+(a+8)x+8a=x2+bx+24x^{2}+(a+8)x+8a=x^{2}+bx+24 for all xx. Since the equation is true for all xx, then the coefficients on the left side must match the coefficients on the right side. Therefore, a+8=ba+8=b and 8a=248a=24. The second equation gives a=3a=3, from which the first equation gives b=3+8=11b=3+8=11. Finally, a+b=3+11=14a+b=3+11=14.

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