How do you factor and solve x^2 - x - 20 = 0x2x20=0?

1 Answer
Jun 12, 2016

The solutions for the equation are: color(blue)(x=-4, x = 5x=4,x=5

Explanation:

x^2 - x - 20 = 0 x2x20=0

The equation is of the form color(blue)(ax^2+bx+c=0ax2+bx+c=0 where:

a=1, b=-1, c=-20a=1,b=1,c=20

The Discriminant is given by:

Delta=b^2-4*a*c

= (-1)^2-(4 * 1 * (-20))

= 1 + 80 = 81

The solutions are found using the formula:
x=(-b+-sqrtDelta)/(2*a)

x = (-(-1)+-sqrt(81))/(2*1) = (1+- 9 )/2

x = (1+ 9 )/2 =10 /2, color(blue)( x= 5

x = (1 - 9 )/2 = -8/2 , color(blue)(x= - 4