How do you solve 2x^2=x+28 ?

3 Answers
Aug 3, 2015

Move all values and variables to the left and either factor, solve with the quadratic equation, or solve by completing the square; you could also leave the expression alone and solve by graphing.

Explanation:

2x^2=x+28
2x^2-x=28
2x^2-x-28=0

Next, try to factor this expression.

(2x+a)(x+b)=0

Where a xx b=-28 and 2bx + ax=-x or 2b+a=-1

The factors of -28 are:
-(a xx b) or -(b xx a)
-(1 xx 28)
-(2 xx 14)
-(4 xx 7)

Of these factors, only the last pair will allow you to make 2b+a=-1 by setting b=-4 and a=7. But this means we can factor the expression above.

(2x+a)(x+b)=0
(2x+7)(x-4)=0 which is only true when

x=-7/2 or x=4.

Check your work by plugging these values back into the original expression.

Aug 3, 2015

x_(1,2) = 1/4 +- 15/4

Explanation:

You could solve this quadratic equation by completing the square.

To do that, start by getting your quadratic to the general form

color(blue)(x^2 + b/ax = -c/a)

by adding -x to both sides of the equation and dividing your terms by 2

2x^2 - x = color(red)(cancel(color(black)(x))) - color(red)(cancel(color(black)(x))) + 28

(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) * x^2)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))) - x/2 = 28/2

x^2 - x/2 = 14

Now, you need to add a term to both sides of the equation so that the left side of the equation can be written as the square of a binomial.

The coefficient of the x-term will tell what term you need to add. More specifically, divide this coefficient by 2 and square the result to get

(-1/2 * 1/2)^2 = 1/16

Add 1/16 to both sides of the equation

x^2 - x/2 + 1/16 = 14 + 1/16

The left side of the equation can now be rewritten as

x^2 - 2 * (1/4) * x + (1/4)^2 = (x-1/4)^2

You now have

(x-1/4)^2 = 225/16

Take the square root of both sides of the equation

sqrt( (x-1/4)^2) = sqrt(225/16)

x-1/4 = +- 15/4 => x_(1,2) = 1/4 +- 15/4

The two solutions to the equation will thus be

x_1 = 1/4 + 15/4 = color(green)(4) and x_2 = 1/4 - 15/4 = color(green)(-7/2)

Aug 4, 2015

Solve y = 2x^2 - x - 28 = 0 (1)

Explanation:

I use the new Transforming Method.
Transformed equation y' = x^2 - x - 56 = 0 (2).
Factor pairs of (-56) --> (-4, 14)(-7, 8). This sum is 1 = -b. Two real roots of (2) are: -7 and 8.
The 2 real roots of equation (1) are: (-7/2) and (8/2 = 4)