How do you solve #x^2 - 5x - 6 = 0#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-03-20T16:48:03

The solutions are:
#x=6#
#x=-1#

#x^2 - 5x - 6 = 0#

The equation is of the form #color(blue)(ax^2+bx+c=0# where:
#a=1, b=-5, c=-6#

The Discriminant is given by:

#Delta=b^2-4*a*c#

# = (-5)^2-(4* 1 * ( -6) )#

# = 25 + 24 = 4 9 #

The solutions are normally found using the formula
#x=(-b+-sqrtDelta)/(2*a)#

#x = (-(-5)+-sqrt(49))/(2*1) = ((5+-7))/ 2#

#x=((5+ 7))/ 2 = 12/2 = 6 #

#x=((5- 7))/ 2 = -2/2 = -1#