Solve -0.5t-3.25t^2+10=0

$$- 0.5 t - 3.25 t ^ { 2 } + 10 = 0$$

Solve for t

$$t = \frac{\sqrt{521} - 1}{13} \approx 1.678878802$$

$$t=\frac{-\sqrt{521}-1}{13}\approx -1.832724955$$

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.

$$-3.25t^{2}-0.5t+10=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -3.25 for a, -0.5 for b, and 10 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\sqrt{\left(-0.5\right)^{2}-4\left(-3.25\right)\times 10}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Square -0.5 by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\sqrt{0.25-4\left(-3.25\right)\times 10}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -3.25.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\sqrt{0.25+13\times 10}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Multiply 13 times 10.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\sqrt{0.25+130}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Add 0.25 to 130.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\sqrt{130.25}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Take the square root of 130.25.

$$t=\frac{-\left(-0.5\right)±\frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

The opposite of -0.5 is 0.5.

$$t=\frac{0.5±\frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}}{2\left(-3.25\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -3.25.

$$t=\frac{0.5±\frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}}{-6.5}$$

Now solve the equation t=\frac{0.5±\frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}}{-6.5} when ± is plus. Add 0.5 to \frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}.

$$t=\frac{\sqrt{521}+1}{-6.5\times 2}$$

Divide \frac{1+\sqrt{521}}{2} by -6.5 by multiplying \frac{1+\sqrt{521}}{2} by the reciprocal of -6.5.

$$t=\frac{-\sqrt{521}-1}{13}$$

Now solve the equation t=\frac{0.5±\frac{\sqrt{521}}{2}}{-6.5} when ± is minus. Subtract \frac{\sqrt{521}}{2} from 0.5.

$$t=\frac{1-\sqrt{521}}{-6.5\times 2}$$

Divide \frac{1-\sqrt{521}}{2} by -6.5 by multiplying \frac{1-\sqrt{521}}{2} by the reciprocal of -6.5.

$$t=\frac{\sqrt{521}-1}{13}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$t=\frac{-\sqrt{521}-1}{13} t=\frac{\sqrt{521}-1}{13}$$

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.

$$-3.25t^{2}-0.5t+10=0$$

Subtract 10 from both sides of the equation.

$$-3.25t^{2}-0.5t+10-10=-10$$

Subtracting 10 from itself leaves 0.

$$-3.25t^{2}-0.5t=-10$$

Divide both sides of the equation by -3.25, which is the same as multiplying both sides by the reciprocal of the fraction.

$$\frac{-3.25t^{2}-0.5t}{-3.25}=-\frac{10}{-3.25}$$

Dividing by -3.25 undoes the multiplication by -3.25.

$$t^{2}+\left(-\frac{0.5}{-3.25}\right)t=-\frac{10}{-3.25}$$

Divide -0.5 by -3.25 by multiplying -0.5 by the reciprocal of -3.25.

$$t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t=-\frac{10}{-3.25}$$

Divide -10 by -3.25 by multiplying -10 by the reciprocal of -3.25.

$$t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t=\frac{40}{13}$$

Divide \frac{2}{13}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{1}{13}. Then add the square of \frac{1}{13} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t+\frac{1}{13}^{2}=\frac{40}{13}+\frac{1}{13}^{2}$$

Square \frac{1}{13} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t+\frac{1}{169}=\frac{40}{13}+\frac{1}{169}$$

Add \frac{40}{13} to \frac{1}{169} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.

$$t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t+\frac{1}{169}=\frac{521}{169}$$

Factor t^{2}+\frac{2}{13}t+\frac{1}{169}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(t+\frac{1}{13}\right)^{2}=\frac{521}{169}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(t+\frac{1}{13}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{521}{169}}$$

Simplify.

$$t+\frac{1}{13}=\frac{\sqrt{521}}{13} t+\frac{1}{13}=-\frac{\sqrt{521}}{13}$$

Subtract \frac{1}{13} from both sides of the equation.

$$t=\frac{\sqrt{521}-1}{13} t=\frac{-\sqrt{521}-1}{13}$$