Problem of the Week

Updated at May 8, 2023 11:48 AM

This week we have another equation problem:

How can we solve the equation \(w+4{w}^{2}=5\)?

Let's start!



\[w+4{w}^{2}=5\]

1
Move all terms to one side.
\[w+4{w}^{2}-5=0\]

2
Split the second term in \(w+4{w}^{2}-5\) into two terms.
\[4{w}^{2}+5w-4w-5=0\]

3
Factor out common terms in the first two terms, then in the last two terms.
\[w(4w+5)-(4w+5)=0\]

4
Factor out the common term \(4w+5\).
\[(4w+5)(w-1)=0\]

5
Solve for \(w\).
\[w=-\frac{5}{4},1\]

Done

Decimal Form: -1.25, 1