Solve 8x^2-4x+2

$$8 x ^ { 2 } - 4 x + 2$$

Factor

$$2\left(4x^{2}-2x+1\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor out 2. Polynomial 4x^{2}-2x+1 is not factored since it does not have any rational roots.

$$2\left(4x^{2}-2x+1\right)$$

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.

$$8x^{2}-4x+2=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\times 8\times 2}}{2\times 8}$$

Square -4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\times 8\times 2}}{2\times 8}$$

Multiply -4 times 8.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-32\times 2}}{2\times 8}$$

Multiply -32 times 2.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-64}}{2\times 8}$$

Add 16 to -64.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{-48}}{2\times 8}$$

Since the square root of a negative number is not defined in the real field, there are no solutions. Quadratic polynomial cannot be factored.

$$8x^{2}-4x+2$$

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 8

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

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

$$r + s = \frac{1}{2} rs = \frac{1}{4}$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to \frac{1}{2} exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*\frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{4}. 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>

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

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

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

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

$$\frac{1}{16} - u^2 = \frac{1}{4}$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{1}{16} on both sides

$$-u^2 = \frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{16} = \frac{3}{16}$$

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

$$u^2 = -\frac{3}{16} u = \pm\sqrt{-\frac{3}{16}} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}i$$

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

$$r =\frac{1}{4} - \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}i = 0.250 - 0.433i s = \frac{1}{4} + \frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}i = 0.250 + 0.433i$$

Evaluate

$$8x^{2}-4x+2$$