How do you solve #3x² + 7x = -2#?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2015

By using the quadratic formula , you get #{-2, -1/3}#

Explanation:

The easiest way to solve a quadratic equation, is by using the quadratic formula. When you have a quadratic equation of the form
#ax^2+bx+c=0#, you can find the solutions by using the equation:
#x = (-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)#

So first we need to convert your equation to that form:
#3x^+7x=−2#
#3x^2+7x+2 = 0#

So, in this case #a=3, b=7# and #c=2#. If you fill this in in the quadratic formula, you get:

#x = (-7+-sqrt(7^2-4*3*2))/(2*3)#

If you calculate it (once with a mins sign, once with a plus sign), you get:

#x_1=-2#
#x_2=-1/3#