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a+b=-13 ab=2\times 21=42
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as 2x^{2}+ax+bx+21. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
-1,-42 -2,-21 -3,-14 -6,-7
Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. List all such integer pairs that give product 42.
-1-42=-43 -2-21=-23 -3-14=-17 -6-7=-13
Calculate the sum for each pair.
a=-7 b=-6
The solution is the pair that gives sum -13.
\left(2x^{2}-7x\right)+\left(-6x+21\right)
Rewrite 2x^{2}-13x+21 as \left(2x^{2}-7x\right)+\left(-6x+21\right).
x\left(2x-7\right)-3\left(2x-7\right)
Factor out x in the first and -3 in the second group.
\left(2x-7\right)\left(x-3\right)
Factor out common term 2x-7 by using distributive property.
x=\frac{7}{2} x=3
To find equation solutions, solve 2x-7=0 and x-3=0.
2x^{2}-13x+21=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(-13\right)±\sqrt{\left(-13\right)^{2}-4\times 2\times 21}}{2\times 2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 2 for a, -13 for b, and 21 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-\left(-13\right)±\sqrt{169-4\times 2\times 21}}{2\times 2}
Square -13.
x=\frac{-\left(-13\right)±\sqrt{169-8\times 21}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -4 times 2.
x=\frac{-\left(-13\right)±\sqrt{169-168}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -8 times 21.
x=\frac{-\left(-13\right)±\sqrt{1}}{2\times 2}
Add 169 to -168.
x=\frac{-\left(-13\right)±1}{2\times 2}
Take the square root of 1.
x=\frac{13±1}{2\times 2}
The opposite of -13 is 13.
x=\frac{13±1}{4}
Multiply 2 times 2.
x=\frac{14}{4}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{13±1}{4} when ± is plus. Add 13 to 1.
x=\frac{7}{2}
Reduce the fraction \frac{14}{4} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.
x=\frac{12}{4}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{13±1}{4} when ± is minus. Subtract 1 from 13.
x=3
Divide 12 by 4.
x=\frac{7}{2} x=3
The equation is now solved.
2x^{2}-13x+21=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}-13x+21-21=-21
Subtract 21 from both sides of the equation.
2x^{2}-13x=-21
Subtracting 21 from itself leaves 0.
\frac{2x^{2}-13x}{2}=-\frac{21}{2}
Divide both sides by 2.
x^{2}-\frac{13}{2}x=-\frac{21}{2}
Dividing by 2 undoes the multiplication by 2.
x^{2}-\frac{13}{2}x+\left(-\frac{13}{4}\right)^{2}=-\frac{21}{2}+\left(-\frac{13}{4}\right)^{2}
Divide -\frac{13}{2}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{13}{4}. Then add the square of -\frac{13}{4} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}-\frac{13}{2}x+\frac{169}{16}=-\frac{21}{2}+\frac{169}{16}
Square -\frac{13}{4} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
x^{2}-\frac{13}{2}x+\frac{169}{16}=\frac{1}{16}
Add -\frac{21}{2} to \frac{169}{16} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(x-\frac{13}{4}\right)^{2}=\frac{1}{16}
Factor x^{2}-\frac{13}{2}x+\frac{169}{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{13}{4}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{1}{16}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-\frac{13}{4}=\frac{1}{4} x-\frac{13}{4}=-\frac{1}{4}
Simplify.
x=\frac{7}{2} x=3
Add \frac{13}{4} to both sides of the equation.
x ^ 2 -\frac{13}{2}x +\frac{21}{2} = 0
Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by a new direct factoring method that does not require guess work. To use the direct factoring method, the equation must be in the form x^2+Bx+C=0.This is achieved by dividing both sides of the equation by 2
r + s = \frac{13}{2} rs = \frac{21}{2}
Let r and s be the factors for the quadratic equation such that x^2+Bx+C=(x−r)(x−s) where sum of factors (r+s)=−B and the product of factors rs = C
r = \frac{13}{4} - u s = \frac{13}{4} + u
Two numbers r and s sum up to \frac{13}{2} exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*\frac{13}{2} = \frac{13}{4}. You can also see that the midpoint of r and s corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation y=x^2+Bx+C. The values of r and s are equidistant from the center by an unknown quantity u. Express r and s with respect to variable u. <div style='padding: 8px'><img src='https://opalmath.azureedge.net/customsolver/quadraticgraph.png' style='width: 100%;max-width: 700px' /></div>
(\frac{13}{4} - u) (\frac{13}{4} + u) = \frac{21}{2}
To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = \frac{21}{2}
\frac{169}{16} - u^2 = \frac{21}{2}
Simplify by expanding (a -b) (a + b) = a^2 – b^2
-u^2 = \frac{21}{2}-\frac{169}{16} = -\frac{1}{16}
Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{169}{16} on both sides
u^2 = \frac{1}{16} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{1}{16}} = \pm \frac{1}{4}
Simplify the expression by multiplying -1 on both sides and take the square root to obtain the value of unknown variable u
r =\frac{13}{4} - \frac{1}{4} = 3 s = \frac{13}{4} + \frac{1}{4} = 3.500
The factors r and s are the solutions to the quadratic equation. Substitute the value of u to compute the r and s.