Solving Quadratic Equations: Quadratic Formula Answers

Brahmagupta’s mathematical discoveries and work came about while studying a branch of science. What was he studying?

A modern equation involving positive and negative integers would be –3 + 4 = 1. How would Brahmagupta have represented this equation?

Brahmagupta solved a quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx = c using the formula x =, which involved only one solution. Using Brahmagupta’s method, the solution to the quadratic equation x2 + 7x = 8 would be x = 1. Using modern methods, the first step in solving the quadratic equation x2 + 7x = 8 would be to put it in standard form by . What is the second solution?