Solve 3x^2+45x-354=0

$$3 { x }^{ 2 } +45x-354=0$$

Solve for x

$$x = \frac{\sqrt{697} - 15}{2} \approx 5.700378782$$

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{697}-15}{2}\approx -20.700378782$$

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.

$$3x^{2}+45x-354=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 3 for a, 45 for b, and -354 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-45±\sqrt{45^{2}-4\times 3\left(-354\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Square 45.

$$x=\frac{-45±\sqrt{2025-4\times 3\left(-354\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -4 times 3.

$$x=\frac{-45±\sqrt{2025-12\left(-354\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -12 times -354.

$$x=\frac{-45±\sqrt{2025+4248}}{2\times 3}$$

Add 2025 to 4248.

$$x=\frac{-45±\sqrt{6273}}{2\times 3}$$

Take the square root of 6273.

$$x=\frac{-45±3\sqrt{697}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply 2 times 3.

$$x=\frac{-45±3\sqrt{697}}{6}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-45±3\sqrt{697}}{6} when ± is plus. Add -45 to 3\sqrt{697}.

$$x=\frac{3\sqrt{697}-45}{6}$$

Divide -45+3\sqrt{697} by 6.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{697}-15}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-45±3\sqrt{697}}{6} when ± is minus. Subtract 3\sqrt{697} from -45.

$$x=\frac{-3\sqrt{697}-45}{6}$$

Divide -45-3\sqrt{697} by 6.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{697}-15}{2}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{697}-15}{2} x=\frac{-\sqrt{697}-15}{2}$$

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.

$$3x^{2}+45x-354=0$$

Add 354 to both sides of the equation.

$$3x^{2}+45x-354-\left(-354\right)=-\left(-354\right)$$

Subtracting -354 from itself leaves 0.

$$3x^{2}+45x=-\left(-354\right)$$

Subtract -354 from 0.

$$3x^{2}+45x=354$$

Divide both sides by 3.

$$\frac{3x^{2}+45x}{3}=\frac{354}{3}$$

Dividing by 3 undoes the multiplication by 3.

$$x^{2}+\frac{45}{3}x=\frac{354}{3}$$

Divide 45 by 3.

$$x^{2}+15x=\frac{354}{3}$$

Divide 354 by 3.

$$x^{2}+15x=118$$

Divide 15, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{15}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{15}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+15x+\left(\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}=118+\left(\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}$$

Square \frac{15}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{4}=118+\frac{225}{4}$$

Add 118 to \frac{225}{4}.

$$x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{4}=\frac{697}{4}$$

Factor x^{2}+15x+\frac{225}{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}.

$$\left(x+\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{697}{4}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+\frac{15}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{697}{4}}$$

Simplify.

$$x+\frac{15}{2}=\frac{\sqrt{697}}{2} x+\frac{15}{2}=-\frac{\sqrt{697}}{2}$$

Subtract \frac{15}{2} from both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{697}-15}{2} x=\frac{-\sqrt{697}-15}{2}$$