SOLUTION: If you could please help me on the steps when using the quadratic equation? I can identify the A,B and C variables and know the formula. And yet I can never seem to get the right

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: If you could please help me on the steps when using the quadratic equation? I can identify the A,B and C variables and know the formula. And yet I can never seem to get the right       Log On


   

Question 119345: If you could please help me on the steps when using the quadratic equation?
I can identify the A,B and C variables and know the formula. And yet I can never seem to get the right solution. Can you break it down a bit for me? The site helps but it leaves me stuck as soon as I put in the variables. I think the problem is Im unsure how to solve what is going to be squared. If you have absolutely no idea what I'm saying I understand, I am bad at explaining things and would try again. Thank you for your help at any rate.
~S
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
It does seem a little ominous.
Break it down into smaller steps.
First
b%5E2
Then
4%2Aa%2Ac
That's were you have to watch your positive and negative signs.
Then subtract those two.
b%5E2-4ac
In mathematics, that term is called the discriminant.
Let's call it D.
D=b%5E2-4ac
Take the square root of D and the rest is just addition and division.
x=%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28D%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
Practice, practice, practice.
Start with the answer, work backwards, and see where you run into problems.
%28x%2B5%29%28x-3%29+=+x%2Ax-3x%2B5x-3%2A5
%28x%2B5%29%28x-3%29+=+x%5E2%2B2x-15
The answers should be x=-5,3.
%28x%2B5%29%28x-3%29+=+x%5E2%2B2x-15
b%5E2=4
4ac=4%281%29%28-15%29=-60
D=b%5E2-4ac=4-%28-60%29=64
sqrt%28D%29=sqrt%2864%29=8
x=%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28D%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
x=%28-2+%2B-+8%29%2F%282%2A1%29+
x%5B1%5D=%28-2+%2B+8%29%2F%282%29+
x%5B1%5D=%286%29%2F%282%29+
x%5B1%5D=3+
x%5B2%5D=%28-2+-+8%29%2F%282%29+
x%5B2%5D=%28-10%29%2F%282%29+
x%5B2%5D=-5+
If you find you're making mistakes in the same place, pay more attention in that area until you're more comfortable doing it.
Good luck.