Solve 4a^2-4a-1=

$$4 a ^ { 2 } - 4 a - 1 =$$

Factor

$$4\left(a-\frac{1-\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)\left(a-\frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{2}\right)$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Quadratic polynomial can be factored using the transformation ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right), where x_{1} and x_{2} are the solutions of the quadratic equation ax^{2}+bx+c=0.

$$4a^{2}-4a-1=0$$

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.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\times 4\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 4}$$

Square -4.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\times 4\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 4}$$

Multiply -4 times 4.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-16\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 4}$$

Multiply -16 times -1.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16+16}}{2\times 4}$$

Add 16 to 16.

$$a=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{32}}{2\times 4}$$

Take the square root of 32.

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

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$a=\frac{4±4\sqrt{2}}{2\times 4}$$

Multiply 2 times 4.

$$a=\frac{4±4\sqrt{2}}{8}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{4±4\sqrt{2}}{8} when ± is plus. Add 4 to 4\sqrt{2}.

$$a=\frac{4\sqrt{2}+4}{8}$$

Divide 4+4\sqrt{2} by 8.

$$a=\frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{2}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{4±4\sqrt{2}}{8} when ± is minus. Subtract 4\sqrt{2} from 4.

$$a=\frac{4-4\sqrt{2}}{8}$$

Divide 4-4\sqrt{2} by 8.

$$a=\frac{1-\sqrt{2}}{2}$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute \frac{1+\sqrt{2}}{2} for x_{1} and \frac{1-\sqrt{2}}{2} for x_{2}.

$$4a^{2}-4a-1=4\left(a-\frac{\sqrt{2}+1}{2}\right)\left(a-\frac{1-\sqrt{2}}{2}\right)$$

Steps Using Direct Factoring Method

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by a new direct factoring method that does not require guess work. To use the direct factoring method, the equation must be in the form x^2+Bx+C=0.This is achieved by dividing both sides of the equation by 4

$$x ^ 2 -1x -\frac{1}{4} = 0$$

Let r and s be the factors for the quadratic equation such that x^2+Bx+C=(x−r)(x−s) where sum of factors (r+s)=−B and the product of factors rs = C

$$r + s = 1 rs = -\frac{1}{4}$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 1 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*1 = \frac{1}{2}. You can also see that the midpoint of r and s corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation y=x^2+Bx+C. The values of r and s are equidistant from the center by an unknown quantity u. Express r and s with respect to variable u. <div style='padding: 8px'><img src='https://opalmath.azureedge.net/customsolver/quadraticgraph.png' style='width: 100%;max-width: 700px' /></div>

$$r = \frac{1}{2} - u s = \frac{1}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = -\frac{1}{4}

$$(\frac{1}{2} - u) (\frac{1}{2} + u) = -\frac{1}{4}$$

Simplify by expanding (a -b) (a + b) = a^2 – b^2

$$\frac{1}{4} - u^2 = -\frac{1}{4}$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{1}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = -\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{4} = -\frac{1}{2}$$

Simplify the expression by multiplying -1 on both sides and take the square root to obtain the value of unknown variable u

$$u^2 = \frac{1}{2} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}} = \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$$

The factors r and s are the solutions to the quadratic equation. Substitute the value of u to compute the r and s.

$$r =\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = -0.207 s = \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} = 1.207$$

Evaluate

$$4a^{2}-4a-1$$