Solve for x
x=21
x=0
Graph
Share
Copied to clipboard
x\left(21-x\right)=0
Factor out x.
x=0 x=21
To find equation solutions, solve x=0 and 21-x=0.
-x^{2}+21x=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{-21±\sqrt{21^{2}}}{2\left(-1\right)}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -1 for a, 21 for b, and 0 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-21±21}{2\left(-1\right)}
Take the square root of 21^{2}.
x=\frac{-21±21}{-2}
Multiply 2 times -1.
x=\frac{0}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-21±21}{-2} when ± is plus. Add -21 to 21.
x=0
Divide 0 by -2.
x=-\frac{42}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-21±21}{-2} when ± is minus. Subtract 21 from -21.
x=21
Divide -42 by -2.
x=0 x=21
The equation is now solved.
-x^{2}+21x=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.
\frac{-x^{2}+21x}{-1}=\frac{0}{-1}
Divide both sides by -1.
x^{2}+\frac{21}{-1}x=\frac{0}{-1}
Dividing by -1 undoes the multiplication by -1.
x^{2}-21x=\frac{0}{-1}
Divide 21 by -1.
x^{2}-21x=0
Divide 0 by -1.
x^{2}-21x+\left(-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}=\left(-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}
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.
x^{2}-21x+\frac{441}{4}=\frac{441}{4}
Square -\frac{21}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
\left(x-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{441}{4}
Factor x^{2}-21x+\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}.
\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{21}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{441}{4}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-\frac{21}{2}=\frac{21}{2} x-\frac{21}{2}=-\frac{21}{2}
Simplify.
x=21 x=0
Add \frac{21}{2} to both sides of the equation.
Examples
Quadratic equation
{ x } ^ { 2 } - 4 x - 5 = 0
Trigonometry
4 \sin \theta \cos \theta = 2 \sin \theta
Linear equation
y = 3x + 4
Arithmetic
699 * 533
Matrix
\left[ \begin{array} { l l } { 2 } & { 3 } \\ { 5 } & { 4 } \end{array} \right] \left[ \begin{array} { l l l } { 2 } & { 0 } & { 3 } \\ { -1 } & { 1 } & { 5 } \end{array} \right]
Simultaneous equation
\left. \begin{cases} { 8x+2y = 46 } \\ { 7x+3y = 47 } \end{cases} \right.
Differentiation
\frac { d } { d x } \frac { ( 3 x ^ { 2 } - 2 ) } { ( x - 5 ) }
Integration
\int _ { 0 } ^ { 1 } x e ^ { - x ^ { 2 } } d x
Limits
\lim _{x \rightarrow-3} \frac{x^{2}-9}{x^{2}+2 x-3}