Solve f(x)=-3x^2+6x-1

$$f ( x ) = - 3 x ^ { 2 } + 6 x - 1$$

Factor

$$-3\left(x-\left(-\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1\right)\right)\left(x-\left(\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1\right)\right)$$

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.

$$-3x^{2}+6x-1=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{6^{2}-4\left(-3\right)\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Square 6.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36-4\left(-3\right)\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -3.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36+12\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply 12 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{36-12}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Add 36 to -12.

$$x=\frac{-6±\sqrt{24}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Take the square root of 24.

$$x=\frac{-6±2\sqrt{6}}{2\left(-3\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -3.

$$x=\frac{-6±2\sqrt{6}}{-6}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-6±2\sqrt{6}}{-6} when ± is plus. Add -6 to 2\sqrt{6}.

$$x=\frac{2\sqrt{6}-6}{-6}$$

Divide -6+2\sqrt{6} by -6.

$$x=-\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-6±2\sqrt{6}}{-6} when ± is minus. Subtract 2\sqrt{6} from -6.

$$x=\frac{-2\sqrt{6}-6}{-6}$$

Divide -6-2\sqrt{6} by -6.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 1-\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3} for x_{1} and 1+\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3} for x_{2}.

$$-3x^{2}+6x-1=-3\left(x-\left(-\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1\right)\right)\left(x-\left(\frac{\sqrt{6}}{3}+1\right)\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 -2x +\frac{1}{3} = 0$$

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

$$r + s = 2 rs = \frac{1}{3}$$

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

$$r = 1 - u s = 1 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = \frac{1}{3}

$$(1 - u) (1 + u) = \frac{1}{3}$$

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

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

Simplify the expression by subtracting 1 on both sides

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

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

$$u^2 = \frac{2}{3} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{2}{3}} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}}$$

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

$$r =1 - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}} = 0.184 s = 1 + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}} = 1.816$$

Evaluate

$$-3x^{2}+6x-1$$