Solve x+4/x-4=0

$$x + \frac { 4 } { x - 4 } = 0$$

Solve for x

$$x=2$$

Steps Using Factoring

Variable x cannot be equal to 4 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by x-4.

$$\left(x-4\right)x+4=0$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x-4 by x.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=0$$

To solve the equation, factor x^{2}-4x+4 using formula x^{2}+\left(a+b\right)x+ab=\left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-4 ab=4$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. List all such integer pairs that give product 4.

$$-1,-4 -2,-2$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-4=-5 -2-2=-4$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -4.

$$a=-2 b=-2$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(x-2\right)\left(x-2\right)$$

Rewrite as a binomial square.

$$\left(x-2\right)^{2}$$

To find equation solution, solve x-2=0.

$$x=2$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Variable x cannot be equal to 4 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by x-4.

$$\left(x-4\right)x+4=0$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x-4 by x.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+4. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-4 ab=1\times 4=4$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. List all such integer pairs that give product 4.

$$-1,-4 -2,-2$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-4=-5 -2-2=-4$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -4.

$$a=-2 b=-2$$

Rewrite x^{2}-4x+4 as \left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(-2x+4\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(-2x+4\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and -2 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-2\right)-2\left(x-2\right)$$

Factor out common term x-2 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-2\right)\left(x-2\right)$$

Rewrite as a binomial square.

$$\left(x-2\right)^{2}$$

To find equation solution, solve x-2=0.

$$x=2$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Variable x cannot be equal to 4 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by x-4.

$$\left(x-4\right)x+4=0$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x-4 by x.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -4 for b, and 4 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\times 4}}{2}$$

Square -4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\times 4}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-16}}{2}$$

Add 16 to -16.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{0}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 0.

$$x=-\frac{-4}{2}$$

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$x=\frac{4}{2}$$

Divide 4 by 2.

$$x=2$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Variable x cannot be equal to 4 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by x-4.

$$\left(x-4\right)x+4=0$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x-4 by x.

$$x^{2}-4x+4=0$$

Factor x^{2}-4x+4. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-2\right)^{2}=0$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-2\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{0}$$

Simplify.

$$x-2=0 x-2=0$$

Add 2 to both sides of the equation.

$$x=2 x=2$$

The equation is now solved. Solutions are the same.

$$x=2$$