Rearranging numbers changes answers?

[Lexadis]

Solved~Rearranging numbers changes answers?

Homework Statement

A car starts from rest and travels with a constant acceleration of 3ms^{-2}, while a bike which is at a distance of 100m away from the car starts with an initial velocity of 5ms^{-2} travels with a constant acceleration of 2ms^{-2}. The displacement traveled by the bike before being overtaken is x. Using equations of motion, find,
(i) the time taken for the car to overtake the bike.
(ii) the distance traveled by the bike (x)
(iii) the distance traveled by the car.

Homework Equations

s= ut + \frac{1}{2} at^{2}

The Attempt at a Solution

So I did using the theory that the displacement of the car will be equal to displacement of the bike +100m.
So here it goes:
ut+ \frac{1}{2}at^{2}+100 = ut+ \frac{1}{2}at^{2}

\frac{1}{2}.3.t^{2} + 100 = 5t + \frac{1}{2}.2.t^{2}

\frac{3}{2}t^{2}+100=5t+t^{2}

100=5t-\frac{1}{2}t^{2}

\frac{1}{2}t^{2}-5t+100=0

t^{2}-10t+200=0

It is after this the problem started. I got 2 different answers. Here it goes:

t^{2}-10t+200=0

--> Here I arranged it as -20t + 10t:

t^{2} - 20t + 10t + 200 = 0

t(t-20)+10(t+20)=0

(t+10)(t-20)(t+20) = 0

t+10 = 0 / t^{2}-20^{2} = 0

t=-10 / t=20 s / t=-20s

-->Here I arranged it as +10, -20, and got different answers >_>

t^{2} + 10t - 20t + 200 = 0

t(t+10) - 20(t-10) = 0

(t-20) (t^{2}-10^{2}) = 0

t=20s / t=10 / t=-10

The answer is supposed to be 20. So how come I also got t=10s in my second arrangement? Is there some mistake I can't identify? Thank you very much in advance c:

 

[vela]

You need to review your algebra. You can't factor the way you did. Note that you started with a quadratic expression, but after factoring, you ended up with a cubic expression. Obviously, you did something you're not allowed to do.

To be specific, $t(t-20) + 10(t+20)$ does not equal $(t+10)(t-20)(t+20)$. You made a similar mistake in the second approach as well.

 

[Lexadis]

I figured out what my mistake was ^^;
I should have had:
s=ut+\frac{1}{2}at^{2}-100 = 5t+t^{2}
instead of a +100 because displacement of the car minus100m should be equal to the displacement of the bike.
Thank you!

 

[BiGyElLoWhAt]

ummm... to reiterate what vela said:

firstly you go from
t(t−20)+10(t+20)=0
to
(t+10)(t−20)(t+20)=0

which is nowhere near correct:
(t+10)(t−20)(t+20)=(t+10)(t^2-400) = t^3 +10t^2 -400t - 4000
definitely not your origional equation.
Same thing with your second attempt. Bad algebra is bad.