Find the smallest value of x such that x^2 + 10x + 25 = 16.
Subtract 16 from each side to get x2 + 10x + 9 = 0
Factor the quadratic (x + 9)(x + 1) = 0
Set each factor equal to zero (x + 9) = 0 x = –9
(x + 1) = 0 x = –1
The smaller value is x = –9
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