TMUA Specimen · Paper 2 · Question 3

Consider the following attempt to solve an equation. The steps have been numbered for reference.

x + 5 = x + 3

$↓ ⏐ (1)$

x + 5 = x^{2} + 6 x + 9

$↓ ⏐ (2)$

x^{2} + 5 x + 4 = 0

$↓ ⏐ (3)$

(x + 4) (x + 1) = 0

<br>

x = - 4 or x = - 1

Which one of the following statements is true?