Solve 1/3x^2+6x=9

$$\frac { 1 } { 3 } x ^ { 2 } + 6 x = 9$$

Solve for x

$$x=6\sqrt{3}-9\approx 1.392304845$$

$$x=-6\sqrt{3}-9\approx -19.392304845$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. The quadratic formula gives two solutions, one when ± is addition and one when it is subtraction.

$$\frac{1}{3}x^{2}+6x=9$$

Subtract 9 from both sides of the equation.

$$\frac{1}{3}x^{2}+6x-9=9-9$$

Subtracting 9 from itself leaves 0.

$$\frac{1}{3}x^{2}+6x-9=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute \frac{1}{3} for a, 6 for b, and -9 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{6^{2}-4\times \frac{1}{3}\left(-9\right)}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Square 6.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36-4\times \frac{1}{3}\left(-9\right)}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Multiply -4 times \frac{1}{3}.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36-\frac{4}{3}\left(-9\right)}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Multiply -\frac{4}{3} times -9.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36+12}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Add 36 to 12.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{48}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Take the square root of 48.

$$x=\frac{-6±4\sqrt{3}}{2\times \frac{1}{3}}$$

Multiply 2 times \frac{1}{3}.

$$x=\frac{-6±4\sqrt{3}}{\frac{2}{3}}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-6±4\sqrt{3}}{\frac{2}{3}} when ± is plus. Add -6 to 4\sqrt{3}.

$$x=\frac{4\sqrt{3}-6}{\frac{2}{3}}$$

Divide -6+4\sqrt{3} by \frac{2}{3} by multiplying -6+4\sqrt{3} by the reciprocal of \frac{2}{3}.

$$x=6\sqrt{3}-9$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-6±4\sqrt{3}}{\frac{2}{3}} when ± is minus. Subtract 4\sqrt{3} from -6.

$$x=\frac{-4\sqrt{3}-6}{\frac{2}{3}}$$

Divide -6-4\sqrt{3} by \frac{2}{3} by multiplying -6-4\sqrt{3} by the reciprocal of \frac{2}{3}.

$$x=-6\sqrt{3}-9$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=6\sqrt{3}-9 x=-6\sqrt{3}-9$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by completing the square. In order to complete the square, the equation must first be in the form x^{2}+bx=c.

$$\frac{1}{3}x^{2}+6x=9$$

Multiply both sides by 3.

$$\frac{\frac{1}{3}x^{2}+6x}{\frac{1}{3}}=\frac{9}{\frac{1}{3}}$$

Dividing by \frac{1}{3} undoes the multiplication by \frac{1}{3}.

$$x^{2}+\frac{6}{\frac{1}{3}}x=\frac{9}{\frac{1}{3}}$$

Divide 6 by \frac{1}{3} by multiplying 6 by the reciprocal of \frac{1}{3}.

$$x^{2}+18x=\frac{9}{\frac{1}{3}}$$

Divide 9 by \frac{1}{3} by multiplying 9 by the reciprocal of \frac{1}{3}.

$$x^{2}+18x=27$$

Divide 18, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get 9. Then add the square of 9 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+18x+9^{2}=27+9^{2}$$

Square 9.

$$x^{2}+18x+81=27+81$$

Add 27 to 81.

$$x^{2}+18x+81=108$$

Factor x^{2}+18x+81. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x+9\right)^{2}=108$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+9\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{108}$$

Simplify.

$$x+9=6\sqrt{3} x+9=-6\sqrt{3}$$

Subtract 9 from both sides of the equation.

$$x=6\sqrt{3}-9 x=-6\sqrt{3}-9$$