Answer:
The trestle meets ground level at 0.9 units and 9.1 units
Step-by-step explanation:
∵ -x² + 10x - 8 = 0 ⇒ × (-1)
∴ x² - 10x + 8 = 0
∵ 10x/2 = 5x ⇒ (x) × (5) ⇒ square x is x² and square 5 is 25
By using completing square form
∴ (x² - 10x + 25) - 25 + 8 = 0
∴ (x - 5)² - 17 = 0
∴ (x - 5)² = 17 ⇒ take square root for both sides
∴ x - 5 = -√17 ⇒ x = -√17 + 5 = 0.9
∴ x - 5 = √17 ⇒ x = √17 + 5 = 9.1
∴ The trestle meets ground level at x = 0.9 and x = 9.1