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-x^{2}+4x+60=0
Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.
a+b=4 ab=-60=-60
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as -x^{2}+ax+bx+60. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
-1,60 -2,30 -3,20 -4,15 -5,12 -6,10
Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. List all such integer pairs that give product -60.
-1+60=59 -2+30=28 -3+20=17 -4+15=11 -5+12=7 -6+10=4
Calculate the sum for each pair.
a=10 b=-6
The solution is the pair that gives sum 4.
\left(-x^{2}+10x\right)+\left(-6x+60\right)
Rewrite -x^{2}+4x+60 as \left(-x^{2}+10x\right)+\left(-6x+60\right).
-x\left(x-10\right)-6\left(x-10\right)
Factor out -x in the first and -6 in the second group.
\left(x-10\right)\left(-x-6\right)
Factor out common term x-10 by using distributive property.
x=10 x=-6
To find equation solutions, solve x-10=0 and -x-6=0.
-x^{2}+4x+60=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{-4±\sqrt{4^{2}-4\left(-1\right)\times 60}}{2\left(-1\right)}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -1 for a, 4 for b, and 60 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16-4\left(-1\right)\times 60}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Square 4.
x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16+4\times 60}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply -4 times -1.
x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16+240}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Multiply 4 times 60.
x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{256}}{2\left(-1\right)}
Add 16 to 240.
x=\frac{-4±16}{2\left(-1\right)}
Take the square root of 256.
x=\frac{-4±16}{-2}
Multiply 2 times -1.
x=\frac{12}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±16}{-2} when ± is plus. Add -4 to 16.
x=-6
Divide 12 by -2.
x=-\frac{20}{-2}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±16}{-2} when ± is minus. Subtract 16 from -4.
x=10
Divide -20 by -2.
x=-6 x=10
The equation is now solved.
-x^{2}+4x+60=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}+4x+60-60=-60
Subtract 60 from both sides of the equation.
-x^{2}+4x=-60
Subtracting 60 from itself leaves 0.
\frac{-x^{2}+4x}{-1}=-\frac{60}{-1}
Divide both sides by -1.
x^{2}+\frac{4}{-1}x=-\frac{60}{-1}
Dividing by -1 undoes the multiplication by -1.
x^{2}-4x=-\frac{60}{-1}
Divide 4 by -1.
x^{2}-4x=60
Divide -60 by -1.
x^{2}-4x+\left(-2\right)^{2}=60+\left(-2\right)^{2}
Divide -4, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -2. Then add the square of -2 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}-4x+4=60+4
Square -2.
x^{2}-4x+4=64
Add 60 to 4.
\left(x-2\right)^{2}=64
Factor x^{2}-4x+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-2\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{64}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-2=8 x-2=-8
Simplify.
x=10 x=-6
Add 2 to both sides of the equation.