Solve
x^2+2x-4=0
When i try to factor this problem out I cant get it to work. Is this a no solution problem
I hope you are not under the impression that every quadratic can be factored with rationals.
In this case I would complete the square,
x^2 + 2x + ... = 4
x^2 + 2x + 1 = 4+1
(x+1)^2 = 5
x+1 = ±√5
x = -1 ±√5
the same answer one would get if using the quadratic equation.
If the coefficient of the x^2 term is 1 and the middle term is even, I always use the "completing the square" method, it gives me the answer in simplified terms. The quadratic formula answers requires simplification.