How do you use the quadratic formula to solve #a^2-28a+192=0#?

1 Answer
Serena D.
Jan 23, 2018

The quadratic formula is #(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4*a*c))/2#

Explanation:

Quadratic equations are in the form #ax^2+bx+c#. We use the variables a, b, and c to solve for something using the quadratic formula.

In your equation, the "a" is actually the "x" term in the quadratic equation form because it is the sole variable in your equation. Thus, to avoid confusion, we can rewrite the equation as #x^2-28x+192#.

The a, b, and c values for your equation are 1, -28, and 192, respectively. (#1x^2 or x^2#, indicating that 1 is the a value, #-28x#, indicating that -28 is the b value, and #+192#, indicating that 192 is the c value).

Now plug the numbers in to solve:

#((-)-28+-sqrt((-28)^2-4*1*192))/2#

#(28+-sqrt(784-4*192))/2#

#(28+-sqrt(784-768))/2#

#(28+-sqrt16)/2#

#(28+4)/2# #(28-4)/2#

#32/2# #24/2#

#16# #12#

Thus your answers are a=16, a=12

Related questions
Impact of this question
497 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License