Use completing the square to solve for x in the equation open paren x plus 7 close paren times open paren x minus 9 close paren is equal to 25

Expand the left side: (x + 7)(x − 9) = x² − 2x − 63, so the equation becomes x² − 2x = 88. Add 1 to both sides to complete the square: (x − 1)² = 89. Taking square roots gives x = 1 ± √89, which is choice A.

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