How do you use the quadratic formula to find both solutions to the quadratic equation x^2-3x=-10?

2 Answers
Jun 28, 2015

Solve y = x^2 - 3x + 10 = 0

Explanation:

D = d^2 = b^2 - 4ac = 9 - 40 = -31 < 0 --> d = +- isqrt31

There are no real roots. There are 2 complex roots.

x = 3/2 +-( isqrt31)/2

Jun 28, 2015

x^2-3x=-10 has only complex roots x = (3+-i sqrt(31))/2

x^2-3x=10 has roots x=5 and x=-2

Explanation:

I'm not sure the sign of 10 on the right hand side is correct, so let's deal with both cases:

Case 1 x^2-3x=-10

Add 10 to both sides to get x^2-3x+10 = 0

Let f(x) = x^2-3x+10.

This is of the form ax^2+bx+c with a=1, b=-3 and c=10.

The discriminant Delta is given by the formula:

Delta = b^2 - 4ac = (-3)^2-(4xx1xx10) = 9-40 = -31

Since this is negative f(x) = 0 has two distinct complex roots, given by the formula:

x = (-b +-sqrt(Delta))/(2a) = (3+-i sqrt(31))/2

Case 2 x^2-3x=10

Subtract 10 from both sides to get x^2-3x-10 = 0

Let f(x) = x^2-3x-10

This is of the form ax^2+bx+c with a=1, b=-3 and c=-10

The discriminant Delta is given by the formula:

Delta = b^2 - 4ac = (-3)^2-(4xx1xx-10) = 9+40 = 49 = 7^2

This is positive and a perfect square, so the roots of f(x) = 0 are distinct rational real numbers, given by the formula:

x = (-b+-sqrt(Delta))/(2a) = (3+-7)/2

That is x = -4/2 = -2 and x = 10/2 = 5