You probably want to rewrite the equation to give you the number of sides.
d = s(s-3)/2
2d = s(s-3)
s2 -3s -2d = 0 (this is the standard form of a quadratic equation. You use the quadratic formula to solve it.)
s = (3 ±√(32 - 4*(1)(-2d)))/(2*(1))
s = (3 +√(9+8d))/2 (probably only the positive root is useful)
For d = 119, this is
s = (3 +√(9+8*119))/2 = (3+√961)/2 = (3+31)/2 = 34/2 = 17
Your polygon has 17 sides.
Check
d = 17(17-3)/2 = 17*14/2 = 17*7 = 119
d = s(s-3)/2
2d = s(s-3)
s2 -3s -2d = 0 (this is the standard form of a quadratic equation. You use the quadratic formula to solve it.)
s = (3 ±√(32 - 4*(1)(-2d)))/(2*(1))
s = (3 +√(9+8d))/2 (probably only the positive root is useful)
For d = 119, this is
s = (3 +√(9+8*119))/2 = (3+√961)/2 = (3+31)/2 = 34/2 = 17
Your polygon has 17 sides.
Check
d = 17(17-3)/2 = 17*14/2 = 17*7 = 119