SOLUTION: I'm having trouble solving something like y=x-x^2 when I want to solve for x=.... I've looked across the internet and most of the examples only involve one x variable, and its s

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: I'm having trouble solving something like y=x-x^2 when I want to solve for x=.... I've looked across the internet and most of the examples only involve one x variable, and its s      Log On


   



Question 911516: I'm having trouble solving something like y=x-x^2 when I want to solve for x=....
I've looked across the internet and most of the examples only involve one x variable, and its simple like y=x^2. to solve for y in terms of x, you'd just take the square root, so that sqrt(y)=x. Can you guys please help me?

Answer by josgarithmetic(39621) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Something like y=x-x%5E2 is a parabola and has infinite solutions as long as the ordered pairs fit on the parabola.

If you want to solve for x, convert the equation in x and y into standard form using Completing The Square.
You can then solve for x but you will have two different branches; so you can solve for x on one
branch or solve for x on the other branch.

For help with Completing The Square, study these:

http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-Using-Pictures.lesson?content_action=show_dev

http://www.algebra.com/my/Completing-the-Square-to-Solve-General-Quadratic-Equation.lesson?content_action=show_dev