Solve 1/x+1/2=6/4x^2

$$\frac { 1 } { x } + \frac { 1 } { 2 } = \frac { 6 } { 4 x ^ { 2 } }$$

Solve for x

$$x=-3$$

$$x=1$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Variable x cannot be equal to 0 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by 4x^{2}, the least common multiple of x,2,4x^{2}.

$$4x+4x^{2}\times \frac{1}{2}=6$$

Multiply 4 and \frac{1}{2} to get 2.

$$4x+2x^{2}=6$$

Subtract 6 from both sides.

$$4x+2x^{2}-6=0$$

Divide both sides by 2.

$$2x+x^{2}-3=0$$

Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.

$$x^{2}+2x-3=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx-3. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=2 ab=1\left(-3\right)=-3$$

Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$a=-1 b=3$$

Rewrite x^{2}+2x-3 as \left(x^{2}-x\right)+\left(3x-3\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-x\right)+\left(3x-3\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 3 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-1\right)+3\left(x-1\right)$$

Factor out common term x-1 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-1\right)\left(x+3\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve x-1=0 and x+3=0.

$$x=1 x=-3$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Variable x cannot be equal to 0 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by 4x^{2}, the least common multiple of x,2,4x^{2}.

$$4x+4x^{2}\times \frac{1}{2}=6$$

Multiply 4 and \frac{1}{2} to get 2.

$$4x+2x^{2}=6$$

Subtract 6 from both sides.

$$4x+2x^{2}-6=0$$

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.

$$2x^{2}+4x-6=0$$

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

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

Square 4.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16-4\times 2\left(-6\right)}}{2\times 2}$$

Multiply -4 times 2.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16-8\left(-6\right)}}{2\times 2}$$

Multiply -8 times -6.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16+48}}{2\times 2}$$

Add 16 to 48.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{64}}{2\times 2}$$

Take the square root of 64.

$$x=\frac{-4±8}{2\times 2}$$

Multiply 2 times 2.

$$x=\frac{-4±8}{4}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±8}{4} when ± is plus. Add -4 to 8.

$$x=\frac{4}{4}$$

Divide 4 by 4.

$$x=1$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±8}{4} when ± is minus. Subtract 8 from -4.

$$x=-\frac{12}{4}$$

Divide -12 by 4.

$$x=-3$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=1 x=-3$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Variable x cannot be equal to 0 since division by zero is not defined. Multiply both sides of the equation by 4x^{2}, the least common multiple of x,2,4x^{2}.

$$4x+4x^{2}\times \frac{1}{2}=6$$

Multiply 4 and \frac{1}{2} to get 2.

$$4x+2x^{2}=6$$

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.

$$2x^{2}+4x=6$$

Divide both sides by 2.

$$\frac{2x^{2}+4x}{2}=\frac{6}{2}$$

Dividing by 2 undoes the multiplication by 2.

$$x^{2}+\frac{4}{2}x=\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide 4 by 2.

$$x^{2}+2x=\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide 6 by 2.

$$x^{2}+2x=3$$

Divide 2, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get 1. Then add the square of 1 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+2x+1^{2}=3+1^{2}$$

Square 1.

$$x^{2}+2x+1=3+1$$

Add 3 to 1.

$$x^{2}+2x+1=4$$

Factor x^{2}+2x+1. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x+1\right)^{2}=4$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+1\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{4}$$

Simplify.

$$x+1=2 x+1=-2$$

Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation.

$$x=1 x=-3$$