How do you solve the equation x^2-3x-2=0 using the quadratic formula?

1 Answer
Oct 31, 2016

x = 3/2+-sqrt(17)/2

Explanation:

x^2-3x-2=0

is in the form:

ax^2+bx+c = 0

with a=1, b=-3 and c=-2

We can use the quadratic formula to find the roots:

x = (-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)

color(white)(x) = (-(color(blue)(-3))+-sqrt((color(blue)(-3))^2-4(color(blue)(1))(color(blue)(-2))))/(2(color(blue)(1)))

color(white)(x) = (3+-sqrt(9+8))/2

color(white)(x) = 3/2+-sqrt(17)/2