How do you find the roots, real and imaginary, of y=x(x2)(x1) using the quadratic formula?

1 Answer
Jun 23, 2017

x=2+2
x=22

Explanation:

y=x(x2)(x1)

To write the quadratic formula, your equation first needs to be in standard form:

y=ax2+bx+c

In order to get this, just simplify your equation.

y=x(x2)(x1)

y=x(x23x+2)

y=xx2+3x2

y=x2+4x2

Now you can look turn this into the quadratic formula:

x=b±b24ac2a

The variables in standard form are the same as the ones in the quadratic formula, which means you can easily transfer them over.

a=1
b=4
c=2

All you have to do is plug in and solve!

x=4±424(1)(2)(2)(1)

x=4±1682

x=4±82

x=4±222

x=2±2

You should get two real roots as your answer:

x=2+2
x=22