# two equations help needed

#### hajfajv

##### New member

How am I supposed to solve this without a calculator?

#### R.M.

##### Junior Member
You've got a great start. Notice you have a quadratic. Where does that take you?

#### hajfajv

##### New member
That gives me x(x-4)=-3 but that doesn't help isolate x?

#### BigBeachBanana

##### Full Member
That gives me x(x-4)=-3 but that doesn't help isolate x?

### What do you feed a baby parabola?​

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#### blamocur

##### Full Member
That gives me x(x-4)=-3 but that doesn't help isolate x?
No, it does not. Have you looked up "Quadratic equation" on internet?

### What do you feed a baby parabola?​

But I thought I was supposed to isolate x or y in one equation then input that result into another and then oh

#### blamocur

##### Full Member
But I thought I was supposed to isolate x or y in one equation then input that result into another and then oh
You did the right thing to reduce the system of two equations with two variables to a single equation with a single variable.
Now you need to solve the resulting quadratic equation.

#### BigBeachBanana

##### Full Member
Are you sure that 2/2 = 4? Maybe that's your 1, just look like a 4.
You could've also done it through the method of grouping.
$x^2-4x+3=0\\ (x^2-x)+(-3x+3)=0\\ x(x-1)-3(x-1)=0\\ (x-1)(x-3)=0 \implies x=1, x=3$

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#### R.M.

##### Junior Member
You could have also factored the quadratic: (x - 3)(x - 1) = 0. Saves a little calculating.

#### hajfajv

##### New member
Pretty sure sqrt(4) is 2, 6/2 = 3 and 2/2 = 1?
Oh yea my 1's 4's and 9's are not reading friendly

I'm terrible at factorizing quadratics and therefore tend to avoid it, so I need to work on that aspect.

I cannot remeber is seeing your grouping method, will look into that seems like a time saver.

#### lookagain

##### Elite Member

In your work, when you use the Quadratic Formula, you should be showing a, b, c being substituted correctly,
preferably each of them inside parentheses.

Also, x = 3 or x = 1. That corresponds with the "plus or minus" in the Quadratic Formula.

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#### lev888

##### Elite Member
Pretty sure sqrt(4) is 2, 6/2 = 3 and 2/2 = 1?
Oh yea my 1's 4's and 9's are not reading friendly

I'm terrible at factorizing quadratics and therefore tend to avoid it, so I need to work on that aspect.

I cannot remeber is seeing your grouping method, will look into that seems like a time saver.
If you are familiar quadratic equations, may I ask why you are having difficulties with the problem?