Solve x^2-19x+88

$$x ^ { 2 } - 19 x + 88$$

Factor

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-8\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+88. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-19 ab=1\times 88=88$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. List all such integer pairs that give product 88.

$$-1,-88 -2,-44 -4,-22 -8,-11$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-88=-89 -2-44=-46 -4-22=-26 -8-11=-19$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -19.

$$a=-11 b=-8$$

Rewrite x^{2}-19x+88 as \left(x^{2}-11x\right)+\left(-8x+88\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-11x\right)+\left(-8x+88\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and -8 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-11\right)-8\left(x-11\right)$$

Factor out common term x-11 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-8\right)$$

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.

$$x^{2}-19x+88=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-19\right)±\sqrt{\left(-19\right)^{2}-4\times 88}}{2}$$

Square -19.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-19\right)±\sqrt{361-4\times 88}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 88.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-19\right)±\sqrt{361-352}}{2}$$

Add 361 to -352.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-19\right)±\sqrt{9}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 9.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-19\right)±3}{2}$$

The opposite of -19 is 19.

$$x=\frac{19±3}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{19±3}{2} when ± is plus. Add 19 to 3.

$$x=\frac{22}{2}$$

Divide 22 by 2.

$$x=11$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{19±3}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 3 from 19.

$$x=\frac{16}{2}$$

Divide 16 by 2.

$$x=8$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 11 for x_{1} and 8 for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}-19x+88=\left(x-11\right)\left(x-8\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 -19x +88 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = 19 rs = 88$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 19 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*19 = \frac{19}{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>

$$r = \frac{19}{2} - u s = \frac{19}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 88

$$(\frac{19}{2} - u) (\frac{19}{2} + u) = 88$$

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

$$\frac{361}{4} - u^2 = 88$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{361}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = 88-\frac{361}{4} = -\frac{9}{4}$$

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

$$u^2 = \frac{9}{4} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{9}{4}} = \pm \frac{3}{2}$$

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

$$r =\frac{19}{2} - \frac{3}{2} = 8 s = \frac{19}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = 11$$

Evaluate

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-8\right)$$