Solve -2h^2-4h=-62

$$- 2 h ^ { 2 } - 4 h = - 62$$

Solve for h

$$h=4\sqrt{2}-1\approx 4.656854249$$

$$h=-4\sqrt{2}-1\approx -6.656854249$$

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.

$$-2h^{2}-4h=-62$$

Add 62 to both sides of the equation.

$$-2h^{2}-4h-\left(-62\right)=-62-\left(-62\right)$$

Subtracting -62 from itself leaves 0.

$$-2h^{2}-4h-\left(-62\right)=0$$

Subtract -62 from 0.

$$-2h^{2}-4h+62=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -2 for a, -4 for b, and 62 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\left(-2\right)\times 62}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Square -4.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\left(-2\right)\times 62}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -2.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16+8\times 62}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Multiply 8 times 62.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16+496}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Add 16 to 496.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{512}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Take the square root of 512.

$$h=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±16\sqrt{2}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$h=\frac{4±16\sqrt{2}}{2\left(-2\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -2.

$$h=\frac{4±16\sqrt{2}}{-4}$$

Now solve the equation h=\frac{4±16\sqrt{2}}{-4} when ± is plus. Add 4 to 16\sqrt{2}.

$$h=\frac{16\sqrt{2}+4}{-4}$$

Divide 4+16\sqrt{2} by -4.

$$h=-4\sqrt{2}-1$$

Now solve the equation h=\frac{4±16\sqrt{2}}{-4} when ± is minus. Subtract 16\sqrt{2} from 4.

$$h=\frac{4-16\sqrt{2}}{-4}$$

Divide 4-16\sqrt{2} by -4.

$$h=4\sqrt{2}-1$$

The equation is now solved.

$$h=-4\sqrt{2}-1 h=4\sqrt{2}-1$$

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.

$$-2h^{2}-4h=-62$$

Divide both sides by -2.

$$\frac{-2h^{2}-4h}{-2}=-\frac{62}{-2}$$

Dividing by -2 undoes the multiplication by -2.

$$h^{2}+\left(-\frac{4}{-2}\right)h=-\frac{62}{-2}$$

Divide -4 by -2.

$$h^{2}+2h=-\frac{62}{-2}$$

Divide -62 by -2.

$$h^{2}+2h=31$$

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

$$h^{2}+2h+1^{2}=31+1^{2}$$

Square 1.

$$h^{2}+2h+1=31+1$$

Add 31 to 1.

$$h^{2}+2h+1=32$$

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

$$\left(h+1\right)^{2}=32$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(h+1\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{32}$$

Simplify.

$$h+1=4\sqrt{2} h+1=-4\sqrt{2}$$

Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation.

$$h=4\sqrt{2}-1 h=-4\sqrt{2}-1$$