Your friend Mel says he has an easier way to solve this problem. Here are the first steps in his method. First, isolate all of the x-terms on the left side. This leaves a constant on the right that isn't equal to 0.

Factor the GCF out of the terms on the left side.

If there's a whole-number factor on the left side, divide both sides by that number. Notice that after you do this, one factor on the left is just x.
Apply Mel's steps to your equation in question 1. (5 points)

The original equation is 2x^2 +6x+4=24 ft.^2

Simplifying

2x2 + 6x + 4 = 24

Reorder the terms:

4 + 6x + 2x2 = 24

Solving

4 + 6x + 2x2 = 24

Solving for variable 'x'.

Reorder the terms:

4 + -24 + 6x + 2x2 = 24 + -24

Combine like terms: 4 + -24 = -20

-20 + 6x + 2x2 = 24 + -24

Combine like terms: 24 + -24 = 0

-20 + 6x + 2x2 = 0

Factor out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF), '2'.

2(-10 + 3x + x2) = 0

Factor a trinomial.

2((-5 + -1x)(2 + -1x)) = 0

Ignore the factor 2.

Subproblem 1

Set the factor '(-5 + -1x)' equal to zero and attempt to solve:

Simplifying

-5 + -1x = 0

Solving

-5 + -1x = 0

Move all terms containing x to the left, all other terms to the right.

Add '5' to each side of the equation.

-5 + 5 + -1x = 0 + 5

Combine like terms: -5 + 5 = 0

0 + -1x = 0 + 5

-1x = 0 + 5

Combine like terms: 0 + 5 = 5

-1x = 5

Divide each side by '-1'.

x = -5

Simplifying

x = -5