1. for a small party of 12 people, the caterer offered a choice of a steak
dinner for $12.00 per meal or a chicken dinner for $10.50 per meal.
the final cost for the meals was $138.00. how many of each meal was
ordered?

or

hello from mrbilldoesmath!

answer:   x (x+6)^2, choice b

discussion:

factor x out of the equation:

x^3 + 12x^2 + 36x = x (x^2 + 12x + 36).

note that 6+6 = 12 and 6*6 = 36 so the above factors into:

x (x+6)^2

which is choice b

you,

mrb