Solve x^2+(1.5x-4.25)=46

$$x ^ { 2 } + ( 1.5 x - 4.25 ) = 46$$

Solve for x

$$x = \frac{\sqrt{813} - 3}{4} \approx 6.378288715$$

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{813}-3}{4}\approx -7.878288715$$

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.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-4.25=46$$

Subtract 46 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-4.25-46=46-46$$

Subtracting 46 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-4.25-46=0$$

Subtract 46 from -4.25.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-50.25=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 1.5 for b, and -50.25 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-1.5±\sqrt{1.5^{2}-4\left(-50.25\right)}}{2}$$

Square 1.5 by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x=\frac{-1.5±\sqrt{2.25-4\left(-50.25\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -50.25.

$$x=\frac{-1.5±\sqrt{2.25+201}}{2}$$

Add 2.25 to 201.

$$x=\frac{-1.5±\sqrt{203.25}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 203.25.

$$x=\frac{-1.5±\frac{\sqrt{813}}{2}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-1.5±\frac{\sqrt{813}}{2}}{2} when ± is plus. Add -1.5 to \frac{\sqrt{813}}{2}.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{813}-3}{2\times 2}$$

Divide \frac{-3+\sqrt{813}}{2} by 2.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{813}-3}{4}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-1.5±\frac{\sqrt{813}}{2}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract \frac{\sqrt{813}}{2} from -1.5.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{813}-3}{2\times 2}$$

Divide \frac{-3-\sqrt{813}}{2} by 2.

$$x=\frac{-\sqrt{813}-3}{4}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{813}-3}{4} x=\frac{-\sqrt{813}-3}{4}$$

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.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-4.25=46$$

Add 4.25 to both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+1.5x-4.25-\left(-4.25\right)=46-\left(-4.25\right)$$

Subtracting -4.25 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+1.5x=46-\left(-4.25\right)$$

Subtract -4.25 from 46.

$$x^{2}+1.5x=50.25$$

Divide 1.5, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get 0.75. Then add the square of 0.75 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+1.5x+0.75^{2}=50.25+0.75^{2}$$

Square 0.75 by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

$$x^{2}+1.5x+0.5625=50.25+0.5625$$

Add 50.25 to 0.5625 by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.

$$x^{2}+1.5x+0.5625=50.8125$$

Factor x^{2}+1.5x+0.5625. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x+0.75\right)^{2}=50.8125$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+0.75\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{50.8125}$$

Simplify.

$$x+0.75=\frac{\sqrt{813}}{4} x+0.75=-\frac{\sqrt{813}}{4}$$

Subtract 0.75 from both sides of the equation.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{813}-3}{4} x=\frac{-\sqrt{813}-3}{4}$$