Solve 13-x/6=6/x

$$\frac { 13 - x } { 6 } = \frac { 6 } { x }$$

Solve for x

$$x=4$$

$$x=9$$

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 6x, the least common multiple of 6,x.

$$x\left(13-x\right)=6\times 6$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x by 13-x.

$$13x-x^{2}=6\times 6$$

Multiply 6 and 6 to get 36.

$$13x-x^{2}=36$$

Subtract 36 from both sides.

$$13x-x^{2}-36=0$$

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.

$$-x^{2}+13x-36=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -1 for a, 13 for b, and -36 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-13±\sqrt{13^{2}-4\left(-1\right)\left(-36\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Square 13.

$$x=\frac{-13±\sqrt{169-4\left(-1\right)\left(-36\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-13±\sqrt{169+4\left(-36\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply 4 times -36.

$$x=\frac{-13±\sqrt{169-144}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Add 169 to -144.

$$x=\frac{-13±\sqrt{25}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Take the square root of 25.

$$x=\frac{-13±5}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-13±5}{-2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-13±5}{-2} when ± is plus. Add -13 to 5.

$$x=-\frac{8}{-2}$$

Divide -8 by -2.

$$x=4$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-13±5}{-2} when ± is minus. Subtract 5 from -13.

$$x=-\frac{18}{-2}$$

Divide -18 by -2.

$$x=9$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=4 x=9$$

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 6x, the least common multiple of 6,x.

$$x\left(13-x\right)=6\times 6$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x by 13-x.

$$13x-x^{2}=6\times 6$$

Multiply 6 and 6 to get 36.

$$13x-x^{2}=36$$

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.

$$-x^{2}+13x=36$$

Divide both sides by -1.

$$\frac{-x^{2}+13x}{-1}=\frac{36}{-1}$$

Dividing by -1 undoes the multiplication by -1.

$$x^{2}+\frac{13}{-1}x=\frac{36}{-1}$$

Divide 13 by -1.

$$x^{2}-13x=\frac{36}{-1}$$

Divide 36 by -1.

$$x^{2}-13x=-36$$

Divide -13, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{13}{2}. Then add the square of -\frac{13}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-13x+\left(-\frac{13}{2}\right)^{2}=-36+\left(-\frac{13}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square -\frac{13}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}-13x+\frac{169}{4}=-36+\frac{169}{4}$$

Add -36 to \frac{169}{4}.

$$x^{2}-13x+\frac{169}{4}=\frac{25}{4}$$

Factor x^{2}-13x+\frac{169}{4}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-\frac{13}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{25}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{13}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{25}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x-\frac{13}{2}=\frac{5}{2} x-\frac{13}{2}=-\frac{5}{2}$$

Add \frac{13}{2} to both sides of the equation.

$$x=9 x=4$$