Solve 3x² - 8x - 12 = 0
The solutions of 3x² - 8x - 12 = 0 are x = (4 + 2√13)/3 or x = (4 - 2√13)/3, that is x ≈ 3.7370342 and x ≈ -1.0703675.
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 = -8, c = -12.
- 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 ≈ 3.7370342 and x ≈ -1.0703675.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 3.7370342 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 3x^2 - 8x - 12 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{4 + 2\sqrt{13}}{3},\ \frac{4 - 2\sqrt{13}}{3} \]
\[ 3x^2 - 8x - 12 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-8)^2 - 4\cdot3\cdot(-12) = 64 + 144 = 208 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{208}}{6} \]
\[ x = \frac{4 + 2\sqrt{13}}{3}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{4 - 2\sqrt{13}}{3} \]The parabola y = 3x² - 8x - 12
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.6667 | 9.6672667 |
| -0.6667 | -5.3329333 |
| 0.3333 | -14.333133 |
| 1.3333 | -17.333333 |
| 2.3333 | -14.333533 |
| 3.3333 | -5.3337333 |
| 4.3333 | 9.6660667 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 3x² - 8x - 12 = 0?
The solutions of 3x² - 8x - 12 = 0 are x = (4 + 2√13)/3 or x = (4 - 2√13)/3, that is x ≈ 3.7370342 and x ≈ -1.0703675.
Does 3x² - 8x - 12 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 208 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 3x² - 8x - 12?
(4/3, -52/3). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 8/3, product = c/a = -4.