Solve x^2-14x+40=5

$$x ^ { 2 } - 14 x + 40 = 5$$

Solve for x

$$x=\sqrt{14}+7\approx 10.741657387$$

$$x=7-\sqrt{14}\approx 3.258342613$$

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.

$$x^{2}-14x+40=5$$

Subtract 5 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}-14x+40-5=5-5$$

Subtracting 5 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}-14x+40-5=0$$

Subtract 5 from 40.

$$x^{2}-14x+35=0$$

This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, -14 for b, and 35 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-14\right)±\sqrt{\left(-14\right)^{2}-4\times 35}}{2}$$

Square -14.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-14\right)±\sqrt{196-4\times 35}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 35.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-14\right)±\sqrt{196-140}}{2}$$

Add 196 to -140.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-14\right)±\sqrt{56}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 56.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-14\right)±2\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

The opposite of -14 is 14.

$$x=\frac{14±2\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{14±2\sqrt{14}}{2} when ± is plus. Add 14 to 2\sqrt{14}.

$$x=\frac{2\sqrt{14}+14}{2}$$

Divide 14+2\sqrt{14} by 2.

$$x=\sqrt{14}+7$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{14±2\sqrt{14}}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 2\sqrt{14} from 14.

$$x=\frac{14-2\sqrt{14}}{2}$$

Divide 14-2\sqrt{14} by 2.

$$x=7-\sqrt{14}$$

The equation is now solved.

$$x=\sqrt{14}+7 x=7-\sqrt{14}$$

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.

$$x^{2}-14x+40=5$$

Subtract 40 from both sides of the equation.

$$x^{2}-14x+40-40=5-40$$

Subtracting 40 from itself leaves 0.

$$x^{2}-14x=5-40$$

Subtract 40 from 5.

$$x^{2}-14x=-35$$

Divide -14, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -7. Then add the square of -7 to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.

$$x^{2}-14x+\left(-7\right)^{2}=-35+\left(-7\right)^{2}$$

Square -7.

$$x^{2}-14x+49=-35+49$$

Add -35 to 49.

$$x^{2}-14x+49=14$$

Factor x^{2}-14x+49. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.

$$\left(x-7\right)^{2}=14$$

Take the square root of both sides of the equation.

$$\sqrt{\left(x-7\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{14}$$

Simplify.

$$x-7=\sqrt{14} x-7=-\sqrt{14}$$

Add 7 to both sides of the equation.

$$x=\sqrt{14}+7 x=7-\sqrt{14}$$