Solve 2x² - 11x - 6 = 0
The solutions of 2x² - 11x - 6 = 0 are x = 6 or x = -1/2.
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 = 2, b = -11, c = -6.
- 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
Method 1, factoring. The roots are rational, so the left side factors:
- 5
A product is zero when one of its factors is zero, so set each factor equal to 0 and solve:
- 6
Method 2, The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:
- 7
Simplify to get the solutions:
- 8
Check by putting x = 6 back in: a·x² + b·x + c = 2·(36) + (-11)·(6) + (-6) = 0 ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 2x^2 - 11x - 6 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = 6,\ -\frac{1}{2} \]
\[ 2x^2 - 11x - 6 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-11)^2 - 4\cdot2\cdot(-6) = 121 + 48 = 169 \]
\[ \left(x - 6\right)\left(2x + 1\right) = 0 \]
\[ x - 6 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 6\qquad 2x + 1 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -\frac{1}{2} \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{11 \pm \sqrt{169}}{4} \]
\[ x = 6\quad\text{or}\quad x = -\frac{1}{2} \]The parabola y = 2x² - 11x - 6
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -0.25 | -3.125 |
| 0.75 | -13.125 |
| 1.75 | -19.125 |
| 2.75 | -21.125 |
| 3.75 | -19.125 |
| 4.75 | -13.125 |
| 5.75 | -3.125 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 2x² - 11x - 6 = 0?
The solutions of 2x² - 11x - 6 = 0 are x = 6 or x = -1/2.
Does 2x² - 11x - 6 = 0 factor?
Yes: (x-6)(2x+1) = 0.
What is the vertex of y = 2x² - 11x - 6?
(11/4, -169/8). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 11/2, product = c/a = -3.