Final answer:
To solve a quadratic equation using the quadratic formula, we rearrange the equation to equal 0 and apply the formula x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a) to find the roots.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using the quadratic formula to solve for 'x' in the equation ax² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are coefficients, requires rearranging the equation to have 0 on one side. The quadratic formula is x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a). For example, in the equation t² + 10t - 200 = 0, we would identify a = 1, b = 10, and c = -200. Applying the quadratic formula, we find two possible solutions for 't'. These solutions are the roots of the equation where it intersects the x-axis on a graph.