Use completing the square to solve for x in the equation open paren x minus 12 close paren times open paren x plus 4 close paren is equal to 9

Expand the left side: (x − 12)(x + 4) = x² − 8x − 48, so x² − 8x = 57. To complete the square, add 16 to both sides: (x − 4)² = 73. Taking square roots gives x − 4 = ±√73, so x = 4 ± √73, the answer written in choice A.

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