Problem 13 - Algebra 1: Concepts and Skills

Question

Write the quadratic equation in standard form. $$x^{2}-6 x=-6$$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The equation in standard form is \( x^{2}-6 x+6=0 \).

Step 1: Understand the equation

First of all, it can be seen that the equation \( x^{2}-6 x=-6 \) is not in the standard form. Therefore, the task is to transform it into the standard form.

Step 2: Transform to standard form

Add 6 to both sides of the equation to bring it in the form of \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). The equation then becomes \( x^{2}-6 x+6=0 \).

Key Concepts

Algebraic Equations

Algebraic equations are at the heart of solving mathematical problems, particularly in algebra. An equation is a mathematical statement asserting that two expressions are equal, and an algebraic equation incorporates variables, numbers, and arithmetic operations to represent a certain relationship. Understanding algebraic equations is vital for finding unknown values which are represented by the variables.

In the case of quadratic equations, they are a specific type of algebraic equation. They have the form of a polynomial of degree two, generally represented as \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are constants, and \( a \) is not equal to zero. The power of algebra lies in the ability to manipulate these equations to find solutions for the variable \( x \).

Solving Quadratic Equations

Solving quadratic equations, which are equations of the second degree, involves finding the values of \( x \) that make the equation true. These solutions are also known as the 'roots' of the equation. There are multiple methods for solving quadratics, such as factoring, completing the square, using the quadratic formula, or even graphing.

Each method has its own suitable scenario, but all lead to finding the critical points where the parabola, which is the shape of the graph of a quadratic equation, intersects the \( x \)-axis. These methods require a sound understanding of algebraic manipulation and the properties of numbers. The given problem involves transforming a not standard quadratic equation into a form that can be more easily tackled using any of these methods.

Standard Form Transformation

The standard form of a quadratic equation is \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), and transforming an equation into this form is essential for solving it efficiently. To do so, all terms should be rearranged to one side of the equality, and the other side set to zero. The transformation process may involve combining like terms, distributing, adding, or subtracting quantities on both sides.

In the given exercise, transforming \( x^{2} - 6x = -6 \) to standard form required adding 6 to both sides, resulting in \( x^{2} - 6x + 6 = 0 \). This step makes the equation ready for solving, as it now resembles the familiar standard form, which is the starting point for applying solution strategies, such as factoring or employing the quadratic formula.