Solve 2.5=x^2-2x

$$2.5= { x }^{ 2 } -2x$$

Solve for x

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1\approx 2.870828693$$

$$x=-\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1\approx -0.870828693$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Swap sides so that all variable terms are on the left hand side.

$$x^{2}-2x=2.5$$

Subtract 2.5 from both sides.

$$x^{2}-2x-2.5=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -2 for b, and -2.5 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-2\right)±\sqrt{\left(-2\right)^{2}-4\left(-2.5\right)}}{2}$$

Square -2.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-2\right)±\sqrt{4-4\left(-2.5\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -2.5.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-2\right)±\sqrt{4+10}}{2}$$

Add 4 to 10.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-2\right)±\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

The opposite of -2 is 2.

$$x=\frac{2±\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{2±\sqrt{14}}{2} when ± is plus. Add 2 to \sqrt{14}.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{14}+2}{2}$$

Divide 2+\sqrt{14} by 2.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{2±\sqrt{14}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract \sqrt{14} from 2.

$$x=\frac{2-\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

Divide 2-\sqrt{14} by 2.

$$x=-\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1 x=-\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1$$

Steps for Completing the Square

Swap sides so that all variable terms are on the left hand side.

$$x^{2}-2x=2.5$$

Divide -2, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -1. Then add the square of -1 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-2x+1=2.5+1$$

Add 2.5 to 1.

$$x^{2}-2x+1=3.5$$

Factor x^{2}-2x+1. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-1\right)^{2}=3.5$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-1\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{3.5}$$

Simplify.

$$x-1=\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2} x-1=-\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

Add 1 to both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1 x=-\frac{\sqrt{14}}{2}+1$$