Question

How do you solve `x^2-7x-6=0` using the quadratic formula?

Answer 1

`x=(7+sqrt(73))/(2)` or `x=(7-sqrt(73))/(2)`

Explanation:

The quadratic formula states that for a quadratic equation `ax^2+bx+c`, its roots, `x` can be computed as `x = (-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)`

Consider the quadratic equation `x^2-7x-6=0`. It has coefficients `a=1`, `b=-7` and `c=-6`. To solve for `x`, we plug these numbers into the quadratic formula.

`x = (-(-7)+-sqrt((-7)^2-4(1)(-6)))/(2(1))`
`x = (7+-sqrt(73))/(2)`

Hence, `x=(7+sqrt(73))/(2)` or `x=(7-sqrt(73))/(2)`