Solve a^2+10a+14=-7

$$a ^ { 2 } + 10 a + 14 = - 7$$

Solve for a

$$a=-7$$

$$a=-3$$

Steps Using Factoring

Add 7 to both sides.

$$a^{2}+10a+14+7=0$$

Add 14 and 7 to get 21.

$$a^{2}+10a+21=0$$

To solve the equation, factor a^{2}+10a+21 using formula a^{2}+\left(a+b\right)a+ab=\left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=10 ab=21$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. List all such integer pairs that give product 21.

$$1,21 3,7$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$1+21=22 3+7=10$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 10.

$$a=3 b=7$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(a+a\right)\left(a+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(a+3\right)\left(a+7\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a+3=0 and a+7=0.

$$a=-3 a=-7$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

Add 7 to both sides.

$$a^{2}+10a+14+7=0$$

Add 14 and 7 to get 21.

$$a^{2}+10a+21=0$$

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as a^{2}+aa+ba+21. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=10 ab=1\times 21=21$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. List all such integer pairs that give product 21.

$$1,21 3,7$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$1+21=22 3+7=10$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 10.

$$a=3 b=7$$

Rewrite a^{2}+10a+21 as \left(a^{2}+3a\right)+\left(7a+21\right).

$$\left(a^{2}+3a\right)+\left(7a+21\right)$$

Factor out a in the first and 7 in the second group.

$$a\left(a+3\right)+7\left(a+3\right)$$

Factor out common term a+3 by using distributive property.

$$\left(a+3\right)\left(a+7\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve a+3=0 and a+7=0.

$$a=-3 a=-7$$

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.

$$a^{2}+10a+14=-7$$

Add 7 to both sides of the equation.

$$a^{2}+10a+14-\left(-7\right)=-7-\left(-7\right)$$

Subtracting -7 from itself leaves 0.

$$a^{2}+10a+14-\left(-7\right)=0$$

Subtract -7 from 14.

$$a^{2}+10a+21=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 10 for b, and 21 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$a=\frac{-10±\sqrt{10^{2}-4\times 21}}{2}$$

Square 10.

$$a=\frac{-10±\sqrt{100-4\times 21}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 21.

$$a=\frac{-10±\sqrt{100-84}}{2}$$

Add 100 to -84.

$$a=\frac{-10±\sqrt{16}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 16.

$$a=\frac{-10±4}{2}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{-10±4}{2} when ± is plus. Add -10 to 4.

$$a=-\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide -6 by 2.

$$a=-3$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{-10±4}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 4 from -10.

$$a=-\frac{14}{2}$$

Divide -14 by 2.

$$a=-7$$

The equation is now solved.

$$a=-3 a=-7$$

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.

$$a^{2}+10a+14=-7$$

Subtract 14 from both sides of the equation.

$$a^{2}+10a+14-14=-7-14$$

Subtracting 14 from itself leaves 0.

$$a^{2}+10a=-7-14$$

Subtract 14 from -7.

$$a^{2}+10a=-21$$

Divide 10, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get 5. Then add the square of 5 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$a^{2}+10a+5^{2}=-21+5^{2}$$

Square 5.

$$a^{2}+10a+25=-21+25$$

Add -21 to 25.

$$a^{2}+10a+25=4$$

Factor a^{2}+10a+25. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(a+5\right)^{2}=4$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(a+5\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{4}$$

Simplify.

$$a+5=2 a+5=-2$$

Subtract 5 from both sides of the equation.

$$a=-3 a=-7$$