Skip to main content
Solve for x
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

2x^{2}-3x+\frac{5}{8}=0
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=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{\left(-3\right)^{2}-4\times 2\times \frac{5}{8}}}{2\times 2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 2 for a, -3 for b, and \frac{5}{8} for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{9-4\times 2\times \frac{5}{8}}}{2\times 2}
Square -3.
x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{9-8\times \frac{5}{8}}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -4 times 2.
x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{9-5}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -8 times \frac{5}{8}.
x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{4}}{2\times 2}
Add 9 to -5.
x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±2}{2\times 2}
Take the square root of 4.
x=\frac{3±2}{2\times 2}
The opposite of -3 is 3.
x=\frac{3±2}{4}
Multiply 2 times 2.
x=\frac{5}{4}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{3±2}{4} when ± is plus. Add 3 to 2.
x=\frac{1}{4}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{3±2}{4} when ± is minus. Subtract 2 from 3.
x=\frac{5}{4} x=\frac{1}{4}
The equation is now solved.
2x^{2}-3x+\frac{5}{8}=0
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.
2x^{2}-3x+\frac{5}{8}-\frac{5}{8}=-\frac{5}{8}
Subtract \frac{5}{8} from both sides of the equation.
2x^{2}-3x=-\frac{5}{8}
Subtracting \frac{5}{8} from itself leaves 0.
\frac{2x^{2}-3x}{2}=-\frac{\frac{5}{8}}{2}
Divide both sides by 2.
x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x=-\frac{\frac{5}{8}}{2}
Dividing by 2 undoes the multiplication by 2.
x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x=-\frac{5}{16}
Divide -\frac{5}{8} by 2.
x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x+\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^{2}=-\frac{5}{16}+\left(-\frac{3}{4}\right)^{2}
Divide -\frac{3}{2}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{3}{4}. Then add the square of -\frac{3}{4} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x+\frac{9}{16}=\frac{-5+9}{16}
Square -\frac{3}{4} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x+\frac{9}{16}=\frac{1}{4}
Add -\frac{5}{16} to \frac{9}{16} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(x-\frac{3}{4}\right)^{2}=\frac{1}{4}
Factor x^{2}-\frac{3}{2}x+\frac{9}{16}. 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{3}{4}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{4}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-\frac{3}{4}=\frac{1}{2} x-\frac{3}{4}=-\frac{1}{2}
Simplify.
x=\frac{5}{4} x=\frac{1}{4}
Add \frac{3}{4} to both sides of the equation.