Solve (x-1)x=240

$$( x - 1 ) x = 240$$

Solve for x

$$x=16$$

$$x=-15$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Use the distributive property to multiply x-1 by x.

$$x^{2}-x=240$$

Subtract 240 from both sides.

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

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

$$x=\frac{-\left(-1\right)±\sqrt{1-4\left(-240\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -240.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-1\right)±\sqrt{1+960}}{2}$$

Add 1 to 960.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-1\right)±\sqrt{961}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 961.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-1\right)±31}{2}$$

The opposite of -1 is 1.

$$x=\frac{1±31}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{1±31}{2} when ± is plus. Add 1 to 31.

$$x=\frac{32}{2}$$

Divide 32 by 2.

$$x=16$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{1±31}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 31 from 1.

$$x=-\frac{30}{2}$$

Divide -30 by 2.

$$x=-15$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=16 x=-15$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Use the distributive property to multiply x-1 by x.

$$x^{2}-x=240$$

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.

$$x^{2}-x+\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=240+\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square -\frac{1}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}-x+\frac{1}{4}=240+\frac{1}{4}$$

Add 240 to \frac{1}{4}.

$$x^{2}-x+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{961}{4}$$

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}.

$$\left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{961}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{961}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{31}{2} x-\frac{1}{2}=-\frac{31}{2}$$

Add \frac{1}{2} to both sides of the equation.

$$x=16 x=-15$$