Skip to main content
Solve for y
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

y^{2}+9y+8=0
Add 8 to both sides.
a+b=9 ab=8
To solve the equation, factor y^{2}+9y+8 using formula y^{2}+\left(a+b\right)y+ab=\left(y+a\right)\left(y+b\right). To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
1,8 2,4
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 8.
1+8=9 2+4=6
Calculate the sum for each pair.
a=1 b=8
The solution is the pair that gives sum 9.
\left(y+1\right)\left(y+8\right)
Rewrite factored expression \left(y+a\right)\left(y+b\right) using the obtained values.
y=-1 y=-8
To find equation solutions, solve y+1=0 and y+8=0.
y^{2}+9y+8=0
Add 8 to both sides.
a+b=9 ab=1\times 8=8
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as y^{2}+ay+by+8. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
1,8 2,4
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 8.
1+8=9 2+4=6
Calculate the sum for each pair.
a=1 b=8
The solution is the pair that gives sum 9.
\left(y^{2}+y\right)+\left(8y+8\right)
Rewrite y^{2}+9y+8 as \left(y^{2}+y\right)+\left(8y+8\right).
y\left(y+1\right)+8\left(y+1\right)
Factor out y in the first and 8 in the second group.
\left(y+1\right)\left(y+8\right)
Factor out common term y+1 by using distributive property.
y=-1 y=-8
To find equation solutions, solve y+1=0 and y+8=0.
y^{2}+9y=-8
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.
y^{2}+9y-\left(-8\right)=-8-\left(-8\right)
Add 8 to both sides of the equation.
y^{2}+9y-\left(-8\right)=0
Subtracting -8 from itself leaves 0.
y^{2}+9y+8=0
Subtract -8 from 0.
y=\frac{-9±\sqrt{9^{2}-4\times 8}}{2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 1 for a, 9 for b, and 8 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
y=\frac{-9±\sqrt{81-4\times 8}}{2}
Square 9.
y=\frac{-9±\sqrt{81-32}}{2}
Multiply -4 times 8.
y=\frac{-9±\sqrt{49}}{2}
Add 81 to -32.
y=\frac{-9±7}{2}
Take the square root of 49.
y=-\frac{2}{2}
Now solve the equation y=\frac{-9±7}{2} when ± is plus. Add -9 to 7.
y=-1
Divide -2 by 2.
y=-\frac{16}{2}
Now solve the equation y=\frac{-9±7}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 7 from -9.
y=-8
Divide -16 by 2.
y=-1 y=-8
The equation is now solved.
y^{2}+9y=-8
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.
y^{2}+9y+\left(\frac{9}{2}\right)^{2}=-8+\left(\frac{9}{2}\right)^{2}
Divide 9, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{9}{2}. Then add the square of \frac{9}{2} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
y^{2}+9y+\frac{81}{4}=-8+\frac{81}{4}
Square \frac{9}{2} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
y^{2}+9y+\frac{81}{4}=\frac{49}{4}
Add -8 to \frac{81}{4}.
\left(y+\frac{9}{2}\right)^{2}=\frac{49}{4}
Factor y^{2}+9y+\frac{81}{4}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.
\sqrt{\left(y+\frac{9}{2}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{49}{4}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
y+\frac{9}{2}=\frac{7}{2} y+\frac{9}{2}=-\frac{7}{2}
Simplify.
y=-1 y=-8
Subtract \frac{9}{2} from both sides of the equation.