How do you factor and solve 3x^2 – x – 1 = 0?

1 Answer
Jun 3, 2017

x = "either " 0.3837959396 " / " (1 + sqrt13) / 12

or = -0.217129273 " / " (1 - sqrt13) / 12

Explanation:

We can use the quadratic formula to solve this.

3x^2 - x- 1 = 0

ax^2 + bx + c = 0

a = 3
b = -1
c = -1

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

x = (-(-1) +- sqrt(-1^2-4 xx 3 xx -1)) / (2 xx 6)

x = (1 +- sqrt( 1 - 12 xx -1)) / (2 xx 6)

x = (1 +- sqrt( 1 - -12)) / 12

x = (1 +- sqrt13) / 12

x = (1 +- 3.605551275) / 12

x_1 = (1 + 3.605551275) / 12

x_1 = (4.605551275) / 12

color(blue)( x_1 = 0.3837959396 or (1 + sqrt13) / 12

x_2 = (1 - 3.605551275) / 12

x_2 = -2.605551275 / 12

color(blue)( x_2 = -0.217129273 or (1 - sqrt13) / 12