Solve the Quadratic Equation: x²/4 + x - 1¼ = 0

Quadratic Equations with Fractional Coefficients

Solve the following equation:

x24+x114=0 \frac{x^2}{4}+x-1\frac{1}{4}=0

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find X
00:04 Multiply to eliminate fractions
00:16 Identify the coefficients
00:31 Use the roots formula
00:48 Substitute appropriate values according to the given data and solve
01:18 Calculate the square and products
01:33 Calculate the square root of 36
01:45 These are the 2 possible solutions (addition,subtraction)
01:59 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve the following equation:

x24+x114=0 \frac{x^2}{4}+x-1\frac{1}{4}=0

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this quadratic equation, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Eliminate fractions and rearrange the equation.
  • Step 2: Use the Quadratic Formula to find the solutions.
  • Step 3: Simplify the solutions for x x .

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The given equation is x24+x114=0 \frac{x^2}{4} + x - 1\frac{1}{4} = 0 .

First, multiply every term by 4 to eliminate the fraction: x2+4x5=0 x^2 + 4x - 5 = 0

Step 2: The equation is now in the standard form ax2+bx+c=0 ax^2 + bx + c = 0 with a=1 a = 1 , b=4 b = 4 , and c=5 c = -5 .

Step 3: Apply the Quadratic Formula: x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Substitute the values of a a , b b , and c c : x=4±424×1×(5)2×1 x = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{4^2 - 4 \times 1 \times (-5)}}{2 \times 1} x=4±16+202 x = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{16 + 20}}{2} x=4±362 x = \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{36}}{2}

Simplify the square root and solve for x x : x=4±62 x = \frac{-4 \pm 6}{2}

Calculating the two possible solutions: x1=4+62=22=1 x_1 = \frac{-4 + 6}{2} = \frac{2}{2} = 1 x2=462=102=5 x_2 = \frac{-4 - 6}{2} = \frac{-10}{2} = -5

Therefore, the solutions to the quadratic equation are x1=1 x_1 = 1 and x2=5 x_2 = -5 .

The correct choice corresponds to the answer: x1=1,x2=5 x_1 = 1, x_2 = -5 .

3

Final Answer

x1=1,x2=5 x_1=1,x_2=-5

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Fraction Elimination: Multiply entire equation by LCD to clear fractions first
  • Quadratic Formula: Use x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} after converting to standard form
  • Verification: Substitute both solutions back: 124+1114=0 \frac{1^2}{4} + 1 - 1\frac{1}{4} = 0

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Forgetting to multiply all terms when clearing fractions
    Don't multiply just x24 \frac{x^2}{4} by 4 and leave other terms unchanged = unbalanced equation! This breaks the equality and gives wrong coefficients for the quadratic formula. Always multiply every single term by the same LCD.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

a = coefficient of x²

b = coefficient of x

c = coefficient of the constant term


What is the value of \( c \) in the function \( y=-x^2+25x \)?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I need to eliminate fractions first?

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Eliminating fractions makes the equation much easier to work with! Instead of dealing with x24 \frac{x^2}{4} , you get the simpler x2 x^2 after multiplying by 4.

How do I convert the mixed number 1¼?

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Convert 114 1\frac{1}{4} to an improper fraction: 114=54 1\frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{4} . This makes it easier to multiply by 4 and get -5 in your final equation.

Can I use factoring instead of the quadratic formula?

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Yes! After getting x2+4x5=0 x^2 + 4x - 5 = 0 , you can factor it as (x+5)(x1)=0 (x + 5)(x - 1) = 0 , giving you x = -5 or x = 1.

How do I check my solutions are correct?

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Substitute each solution back into the original equation. For x = 1: 124+1114=14+154=0 \frac{1^2}{4} + 1 - 1\frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{4} + 1 - \frac{5}{4} = 0

What if I get different answers using different methods?

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If factoring and the quadratic formula give different results, double-check your arithmetic! Both methods should give the same solutions when done correctly.

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