Skip to main content
Solve for x
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

-x^{2}+2x-1=0
Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.
a+b=2 ab=-\left(-1\right)=1
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as -x^{2}+ax+bx-1. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
a=1 b=1
Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. The only such pair is the system solution.
\left(-x^{2}+x\right)+\left(x-1\right)
Rewrite -x^{2}+2x-1 as \left(-x^{2}+x\right)+\left(x-1\right).
-x\left(x-1\right)+x-1
Factor out -x in -x^{2}+x.
\left(x-1\right)\left(-x+1\right)
Factor out common term x-1 by using distributive property.
x=1 x=1
To find equation solutions, solve x-1=0 and -x+1=0.
-x^{2}+2x-1=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{-2±\sqrt{2^{2}-4\left(-1\right)\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -1 for a, 2 for b, and -1 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4-4\left(-1\right)\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Square 2.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4+4\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply -4 times -1.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4-4}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply 4 times -1.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{0}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Add 4 to -4.
x=-\frac{2}{2\left(-1\right)}
Take the square root of 0.
x=-\frac{2}{-2}
Multiply 2 times -1.
x=1
Divide -2 by -2.
-x^{2}+2x-1=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.
-x^{2}+2x-1-\left(-1\right)=-\left(-1\right)
Add 1 to both sides of the equation.
-x^{2}+2x=-\left(-1\right)
Subtracting -1 from itself leaves 0.
-x^{2}+2x=1
Subtract -1 from 0.
\frac{-x^{2}+2x}{-1}=\frac{1}{-1}
Divide both sides by -1.
x^{2}+\frac{2}{-1}x=\frac{1}{-1}
Dividing by -1 undoes the multiplication by -1.
x^{2}-2x=\frac{1}{-1}
Divide 2 by -1.
x^{2}-2x=-1
Divide 1 by -1.
x^{2}-2x+1=-1+1
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=0
Add -1 to 1.
\left(x-1\right)^{2}=0
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}.
\sqrt{\left(x-1\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{0}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-1=0 x-1=0
Simplify.
x=1 x=1
Add 1 to both sides of the equation.
x=1
The equation is now solved. Solutions are the same.