Solve 3x² - 7x - 8 = 0
The solutions of 3x² - 7x - 8 = 0 are x = (7 + √145)/6 or x = (7 - √145)/6, that is x ≈ 3.1735991 and x ≈ -0.84026576.
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 = -7, c = -8.
- 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 ≈ 3.1735991 and x ≈ -0.84026576.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 3.1735991 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 3x^2 - 7x - 8 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{7 + \sqrt{145}}{6},\ \frac{7 - \sqrt{145}}{6} \]
\[ 3x^2 - 7x - 8 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-7)^2 - 4\cdot3\cdot(-8) = 49 + 96 = 145 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{145}}{6} \]
\[ x = \frac{7 + \sqrt{145}}{6}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{7 - \sqrt{145}}{6} \]The parabola y = 3x² - 7x - 8
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.8333 | 14.916067 |
| -0.8333 | -0.08373333 |
| 0.1667 | -9.0835333 |
| 1.1667 | -12.083333 |
| 2.1667 | -9.0831333 |
| 3.1667 | -0.08293333 |
| 4.1667 | 14.917267 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 3x² - 7x - 8 = 0?
The solutions of 3x² - 7x - 8 = 0 are x = (7 + √145)/6 or x = (7 - √145)/6, that is x ≈ 3.1735991 and x ≈ -0.84026576.
Does 3x² - 7x - 8 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 145 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 3x² - 7x - 8?
(7/6, -145/12). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 7/3, product = c/a = -8/3.