How do you solve #2x^2 + 5x - 3 = 0#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-10T15:54:56

See the entire solution process below:

We can factor the left side of the equation as:

#(2x - 1)(x + 3) = 0#

We can now solve each term on the right side of the equation for #0#:

Solution 1)

#2x - 1 = 0#

#2x - 1 + color(red)(1) = 0 + color(red)(1)#

#2x - 0 = 1#

#2x = 1#

#(2x)/color(red)(2) = 1/color(red)(2)#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2)))x)/cancel(color(red)(2)) = 1/2#

#x = 1/2#

Solution 2)

#x + 3 = 0#

#x + 3 - color(red)(3) = 0 - color(red)(3)#

#x + 0 = -3#

#x = -3#

The solution is: #x = 1/2# and #x = -3#