Solving this function with quadratic formula

**alex95** · January 24th 2011, 02:07 PM

Hi,

I have been sitting at this function for a couple of hours, trying to solve it.

0.1w^2 + 2155w + 20

I am kind of dumbfounded by this. Even if I factor out the 0.1, I cannot figure this out.

Appreciate your help,

Alex

**dwsmith** · January 24th 2011, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by alex95

Hi,

I have been sitting at this function for a couple of hours, trying to solve it.

0.1w^2 + 2155w + 20

I am kind of dumbfounded by this. Even if I factor out the 0.1, I cannot figure this out.

Appreciate your help,

Alex

$\displaystyle x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

Did you just plug int he numbers?

**Archie Meade** · January 24th 2011, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by alex95

Hi,

I have been sitting at this function for a couple of hours, trying to solve it.

0.1w^2 + 2155w + 20

I am kind of dumbfounded by this. Even if I factor out the 0.1, I cannot figure this out.

Appreciate your help,

Alex

$0.1\left(w^2+21550w\right)+20=0.1\left(w^2+10775w+ 10775w\right)+20$

$=0.1\left(w^2+21550w+10775^2-10775^2\right)+20$

$=0.1\left(w+10775\right)^2-(0.1)10775^2+20$

Are you trying to factor, or is the expression equal to something ?

**alex95** · January 24th 2011, 02:32 PM

Yes, equal to 200

Thanks,

Alex

**e^(i*pi)** · January 24th 2011, 02:36 PM

Now it's equal to something you can put into the form $ax^2+bx+c = 0$ by subtracting 200 from both sides

$0.1w^2 + 2155w + 20 = 200$ becomes $0.1w^2+2155w-180 = 0$ then plug and chug.

Of course $2155^2 >> 4 \cdot 0.1 \cdot -180$ which means $\pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac} \approx \pm b$

**Archie Meade** · January 24th 2011, 02:42 PM

Ok,

well you can set it up using dwsmith's method, which applies the "abc robot"
but the expression must be equal to zero to use that.

$0.1w^2+2155w+20=200\Rightarrow\ 0.1w^2+2155w+20-200=200-200=0$

Multiplying zero by anything is zero, so multiply by 10 for convenience

$w^2+21550w-1800=0$

$aw^2+bw+c=0$

$a=1,\;\;\;b=21550,\;\;\;c=-1800$

Alternatively,

$0.1(w+10775)^2=200-20+(0.1)10775^2$

Multiply both sides by 10.
Take square roots and finally subtract 10775 from both sides.

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