Solve f(x)=x^2-7x+8

$$f ( x ) = x ^ { 2 } - 7 x + 8$$

Factor

$$\left(x-\frac{7-\sqrt{17}}{2}\right)\left(x-\frac{\sqrt{17}+7}{2}\right)$$

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.

$$x^{2}-7x+8=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-7\right)±\sqrt{\left(-7\right)^{2}-4\times 8}}{2}$$

Square -7.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-7\right)±\sqrt{49-4\times 8}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 8.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-7\right)±\sqrt{49-32}}{2}$$

Add 49 to -32.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-7\right)±\sqrt{17}}{2}$$

The opposite of -7 is 7.

$$x=\frac{7±\sqrt{17}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{7±\sqrt{17}}{2} when ± is plus. Add 7 to \sqrt{17}.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{17}+7}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{7±\sqrt{17}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract \sqrt{17} from 7.

$$x=\frac{7-\sqrt{17}}{2}$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute \frac{7+\sqrt{17}}{2} for x_{1} and \frac{7-\sqrt{17}}{2} for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}-7x+8=\left(x-\frac{\sqrt{17}+7}{2}\right)\left(x-\frac{7-\sqrt{17}}{2}\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 -7x +8 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = 7 rs = 8$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 7 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*7 = \frac{7}{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>

$$r = \frac{7}{2} - u s = \frac{7}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 8

$$(\frac{7}{2} - u) (\frac{7}{2} + u) = 8$$

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

$$\frac{49}{4} - u^2 = 8$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{49}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = 8-\frac{49}{4} = -\frac{17}{4}$$

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.

$$r =\frac{7}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} = 1.438 s = \frac{7}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{17}}{2} = 5.562$$

Evaluate

$$x^{2}-7x+8$$