Solve 20+a^2-21a=0

$$20 + a ^ { 2 } - 21 a = 0$$

Solve for a

$$a=1$$

$$a=20$$

Steps Using Factoring

Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.

$$a^{2}-21a+20=0$$

To solve the equation, factor a^{2}-21a+20 using formula a^{2}+\left(a+b\right)a+ab=\left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-21 ab=20$$

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 20.

$$-1,-20 -2,-10 -4,-5$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-20=-21 -2-10=-12 -4-5=-9$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -21.

$$a=-20 b=-1$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(a-20\right)\left(a-1\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a-20=0 and a-1=0.

$$a=20 a=1$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.

$$a^{2}-21a+20=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as a^{2}+aa+ba+20. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-21 ab=1\times 20=20$$

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 20.

$$-1,-20 -2,-10 -4,-5$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-20=-21 -2-10=-12 -4-5=-9$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -21.

$$a=-20 b=-1$$

Rewrite a^{2}-21a+20 as \left(a^{2}-20a\right)+\left(-a+20\right).

$$\left(a^{2}-20a\right)+\left(-a+20\right)$$

Factor out a in the first and -1 in the second group.

$$a\left(a-20\right)-\left(a-20\right)$$

Factor out common term a-20 by using distributive property.

$$\left(a-20\right)\left(a-1\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a-20=0 and a-1=0.

$$a=20 a=1$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

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.

$$a^{2}-21a+20=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -21 for b, and 20 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-21\right)±\sqrt{\left(-21\right)^{2}-4\times 20}}{2}$$

Square -21.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-21\right)±\sqrt{441-4\times 20}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 20.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-21\right)±\sqrt{441-80}}{2}$$

Add 441 to -80.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-21\right)±\sqrt{361}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 361.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-21\right)±19}{2}$$

The opposite of -21 is 21.

$$a=\frac{21±19}{2}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{21±19}{2} when ± is plus. Add 21 to 19.

$$a=\frac{40}{2}$$

Divide 40 by 2.

$$a=20$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{21±19}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 19 from 21.

$$a=\frac{2}{2}$$

Divide 2 by 2.

$$a=1$$

The equation is now solved.

$$a=20 a=1$$

Steps for Completing the Square

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.

$$a^{2}-21a+20=0$$

Subtract 20 from both sides of the equation.

$$a^{2}-21a+20-20=-20$$

Subtracting 20 from itself leaves 0.

$$a^{2}-21a=-20$$

Divide -21, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{21}{2}. Then add the square of -\frac{21}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$a^{2}-21a+\left(-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}=-20+\left(-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square -\frac{21}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$a^{2}-21a+\frac{441}{4}=-20+\frac{441}{4}$$

Add -20 to \frac{441}{4}.

$$a^{2}-21a+\frac{441}{4}=\frac{361}{4}$$

Factor a^{2}-21a+\frac{441}{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}.

$$\left(a-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{361}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(a-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{361}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$a-\frac{21}{2}=\frac{19}{2} a-\frac{21}{2}=-\frac{19}{2}$$

Add \frac{21}{2} to both sides of the equation.

$$a=20 a=1$$