# [SOLVED]Isolate y in terms of x

#### Bmanmcfly

##### Member
I feel like I should know this already, but I need to isolate y in the equation:
$$\displaystyle x= 6y-y^2$$
I was thinking of using the quadratic formula, but that would keep the equation in terms of x.

No matter how I seem to slice it, I can't figure out what to do... Which is kinda sad that I'm doing good on the larger problems, but struggle with what seems like should be simple.

Thanks for any guidance.

#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
I feel like I should know this already, but I need to isolate y in the equation:
$$\displaystyle x= 6y-y^2$$
I was thinking of using the quadratic formula, but that would keep the equation in terms of x.

No matter how I seem to slice it, I can't figure out what to do... Which is kinda sad that I'm doing good on the larger problems, but struggle with what seems like should be simple.

Thanks for any guidance.
Welcome to MHB, Bmanmcfly!

You are right to use the quadratic formula.
To do so, you need to rewrite it to the proper form.
And yes, in the result you will still have an x.
That is okay, you should treat x in this case just like a regular number.

#### chisigma

##### Well-known member
I feel like I should know this already, but I need to isolate y in the equation:
$$\displaystyle x= 6y-y^2$$
I was thinking of using the quadratic formula, but that would keep the equation in terms of x.

No matter how I seem to slice it, I can't figure out what to do... Which is kinda sad that I'm doing good on the larger problems, but struggle with what seems like should be simple.

Thanks for any guidance.
You have to solve the second order equation $\displaystyle y^{2} - 6\ y + x=0$ where y is the unknown. Note that the (1) in general has two solutions that may be also complex...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

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#### Bmanmcfly

##### Member
Is this correct?? I used quadratic formula, and it gave me:

Y=3+/-sqrt(36-4x)

Or should I try this by "completing the square"?

Edit: This gave me y= 3+/-sqrt(9-x),

So, it seems either way I'm doing something right and/or something wrong

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#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
Is this correct?? I used quadratic formula, and it gave me:

Y=3+/-sqrt(36-4x)

Or should I try this by "completing the square"?
Either way works.
But it seems you made a mistake in the process.

You should have:
$$y=\frac{-(-6) \pm \sqrt{(-6)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot x}}{2 \cdot 1}$$

#### Bmanmcfly

##### Member
[solved]Re: Isolate y in terms of x

Either way works.
But it seems you made a mistake in the process.

You should have:
$$y=\frac{-(-6) \pm \sqrt{(-6)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot x}}{2 \cdot 1}$$
Thanks, ya, you're right. I feel kinda dumb to be having this as an issue.

#### Fantini

MHB Math Helper
The method of completing the square fits amazingly well here:

$$-y^2 +6y = x \implies -y^2 +6y -9 = x-9 \implies (3-y)^2 = x-9,$$

and from that we have that $y = 3 \pm \sqrt{x-9}$.

#### MarkFL

Staff member
The method of completing the square fits amazingly well here:

$$-y^2 +6y = x \implies -y^2 +6y -9 = x-9 \implies (3-y)^2 = x-9,$$

and from that we have that $y = 3 \pm \sqrt{x-9}$.
One small quibble...you want:

$$\displaystyle (3-y)^2=9-x$$

#### Fantini

$$\displaystyle -y^2+6y-9=-(3-y)^2$$