Skip to main content
Solve for x (complex solution)
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

-x^{2}+5x=100
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}+5x-100=100-100
Subtract 100 from both sides of the equation.
-x^{2}+5x-100=0
Subtracting 100 from itself leaves 0.
x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{5^{2}-4\left(-1\right)\left(-100\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -1 for a, 5 for b, and -100 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-4\left(-1\right)\left(-100\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Square 5.
x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25+4\left(-100\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply -4 times -1.
x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-400}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply 4 times -100.
x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{-375}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Add 25 to -400.
x=\frac{-5±5\sqrt{15}i}{2\left(-1\right)}
Take the square root of -375.
x=\frac{-5±5\sqrt{15}i}{-2}
Multiply 2 times -1.
x=\frac{-5+5\sqrt{15}i}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±5\sqrt{15}i}{-2} when ± is plus. Add -5 to 5i\sqrt{15}.
x=\frac{-5\sqrt{15}i+5}{2}
Divide -5+5i\sqrt{15} by -2.
x=\frac{-5\sqrt{15}i-5}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±5\sqrt{15}i}{-2} when ± is minus. Subtract 5i\sqrt{15} from -5.
x=\frac{5+5\sqrt{15}i}{2}
Divide -5-5i\sqrt{15} by -2.
x=\frac{-5\sqrt{15}i+5}{2} x=\frac{5+5\sqrt{15}i}{2}
The equation is now solved.
-x^{2}+5x=100
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.
\frac{-x^{2}+5x}{-1}=\frac{100}{-1}
Divide both sides by -1.
x^{2}+\frac{5}{-1}x=\frac{100}{-1}
Dividing by -1 undoes the multiplication by -1.
x^{2}-5x=\frac{100}{-1}
Divide 5 by -1.
x^{2}-5x=-100
Divide 100 by -1.
x^{2}-5x+\left(-\frac{5}{2}\right)^{2}=-100+\left(-\frac{5}{2}\right)^{2}
Divide -5, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{5}{2}. Then add the square of -\frac{5}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}-5x+\frac{25}{4}=-100+\frac{25}{4}
Square -\frac{5}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
x^{2}-5x+\frac{25}{4}=-\frac{375}{4}
Add -100 to \frac{25}{4}.
\left(x-\frac{5}{2}\right)^{2}=-\frac{375}{4}
Factor x^{2}-5x+\frac{25}{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}.
\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{5}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{-\frac{375}{4}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-\frac{5}{2}=\frac{5\sqrt{15}i}{2} x-\frac{5}{2}=-\frac{5\sqrt{15}i}{2}
Simplify.
x=\frac{5+5\sqrt{15}i}{2} x=\frac{-5\sqrt{15}i+5}{2}
Add \frac{5}{2} to both sides of the equation.