Solve 7.875x^2+14.25x-1=0

$$7.875 { x }^{ 2 } +14.25x-1=0$$

Solve for x

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{417}-19}{21}\approx 0.067646565$$

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{417}-19}{21}\approx -1.877170374$$

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.

$$7.875x^{2}+14.25x-1=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 7.875 for a, 14.25 for b, and -1 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\sqrt{14.25^{2}-4\times 7.875\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Square 14.25 by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\sqrt{203.0625-4\times 7.875\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Multiply -4 times 7.875.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\sqrt{203.0625-31.5\left(-1\right)}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Multiply -31.5 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\sqrt{203.0625+31.5}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Add 203.0625 to 31.5 by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\sqrt{234.5625}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Take the square root of 234.5625.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4}}{2\times 7.875}$$

Multiply 2 times 7.875.

$$x=\frac{-14.25±\frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4}}{15.75}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-14.25±\frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4}}{15.75} when ± is plus. Add -14.25 to \frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4}.

$$x=\frac{3\sqrt{417}-57}{4\times 15.75}$$

Divide \frac{-57+3\sqrt{417}}{4} by 15.75 by multiplying \frac{-57+3\sqrt{417}}{4} by the reciprocal of 15.75.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{417}-19}{21}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-14.25±\frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4}}{15.75} when ± is minus. Subtract \frac{3\sqrt{417}}{4} from -14.25.

$$x=\frac{-3\sqrt{417}-57}{4\times 15.75}$$

Divide \frac{-57-3\sqrt{417}}{4} by 15.75 by multiplying \frac{-57-3\sqrt{417}}{4} by the reciprocal of 15.75.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{417}-19}{21}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{417}-19}{21} x=\frac{-\sqrt{417}-19}{21}$$

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.

$$7.875x^{2}+14.25x-1=0$$

Add 1 to both sides of the equation.

$$7.875x^{2}+14.25x-1-\left(-1\right)=-\left(-1\right)$$

Subtracting -1 from itself leaves 0.

$$7.875x^{2}+14.25x=-\left(-1\right)$$

Subtract -1 from 0.

$$7.875x^{2}+14.25x=1$$

Divide both sides of the equation by 7.875, which is the same as multiplying both sides by the reciprocal of the fraction.

$$\frac{7.875x^{2}+14.25x}{7.875}=\frac{1}{7.875}$$

Dividing by 7.875 undoes the multiplication by 7.875.

$$x^{2}+\frac{14.25}{7.875}x=\frac{1}{7.875}$$

Divide 14.25 by 7.875 by multiplying 14.25 by the reciprocal of 7.875.

$$x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x=\frac{1}{7.875}$$

Divide 1 by 7.875 by multiplying 1 by the reciprocal of 7.875.

$$x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x=\frac{8}{63}$$

Divide \frac{38}{21}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{19}{21}. Then add the square of \frac{19}{21} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x+\frac{19}{21}^{2}=\frac{8}{63}+\frac{19}{21}^{2}$$

Square \frac{19}{21} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x+\frac{361}{441}=\frac{8}{63}+\frac{361}{441}$$

Add \frac{8}{63} to \frac{361}{441} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.

$$x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x+\frac{361}{441}=\frac{139}{147}$$

Factor x^{2}+\frac{38}{21}x+\frac{361}{441}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x+\frac{19}{21}\right)^{2}=\frac{139}{147}$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+\frac{19}{21}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{139}{147}}$$

Simplify.

$$x+\frac{19}{21}=\frac{\sqrt{417}}{21} x+\frac{19}{21}=-\frac{\sqrt{417}}{21}$$

Subtract \frac{19}{21} from both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{417}-19}{21} x=\frac{-\sqrt{417}-19}{21}$$