Solve 3x² + 2x + 12 = 0
3x² + 2x + 12 = 0 has no real solutions. The two complex solutions are x = (-1 + √35 i)/3 and x = (-1 - √35 i)/3.
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 = 3, b = 2, c = 12.
- 2
Work out the discriminant D = b² − 4ac. Its sign tells you how many real solutions there are.
- 3
D is negative, so there are no real solutions; the two solutions are complex numbers.
- 4
The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:
- 5
Simplify (pull the square out of the root) to get the solutions:
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 3x^2 + 2x + 12 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{35}\, i}{3},\ \frac{-1 - \sqrt{35}\, i}{3} \]
\[ 3x^2 + 2x + 12 = 0 \]
\[ D = 2^2 - 4\cdot3\cdot12 = 4 - 144 = -140 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{-140}}{6} \]
\[ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{35}\, i}{3}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-1 - \sqrt{35}\, i}{3} \]The parabola y = 3x² + 2x + 12
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -3.3333 | 38.666067 |
| -2.3333 | 23.666267 |
| -1.3333 | 14.666467 |
| -0.3333 | 11.666667 |
| 0.6667 | 14.666867 |
| 1.6667 | 23.667067 |
| 2.6667 | 38.667267 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 3x² + 2x + 12 = 0?
3x² + 2x + 12 = 0 has no real solutions. The two complex solutions are x = (-1 + √35 i)/3 and x = (-1 - √35 i)/3.
Does 3x² + 2x + 12 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant -140 is negative. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 3x² + 2x + 12?
(-1/3, 35/3). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -2/3, product = c/a = 4.