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Solve 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0

The solutions of 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0 are x = (9 + √161)/4 or x = (9 - √161)/4, that is x ≈ 5.4221444 and x ≈ -0.92214439.

x² +x += 0
2x2−9x−10=0⇒x=9+1614, 9−16142x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{161}}{4},\ \frac{9 - \sqrt{161}}{4}
Discriminant D = 161 · x ≈ 5.42214, -0.922144

Change a, b or c (whole numbers, a not 0) and the exact solutions follow.

Graph of y = 2x² - 9x - 10-2246-20-1010203040x = 5.4221444x = -0.92214439vertexy = 2x² - 9x - 10
Graph of y = 2x² - 9x - 10. The curve crosses the x-axis at x = 5.4221444 and x = -0.92214439; the vertex is at (2.25, -20.125).

How to work it out

  1. 1

    Write it in standard form a x² + b x + c = 0 and read off the coefficients: a = 2, b = -9, c = -10.

    2x2−9x−10=02x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0
  2. 2

    Work out the discriminant D = b² − 4ac. Its sign tells you how many real solutions there are.

    D=(−9)2−4⋅2⋅(−10)=81+80=161D = (-9)^2 - 4\cdot2\cdot(-10) = 81 + 80 = 161
  3. 3

    D is positive, so there are two different real solutions.

  4. 4

    The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:

    x=−b±D2a=9±1614x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{9 \pm \sqrt{161}}{4}
  5. 5

    Simplify (pull the square out of the root) to get the solutions:

    x=9+1614orx=9−1614x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{161}}{4}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{9 - \sqrt{161}}{4}
  6. 6

    As decimals: x ≈ 5.4221444 and x ≈ -0.92214439.

  7. 7

    Check numerically: for x ≈ 5.4221444 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓

LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 2x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{161}}{4},\ \frac{9 - \sqrt{161}}{4} \]
\[ 2x^2 - 9x - 10 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-9)^2 - 4\cdot2\cdot(-10) = 81 + 80 = 161 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{9 \pm \sqrt{161}}{4} \]
\[ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{161}}{4}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{9 - \sqrt{161}}{4} \]

The parabola y = 2x² - 9x - 10

xy
-0.75-2.125
0.25-12.125
1.25-18.125
2.25-20.125
3.25-18.125
4.25-12.125
5.25-2.125

Questions

What are the solutions of 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0?

The solutions of 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0 are x = (9 + √161)/4 or x = (9 - √161)/4, that is x ≈ 5.4221444 and x ≈ -0.92214439.

Does 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0 factor?

Not over the integers, because the discriminant 161 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.

What is the vertex of y = 2x² - 9x - 10?

(9/4, -161/8). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.

What are the sum and product of the roots?

Sum = −b/a = 9/2, product = c/a = -5.

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    Solve 2x² - 9x - 10 = 0: x = (9 + √161)/4 or x = (9 - √161)/4 (steps) | WordGPT