Solve x^2+48x-324=0

$$x ^ { 2 } + 48 x - 324 = 0$$

Solve for x

$$x=-54$$

$$x=6$$

Steps Using Factoring

To solve the equation, factor x^{2}+48x-324 using formula x^{2}+\left(a+b\right)x+ab=\left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=48 ab=-324$$

Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. List all such integer pairs that give product -324.

$$-1,324 -2,162 -3,108 -4,81 -6,54 -9,36 -12,27 -18,18$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1+324=323 -2+162=160 -3+108=105 -4+81=77 -6+54=48 -9+36=27 -12+27=15 -18+18=0$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 48.

$$a=-6 b=54$$

Rewrite factored expression \left(x+a\right)\left(x+b\right) using the obtained values.

$$\left(x-6\right)\left(x+54\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve x-6=0 and x+54=0.

$$x=6 x=-54$$

Steps Using Factoring By Grouping

To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx-324. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=48 ab=1\left(-324\right)=-324$$

Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. List all such integer pairs that give product -324.

$$-1,324 -2,162 -3,108 -4,81 -6,54 -9,36 -12,27 -18,18$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1+324=323 -2+162=160 -3+108=105 -4+81=77 -6+54=48 -9+36=27 -12+27=15 -18+18=0$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 48.

$$a=-6 b=54$$

Rewrite x^{2}+48x-324 as \left(x^{2}-6x\right)+\left(54x-324\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-6x\right)+\left(54x-324\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 54 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-6\right)+54\left(x-6\right)$$

Factor out common term x-6 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-6\right)\left(x+54\right)$$

To find equation solutions, solve x-6=0 and x+54=0.

$$x=6 x=-54$$

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.

$$x^{2}+48x-324=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 48 for b, and -324 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-48±\sqrt{48^{2}-4\left(-324\right)}}{2}$$

Square 48.

$$x=\frac{-48±\sqrt{2304-4\left(-324\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -324.

$$x=\frac{-48±\sqrt{2304+1296}}{2}$$

Add 2304 to 1296.

$$x=\frac{-48±\sqrt{3600}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 3600.

$$x=\frac{-48±60}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-48±60}{2} when ± is plus. Add -48 to 60.

$$x=\frac{12}{2}$$

Divide 12 by 2.

$$x=6$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-48±60}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 60 from -48.

$$x=-\frac{108}{2}$$

Divide -108 by 2.

$$x=-54$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=6 x=-54$$

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.

$$x^{2}+48x-324=0$$

Add 324 to both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}+48x-324-\left(-324\right)=-\left(-324\right)$$

Subtracting -324 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}+48x=-\left(-324\right)$$

Subtract -324 from 0.

$$x^{2}+48x=324$$

Divide 48, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get 24. Then add the square of 24 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}+48x+24^{2}=324+24^{2}$$

Square 24.

$$x^{2}+48x+576=324+576$$

Add 324 to 576.

$$x^{2}+48x+576=900$$

Factor x^{2}+48x+576. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x+24\right)^{2}=900$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x+24\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{900}$$

Simplify.

$$x+24=30 x+24=-30$$

Subtract 24 from both sides of the equation.

$$x=6 x=-54$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 +48x -324 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = -48 rs = -324$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to -48 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*-48 = -24. 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>

$$r = -24 - u s = -24 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = -324

$$(-24 - u) (-24 + u) = -324$$

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

$$576 - u^2 = -324$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting 576 on both sides

$$-u^2 = -324-576 = -900$$

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

$$u^2 = 900 u = \pm\sqrt{900} = \pm 30$$

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

$$r =-24 - 30 = -54 s = -24 + 30 = 6$$