How do you solve the quadratic 3x^2-2x=2x+7 using any method?

2 Answers
Nov 4, 2016

x= + 7/3 and x=-1

Explanation:

Given:" "3x^2-2x=2x+7

Subtract 2x and 7 from both sides

3x^2-4x-7=0

7 is a prime number so does not share any common factors other than 1 with the other coefficients.

Compare to the standardised equations:

y=ax^2+bx+c" ; "x=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)

Where" "a=3"; "b=-4"; "c=-7 giving:

x=(+4+-sqrt((-4)^2-4(3)(-7)))/(2(3))

x=2/3+-sqrt(16+84)/6

x=2/3+-10/6

=>x= + 7/3 and x=-1

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Tony B

Nov 4, 2016

Same solution but using completing the square. The process introduces an error that has to be corrected by the inclusion of k
Takes longer to explain than do the maths.

Explanation:

Given:" "3x^2-4x-7=0............................Equation(1)

color(blue)("Completing the square")

Write as: 3(x^2-4/3x)-7=0

Let the constant of correction be k

At this point k=0

Write as: 3(x^2-4/3x)-7+k=0

Take the square from x^2 outside the brackets

3(x-4/3x)^2-7+k=0

Halve the coefficient of x so -4/3x becomes -4/6x

"The "4/6" is not simplified on purpose"

3(x-4/6x)^2-7+k=0

Now get rid of the x from -4/6x

color(red)(3)(xcolor(green)(-4/6))^2-7+k=0 ............................Equation(2)
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We now have to find the value of k so that the overall value of equation(2) is the same as that of equation(1)

The error comes from the term color(red)(3)(color(green)(-4/6))^2 which is additional to that in the original equation(1).

Equation(1)->3x^2-4x-7=0
Equation(2)-> 3x^2-4xcolor(magenta)(+(cancel(16)^4)/(cancel(12)^3))-7+k=0
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color(white)(.)

So from equation(2) we have

color(red)(3)(color(green)(-4/6))^2+k=0 " "=>" "k=-4/3larr" gets rid of the error"

So equation(2) becomes:

3(x-2/3)^2-7-4/3=0

3(x-2/3)^2-25/3=0 larr" completed square"

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color(blue)("Solving for "x)

=>(x-2/3)^2 = 25/9

x=2/3+-sqrt(25/9)

x=2/3+-5/3

x= 7/3 or x= -1