Solve for x:
2 x^2 - 8 x + 5 = 0
Divide both sides by 2:
x^2 - 4 x + 5/2 = 0
Subtract 5/2 from both sides:
x^2 - 4 x = -5/2
Add 4 to both sides:
x^2 - 4 x + 4 = 3/2
Write the left hand side as a square:
(x - 2)^2 = 3/2
Take the square root of both sides:
x - 2 = sqrt(3/2) or x - 2 = -sqrt(3/2)
Add 2 to both sides:
x = 2 + sqrt(3/2) or x - 2 = -sqrt(3/2)
Add 2 to both sides:
x = 2 + sqrt(3/2) or x = 2 - sqrt(3/2)