Q: If (a + 2)(2 - a) = -12, then what is a possible value for a?
UNANSWERED.
The correct answer is B.
A:
One way to do this problem is to just plug in the possible answers and see which one fits the equation.
Let's try choice A, where a is 2, (a + 2)(2 - a) = -12 (2 + 2)(2 - 2) = -12 (4)(0) = -12 0 = -12 Nope, choice A doesn't work. On to choice B: a is 4 ... (a + 2)(2 - a) = -12 (4 + 2)(2 - 4) = -12 (6)(-2) = -12 -12 = -12 IT WORKS! So the answer is a is 4 or choice B.
Another way to solve it is algebraically: (a + 2)(2 - a) = -12 (a + 2)(a - 2) = 12 a2 - 4 = 12 a2 = 16 a = 4 or -4 So, B is the correct answer.
