Solve x² - 3x - 2 = 0
The solutions of x² - 3x - 2 = 0 are x = (3 + √17)/2 or x = (3 - √17)/2, that is x ≈ 3.5615528 and x ≈ -0.56155281.
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 = -3, c = -2.
- 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 ≈ 3.5615528 and x ≈ -0.56155281.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 3.5615528 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ x^2 - 3x - 2 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{3 + \sqrt{17}}{2},\ \frac{3 - \sqrt{17}}{2} \]
\[ x^2 - 3x - 2 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-3)^2 - 4\cdot1\cdot(-2) = 9 + 8 = 17 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{3 \pm \sqrt{17}}{2} \]
\[ x = \frac{3 + \sqrt{17}}{2}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{3 - \sqrt{17}}{2} \]The parabola y = x² - 3x - 2
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.5 | 4.75 |
| -0.5 | -0.25 |
| 0.5 | -3.25 |
| 1.5 | -4.25 |
| 2.5 | -3.25 |
| 3.5 | -0.25 |
| 4.5 | 4.75 |
Questions
What are the solutions of x² - 3x - 2 = 0?
The solutions of x² - 3x - 2 = 0 are x = (3 + √17)/2 or x = (3 - √17)/2, that is x ≈ 3.5615528 and x ≈ -0.56155281.
Does x² - 3x - 2 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 17 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = x² - 3x - 2?
(3/2, -17/4). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 3, product = c/a = -2.