[Math] I get two different answers on simple equation. What am I doing wrong

algebra-precalculus

For the equation: $-x^2 = -2x(3x+1)$ I can either multiply it out on the right side and get a $-6x^2-2x$ or just divide both sides by $-2x$. However, when divide out both sides, I just get one answer: $-2/5$. When I multiply it out, I get two answers: $-2/5$ and $0$.

What is wrong with dividing both sides by $-2x$??

Best Answer

When you divide by $-2x$ you are implicitly assuming $x\neq0$ which you don't know for sure and thus remove that solution.


Note that when you divide by a non-zero value the equation still holds on each side whereas division by zero will create undefined expressions. For example, $\frac{1}{0}$ doesn't compute to any known value where there are Math SE questions on this topic if you need a reference.

Consider if the equation was $2x=x$ where if I divide by $x$, I then get $1=2$ which is a problem as that isn't true and the reason why that division isn't allowed is because the only solution is $x=0$.