Solve f(x)=-x^2+5x-2

$$f ( x ) = - x ^ { 2 } + 5 x - 2$$

Factor

$$-\left(x-\frac{5-\sqrt{17}}{2}\right)\left(x-\frac{\sqrt{17}+5}{2}\right)$$

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.

$$-x^{2}+5x-2=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{5^{2}-4\left(-1\right)\left(-2\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Square 5.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-4\left(-1\right)\left(-2\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply -4 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25+4\left(-2\right)}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply 4 times -2.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-8}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Add 25 to -8.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{17}}{2\left(-1\right)}$$

Multiply 2 times -1.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{17}}{-2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{17}}{-2} when ± is plus. Add -5 to \sqrt{17}.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{17}-5}{-2}$$

Divide -5+\sqrt{17} by -2.

$$x=\frac{5-\sqrt{17}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{17}}{-2} when ± is minus. Subtract \sqrt{17} from -5.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{17}-5}{-2}$$

Divide -5-\sqrt{17} by -2.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{17}+5}{2}$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute \frac{5-\sqrt{17}}{2} for x_{1} and \frac{5+\sqrt{17}}{2} for x_{2}.

$$-x^{2}+5x-2=-\left(x-\frac{5-\sqrt{17}}{2}\right)\left(x-\frac{\sqrt{17}+5}{2}\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 -5x +2 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = 5 rs = 2$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 5 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*5 = \frac{5}{2}. 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>

$$r = \frac{5}{2} - u s = \frac{5}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 2

$$(\frac{5}{2} - u) (\frac{5}{2} + u) = 2$$

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

$$\frac{25}{4} - u^2 = 2$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{25}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = 2-\frac{25}{4} = -\frac{17}{4}$$

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

$$u^2 = \frac{17}{4} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{17}{4}} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2}$$

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

$$r =\frac{5}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} = 0.438 s = \frac{5}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} = 4.562$$

Evaluate

$$-x^{2}+5x-2$$