Solve -3x^2+200x=2800

$$- 3 x ^ { 2 } + 200 x = 2800$$

Solve for x

$$x=20$$

$$x = \frac{140}{3} = 46\frac{2}{3} \approx 46.666666667$$

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.

$$-3x^{2}+200x=2800$$

Subtract 2800 from both sides of the equation.

$$-3x^{2}+200x-2800=2800-2800$$

Subtracting 2800 from itself leaves 0.

$$-3x^{2}+200x-2800=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -3 for a, 200 for b, and -2800 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-200±\sqrt{200^{2}-4\left(-3\right)\left(-2800\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Square 200.

$$x=\frac{-200±\sqrt{40000-4\left(-3\right)\left(-2800\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -3.

$$x=\frac{-200±\sqrt{40000+12\left(-2800\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply 12 times -2800.

$$x=\frac{-200±\sqrt{40000-33600}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Add 40000 to -33600.

$$x=\frac{-200±\sqrt{6400}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Take the square root of 6400.

$$x=\frac{-200±80}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -3.

$$x=\frac{-200±80}{-6}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-200±80}{-6} when ± is plus. Add -200 to 80.

$$x=-\frac{120}{-6}$$

Divide -120 by -6.

$$x=20$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-200±80}{-6} when ± is minus. Subtract 80 from -200.

$$x=-\frac{280}{-6}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{-280}{-6} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.

$$x=\frac{140}{3}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=20 x=\frac{140}{3}$$

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.

$$-3x^{2}+200x=2800$$

Divide both sides by -3.

$$\frac{-3x^{2}+200x}{-3}=\frac{2800}{-3}$$

Dividing by -3 undoes the multiplication by -3.

$$x^{2}+\frac{200}{-3}x=\frac{2800}{-3}$$

Divide 200 by -3.

$$x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x=\frac{2800}{-3}$$

Divide 2800 by -3.

$$x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x=-\frac{2800}{3}$$

Divide -\frac{200}{3}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{100}{3}. Then add the square of -\frac{100}{3} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x+\left(-\frac{100}{3}\right)^{2}=-\frac{2800}{3}+\left(-\frac{100}{3}\right)^{2}$$

Square -\frac{100}{3} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x+\frac{10000}{9}=-\frac{2800}{3}+\frac{10000}{9}$$

Add -\frac{2800}{3} to \frac{10000}{9} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.

$$x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x+\frac{10000}{9}=\frac{1600}{9}$$

Factor x^{2}-\frac{200}{3}x+\frac{10000}{9}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-\frac{100}{3}\right)^{2}=\frac{1600}{9}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{100}{3}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{1600}{9}}$$

Simplify.

$$x-\frac{100}{3}=\frac{40}{3} x-\frac{100}{3}=-\frac{40}{3}$$

Add \frac{100}{3} to both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{140}{3} x=20$$