How do you solve #-8- 8p ^ { 2} = - 31#?

1 Answer
Mar 12, 2017

#p=+-sqrt(23/8) ~= +-1.696#

Explanation:

Start by adding #8# to both sides:

#-8p^2=-23#

then divide by the negative 8:

#(-8p^2)/-8=(-23)/-8#

you get:

#p^2=23/8#

square root both sides (remember that you must #+-# the result as both the negative and positive version of the answer when squared will become positive) i.e.
#(-4)^2 = 16#
#4^2 = 16#

#sqrt(p^2)=sqrt(23/8)#

and find that

#p=+-sqrt(23/8) ~= +-1.696#