Skip to main content
Solve for m
Tick mark Image

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

2m^{2}+2m=5
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.
2m^{2}+2m-5=5-5
Subtract 5 from both sides of the equation.
2m^{2}+2m-5=0
Subtracting 5 from itself leaves 0.
m=\frac{-2±\sqrt{2^{2}-4\times 2\left(-5\right)}}{2\times 2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 2 for a, 2 for b, and -5 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
m=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4-4\times 2\left(-5\right)}}{2\times 2}
Square 2.
m=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4-8\left(-5\right)}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -4 times 2.
m=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4+40}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -8 times -5.
m=\frac{-2±\sqrt{44}}{2\times 2}
Add 4 to 40.
m=\frac{-2±2\sqrt{11}}{2\times 2}
Take the square root of 44.
m=\frac{-2±2\sqrt{11}}{4}
Multiply 2 times 2.
m=\frac{2\sqrt{11}-2}{4}
Now solve the equation m=\frac{-2±2\sqrt{11}}{4} when ± is plus. Add -2 to 2\sqrt{11}.
m=\frac{\sqrt{11}-1}{2}
Divide -2+2\sqrt{11} by 4.
m=\frac{-2\sqrt{11}-2}{4}
Now solve the equation m=\frac{-2±2\sqrt{11}}{4} when ± is minus. Subtract 2\sqrt{11} from -2.
m=\frac{-\sqrt{11}-1}{2}
Divide -2-2\sqrt{11} by 4.
m=\frac{\sqrt{11}-1}{2} m=\frac{-\sqrt{11}-1}{2}
The equation is now solved.
2m^{2}+2m=5
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{2m^{2}+2m}{2}=\frac{5}{2}
Divide both sides by 2.
m^{2}+\frac{2}{2}m=\frac{5}{2}
Dividing by 2 undoes the multiplication by 2.
m^{2}+m=\frac{5}{2}
Divide 2 by 2.
m^{2}+m+\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{5}{2}+\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}
Divide 1, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{1}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{1}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
m^{2}+m+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{5}{2}+\frac{1}{4}
Square \frac{1}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
m^{2}+m+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{11}{4}
Add \frac{5}{2} to \frac{1}{4} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(m+\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{11}{4}
Factor m^{2}+m+\frac{1}{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(m+\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{11}{4}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
m+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{\sqrt{11}}{2} m+\frac{1}{2}=-\frac{\sqrt{11}}{2}
Simplify.
m=\frac{\sqrt{11}-1}{2} m=\frac{-\sqrt{11}-1}{2}
Subtract \frac{1}{2} from both sides of the equation.