After expanding, check whether the $x^2$ terms on both sides are the same. If they are, you can subtract them from both sides to simplify to a linear equation.

Once the equation is linear (no $x^2$), isolate $x$ by moving all $x$ terms to one side and constants to the other, then divide.

In the first expression line, type y = (x+5)(x-1)+3. In the second line, type y = (x+2)(x+4). This graphs both sides of the equation as two curves.

Zoom or pan until you can see where the two graphs cross. Tap or click the intersection point and read the x-coordinate; that x-value is the solution of the equation.

Instead, enter y = (x+5)(x-1)+3 - (x+2)(x+4). Then look for the x-intercept (where the graph crosses the x-axis, so $y=0$). The x-coordinate at this intercept is the value of $x$ that satisfies the original equation.

Start with the given equation:

Expand each product:

• Left side: $(x+5)(x-1) = x^2 +4x -5$, then add $3$ to get $x^2 + 4x - 2$.
• Right side: $(x+2)(x+4) = x^2 + 6x + 8$.

So the equation becomes:

Subtract $x^2$ from both sides. This makes the $x^2$ terms disappear:

Now you only need to solve this linear equation for $x$.

Solve $4x - 2 = 6x + 8$ step by step:

• Subtract $4x$ from both sides:

• Subtract $8$ from both sides:

• Divide both sides by $2$:

So the value of $x$ that satisfies the equation is $-5$.