Solve x^2-37x+259=0

$${ x }^{ 2 } -37x+259=0$$

Solve for x

$$x = \frac{3 \sqrt{37} + 37}{2} \approx 27.624143795$$

$$x = \frac{37 - 3 \sqrt{37}}{2} \approx 9.375856205$$

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.

$$x^{2}-37x+259=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -37 for b, and 259 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-37\right)±\sqrt{\left(-37\right)^{2}-4\times 259}}{2}$$

Square -37.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-37\right)±\sqrt{1369-4\times 259}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 259.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-37\right)±\sqrt{1369-1036}}{2}$$

Add 1369 to -1036.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-37\right)±\sqrt{333}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 333.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-37\right)±3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$

The opposite of -37 is 37.

$$x=\frac{37±3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{37±3\sqrt{37}}{2} when ± is plus. Add 37 to 3\sqrt{37}.

$$x=\frac{3\sqrt{37}+37}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{37±3\sqrt{37}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 3\sqrt{37} from 37.

$$x=\frac{37-3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{3\sqrt{37}+37}{2} x=\frac{37-3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$

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.

$$x^{2}-37x+259=0$$

Subtract 259 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}-37x+259-259=-259$$

Subtracting 259 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}-37x=-259$$

Divide -37, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{37}{2}. Then add the square of -\frac{37}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-37x+\left(-\frac{37}{2}\right)^{2}=-259+\left(-\frac{37}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square -\frac{37}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}-37x+\frac{1369}{4}=-259+\frac{1369}{4}$$

Add -259 to \frac{1369}{4}.

$$x^{2}-37x+\frac{1369}{4}=\frac{333}{4}$$

Factor x^{2}-37x+\frac{1369}{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}.

$$\left(x-\frac{37}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{333}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{37}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{333}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x-\frac{37}{2}=\frac{3\sqrt{37}}{2} x-\frac{37}{2}=-\frac{3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$

Add \frac{37}{2} to both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{3\sqrt{37}+37}{2} x=\frac{37-3\sqrt{37}}{2}$$