Solve x^2+63x+17=257

$${ x }^{ 2 } +63x+17 = 257$$

Solve for x

$$x = \frac{\sqrt{4929} - 63}{2} \approx 3.603418637$$

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{4929}-63}{2}\approx -66.603418637$$

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.

$$x^{2}+63x+17=257$$

Subtract 257 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+63x+17-257=257-257$$

Subtracting 257 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+63x+17-257=0$$

Subtract 257 from 17.

$$x^{2}+63x-240=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 63 for b, and -240 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{63^{2}-4\left(-240\right)}}{2}$$

Square 63.

$$x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{3969-4\left(-240\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -240.

$$x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{3969+960}}{2}$$

Add 3969 to 960.

$$x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{4929}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{4929}}{2} when ± is plus. Add -63 to \sqrt{4929}.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{4929}-63}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-63±\sqrt{4929}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract \sqrt{4929} from -63.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{4929}-63}{2}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{4929}-63}{2} x=\frac{-\sqrt{4929}-63}{2}$$

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.

$$x^{2}+63x+17=257$$

Subtract 17 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+63x+17-17=257-17$$

Subtracting 17 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+63x=257-17$$

Subtract 17 from 257.

$$x^{2}+63x=240$$

Divide 63, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{63}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{63}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+63x+\left(\frac{63}{2}\right)^{2}=240+\left(\frac{63}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square \frac{63}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}+63x+\frac{3969}{4}=240+\frac{3969}{4}$$

Add 240 to \frac{3969}{4}.

$$x^{2}+63x+\frac{3969}{4}=\frac{4929}{4}$$

Factor x^{2}+63x+\frac{3969}{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}.

$$\left(x+\frac{63}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{4929}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+\frac{63}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{4929}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x+\frac{63}{2}=\frac{\sqrt{4929}}{2} x+\frac{63}{2}=-\frac{\sqrt{4929}}{2}$$

Subtract \frac{63}{2} from both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{4929}-63}{2} x=\frac{-\sqrt{4929}-63}{2}$$