Finite Math Examples

$(x^{2} - 1) - 15 - x$

Step 1

Set $(x^{2} - 1) - 15 - x$ equal to $0$ .

$(x^{2} - 1) - 15 - x = 0$

Step 2

Simplify the left side.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

Subtract $15$ from $- 1$ .

$x^{2} - 16 - x = 0$

Step 3

Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.

$\frac{- b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4 (a c)}}{2 a}$

Step 4

Substitute the values $a = 1$ , $b = - 1$ , and $c = - 16$ into the quadratic formula and solve for $x$ .

$\frac{1 \pm \sqrt{{(- 1)}^{2} - 4 \cdot (1 \cdot - 16)}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 5

Simplify.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1

Simplify the numerator.

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1.1

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot - 16}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 5.1.2

Multiply $- 4 \cdot 1 \cdot - 16$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 5.1.2.1

Multiply $- 4$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 - 4 \cdot - 16}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 5.1.2.2

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 16$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 + 64}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 5.1.3

Add $1$ and $64$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{65}}{2 \cdot 1}$

Step 5.2

Multiply $2$ by $1$ .

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{65}}{2}$

Step 6

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{65}}{2}$

Decimal Form:

$x = 4.53112887 \dots, - 3.53112887 \dots$