Solve x² + 10x - 3 = 0
The solutions of x² + 10x - 3 = 0 are x = -5 + 2√7 or x = -5 - 2√7, that is x ≈ 0.29150262 and x ≈ -10.291503.
Change a, b or c (whole numbers, a not 0) and the exact solutions follow.
How to work it out
- 1
Write it in standard form a x² + b x + c = 0 and read off the coefficients: a = 1, b = 10, c = -3.
- 2
Work out the discriminant D = b² − 4ac. Its sign tells you how many real solutions there are.
- 3
D is positive, so there are two different real solutions.
- 4
The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:
- 5
Simplify (pull the square out of the root) to get the solutions:
- 6
As decimals: x ≈ 0.29150262 and x ≈ -10.291503.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 0.29150262 the left side is 2.6645353e-15 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ x^2 + 10x - 3 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = -5 + 2\sqrt{7},\ -5 - 2\sqrt{7} \]
\[ x^2 + 10x - 3 = 0 \]
\[ D = 10^2 - 4\cdot1\cdot(-3) = 100 + 12 = 112 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-10 \pm \sqrt{112}}{2} \]
\[ x = -5 + 2\sqrt{7}\quad\text{or}\quad x = -5 - 2\sqrt{7} \]The parabola y = x² + 10x - 3
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -8 | -19 |
| -7 | -24 |
| -6 | -27 |
| -5 | -28 |
| -4 | -27 |
| -3 | -24 |
| -2 | -19 |
Questions
What are the solutions of x² + 10x - 3 = 0?
The solutions of x² + 10x - 3 = 0 are x = -5 + 2√7 or x = -5 - 2√7, that is x ≈ 0.29150262 and x ≈ -10.291503.
Does x² + 10x - 3 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 112 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = x² + 10x - 3?
(-5, -28). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -10, product = c/a = -3.