a+a^2=72

Solution for a+a^2=72 equation:

a+a^2=72

We move all terms to the left:

a+a^2-(72)=0

a = 1; b = 1; c = -72;
Δ = b2-4ac
Δ = 12-4·1·(-72)
Δ = 289
The delta value is higher than zero, so the equation has two solutions
We use following formulas to calculate our solutions:
$a_{1}=\frac{-b-\sqrt{\Delta}}{2a}$
$a_{2}=\frac{-b+\sqrt{\Delta}}{2a}$

$\sqrt{\Delta}=\sqrt{289}=17$
$a_{1}=\frac{-b-\sqrt{\Delta}}{2a}=\frac{-(1)-17}{2*1}=\frac{-18}{2}
=-9
$
$a_{2}=\frac{-b+\sqrt{\Delta}}{2a}=\frac{-(1)+17}{2*1}=\frac{16}{2}
=8
$