Another major type of equation are quadratic equations. As you go on in mathematics you will solve many more quadratic equations. You can use the quadratic formula but it is hard to remember reliably. An alternative is the technique of completing the square. It is based on the binomial formulas which you should have used so often in this class that you can't help remembering them. If in fact you do not remember them, look them up and do so many exercises involving them that you won't be able to forget them if you tried.
Occasionally it is obvious how a quadratic expression or polynomial can be factored and if so you look for when the individual factors are zero.
The equation $x^2-4x-2=0$ has two real solutions. Enter the smaller here and the larger here