<p><a href="x-8">b</a>(x-k) = x^2 - 5kx + m</p>
<p>In the equation above, k and m are constants. If the equation is true for all values of x, what is the value of m?**</p>
<p>A) 8
B) 16
C) 24
D) 32
E) 40</p>
<p>So what I did is I factored (x-8)(x-k) and I got:</p>
<p>x^2 - xk - 8x + 8k = x^2 - 5kx + m</p>
<p>^Now what the hell do I do from there? That's the part where I'm stuck.</p>
<p>x^2 - xk - 8x + 8k = x^2 - 5kx + m</p>
<p>^Now what the hell do I do from there? That’s the part where I’m stuck. </p>
<p>Ok so you know that each term on the left has to correspond with each term on the right. So x^2 on the left is the same as the x^2 on the right. Therefore, -xk-8x must be the same as -5kx. So just set them equal to another. -xk-8x=-5kx =====-8x=-4kx k=2. Then you also know that 8k must equal to m because the left side has to correspond to the right side. so, 8k=m. k=2. so 16=m===B.</p>
<p>Before I give an explanation, is the answer 32?</p>
<p>No its 16. Trust me. ITS 16</p>
<p>Haha indeed it seem it is, I was mistaken.</p>