How do you solve x^2 - 12x + 52 = 0?

2 Answers
Jun 8, 2015

x^2 - 12x + 52 = 0

The equation is of the form color(blue)(ax^2+bx+c=0 where:
a=1, b=-12, c=52

The Discriminant is given by:
Delta=b^2-4*a*c
= (-12)^2-(4*1*52)
= 144 - 208
= -64

If Delta=0 then there is only one solution.
(for Delta>0 there are two solutions,
for Delta<0 there are no real solutions)

As Delta = -64, this equation has NO REAL SOLUTIONS

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

As Delta = -64, x = (-(-12)+-sqrt(-64))/(2*1) = (12+-sqrt(-64))/2

Jun 8, 2015

x^2-12x+52 is of the form ax^2+bx+c with a=1, b=-12 and c=52. This has discriminant given by the formula:

Delta = b^2-4ac = (-12)^2-(4xx1xx52)

=144-208=-64 < 0

So x^2-12x+52=0 has no real roots. It has two distinct complex roots.