Solve x^2+15x+40=4

$${ x }^{ 2 } +15x+40=4$$

Solve for x

$$x=-12$$

$$x=-3$$

Steps Using Factoring

Subtract 4 from both sides.

$$x^{2}+15x+40-4=0$$

Subtract 4 from 40 to get 36.

$$x^{2}+15x+36=0$$

To solve the equation, factor x^{2}+15x+36 using formula x^{2}+\left(a+b\right)x+ab=\left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=15 ab=36$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. List all such integer pairs that give product 36.

$$1,36 2,18 3,12 4,9 6,6$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$1+36=37 2+18=20 3+12=15 4+9=13 6+6=12$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 15.

$$a=3 b=12$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(x+3\right)\left(x+12\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve x+3=0 and x+12=0.

$$x=-3 x=-12$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Subtract 4 from both sides.

$$x^{2}+15x+40-4=0$$

Subtract 4 from 40 to get 36.

$$x^{2}+15x+36=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+36. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=15 ab=1\times 36=36$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. List all such integer pairs that give product 36.

$$1,36 2,18 3,12 4,9 6,6$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$1+36=37 2+18=20 3+12=15 4+9=13 6+6=12$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 15.

$$a=3 b=12$$

Rewrite x^{2}+15x+36 as \left(x^{2}+3x\right)+\left(12x+36\right).

$$\left(x^{2}+3x\right)+\left(12x+36\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 12 in the second group.

$$x\left(x+3\right)+12\left(x+3\right)$$

Factor out common term x+3 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x+3\right)\left(x+12\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve x+3=0 and x+12=0.

$$x=-3 x=-12$$

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.

$$x^{2}+15x+40=4$$

Subtract 4 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+15x+40-4=4-4$$

Subtracting 4 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+15x+40-4=0$$

Subtract 4 from 40.

$$x^{2}+15x+36=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 15 for b, and 36 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-15±\sqrt{15^{2}-4\times 36}}{2}$$

Square 15.

$$x=\frac{-15±\sqrt{225-4\times 36}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 36.

$$x=\frac{-15±\sqrt{225-144}}{2}$$

Add 225 to -144.

$$x=\frac{-15±\sqrt{81}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 81.

$$x=\frac{-15±9}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-15±9}{2} when ± is plus. Add -15 to 9.

$$x=-\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide -6 by 2.

$$x=-3$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-15±9}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 9 from -15.

$$x=-\frac{24}{2}$$

Divide -24 by 2.

$$x=-12$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=-3 x=-12$$

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.

$$x^{2}+15x+40=4$$

Subtract 40 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+15x+40-40=4-40$$

Subtracting 40 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+15x=4-40$$

Subtract 40 from 4.

$$x^{2}+15x=-36$$

Divide 15, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{15}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{15}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+15x+\left(\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}=-36+\left(\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square \frac{15}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{4}=-36+\frac{225}{4}$$

Add -36 to \frac{225}{4}.

$$x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{4}=\frac{81}{4}$$

Factor x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{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}.

$$\left(x+\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{81}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{81}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x+\frac{15}{2}=\frac{9}{2} x+\frac{15}{2}=-\frac{9}{2}$$

Subtract \frac{15}{2} from both sides of the equation.

$$x=-3 x=-12$$