Skip to main content
Solve for x
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

x^{2}+x=-0.241
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}+x-\left(-0.241\right)=-0.241-\left(-0.241\right)
Add 0.241 to both sides of the equation.
x^{2}+x-\left(-0.241\right)=0
Subtracting -0.241 from itself leaves 0.
x^{2}+x+0.241=0
Subtract -0.241 from 0.
x=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1^{2}-4\times 0.241}}{2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 1 for b, and 0.241 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1-4\times 0.241}}{2}
Square 1.
x=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1-0.964}}{2}
Multiply -4 times 0.241.
x=\frac{-1±\sqrt{0.036}}{2}
Add 1 to -0.964.
x=\frac{-1±\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}}{2}
Take the square root of 0.036.
x=\frac{\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}-1}{2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-1±\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}}{2} when ± is plus. Add -1 to \frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}.
x=\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2}
Divide -1+\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50} by 2.
x=\frac{-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}-1}{2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-1±\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract \frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50} from -1.
x=-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2}
Divide -1-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{50} by 2.
x=\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2} x=-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2}
The equation is now solved.
x^{2}+x=-0.241
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}+x+\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=-0.241+\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}
Divide 1, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{1}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{1}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}+x+\frac{1}{4}=-0.241+\frac{1}{4}
Square \frac{1}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
x^{2}+x+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{9}{1000}
Add -0.241 to \frac{1}{4} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{9}{1000}
Factor x^{2}+x+\frac{1}{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}.
\sqrt{\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{9}{1000}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100} x+\frac{1}{2}=-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}
Simplify.
x=\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2} x=-\frac{3\sqrt{10}}{100}-\frac{1}{2}
Subtract \frac{1}{2} from both sides of the equation.