What is the sum of the x-values of that satisfy the equation 5 = (x^3 - x^2 - 8x)/(x + 2)?
5 = (x^3 - x^2 - 8x)/(x + 2) multiply both sides by x + 2
5 (x + 2) = x^3 -x^2 - 8x
5x + 10 = x^3 - x^2 -8x rearrange as
x^3 - x^2 - 13x - 10 = 0
We have the form ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d
By Vieta....the sum of the roots = -b /a = -(-1) / 1 = 1
