Solve n^2+16n+63

$$n ^ { 2 } + 16 n + 63$$

Factor

$$\left(n+7\right)\left(n+9\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as n^{2}+an+bn+63. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=16 ab=1\times 63=63$$

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 63.

$$1,63 3,21 7,9$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$1+63=64 3+21=24 7+9=16$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 16.

$$a=7 b=9$$

Rewrite n^{2}+16n+63 as \left(n^{2}+7n\right)+\left(9n+63\right).

$$\left(n^{2}+7n\right)+\left(9n+63\right)$$

Factor out n in the first and 9 in the second group.

$$n\left(n+7\right)+9\left(n+7\right)$$

Factor out common term n+7 by using distributive property.

$$\left(n+7\right)\left(n+9\right)$$

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.

$$n^{2}+16n+63=0$$

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.

$$n=\frac{-16±\sqrt{16^{2}-4\times 63}}{2}$$

Square 16.

$$n=\frac{-16±\sqrt{256-4\times 63}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 63.

$$n=\frac{-16±\sqrt{256-252}}{2}$$

Add 256 to -252.

$$n=\frac{-16±\sqrt{4}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 4.

$$n=\frac{-16±2}{2}$$

Now solve the equation n=\frac{-16±2}{2} when ± is plus. Add -16 to 2.

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

Divide -14 by 2.

$$n=-7$$

Now solve the equation n=\frac{-16±2}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 2 from -16.

$$n=-\frac{18}{2}$$

Divide -18 by 2.

$$n=-9$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute -7 for x_{1} and -9 for x_{2}.

$$n^{2}+16n+63=\left(n-\left(-7\right)\right)\left(n-\left(-9\right)\right)$$

Simplify all the expressions of the form p-\left(-q\right) to p+q.

$$n^{2}+16n+63=\left(n+7\right)\left(n+9\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 +16x +63 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = -16 rs = 63$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to -16 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*-16 = -8. 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>

$$r = -8 - u s = -8 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 63

$$(-8 - u) (-8 + u) = 63$$

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

$$64 - u^2 = 63$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting 64 on both sides

$$-u^2 = 63-64 = -1$$

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

$$u^2 = 1 u = \pm\sqrt{1} = \pm 1$$

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

$$r =-8 - 1 = -9 s = -8 + 1 = -7$$

Evaluate

$$\left(n+7\right)\left(n+9\right)$$