How do you solve x^2 -4x -5=0?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2015

The solutions are
color(blue)(x=5, x=-1

Explanation:

x^2-4x-5=0

We can first factorise this expression by splitting the middle term and then find the solutions:

x^2 color(blue)(-5x +1x)-5=0

x( x - 5) + 1 (x-5)=0
=color(blue)((x-5)(x+1)

Equating the factors with zero to obtain the solutions:

  • x-5 = 0 , color(blue) (x=5
  • x+1 = 0, color(blue)(x=-1