Solve 4x² + 11x - 5 = 0
The solutions of 4x² + 11x - 5 = 0 are x = (-11 + √201)/8 or x = (-11 - √201)/8, that is x ≈ 0.39718086 and x ≈ -3.1471809.
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 = 4, b = 11, c = -5.
- 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 ≈ 0.39718086 and x ≈ -3.1471809.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 0.39718086 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 4x^2 + 11x - 5 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-11 + \sqrt{201}}{8},\ \frac{-11 - \sqrt{201}}{8} \]
\[ 4x^2 + 11x - 5 = 0 \]
\[ D = 11^2 - 4\cdot4\cdot(-5) = 121 + 80 = 201 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-11 \pm \sqrt{201}}{8} \]
\[ x = \frac{-11 + \sqrt{201}}{8}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-11 - \sqrt{201}}{8} \]The parabola y = 4x² + 11x - 5
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -4.375 | 23.4375 |
| -3.375 | 3.4375 |
| -2.375 | -8.5625 |
| -1.375 | -12.5625 |
| -0.375 | -8.5625 |
| 0.625 | 3.4375 |
| 1.625 | 23.4375 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 4x² + 11x - 5 = 0?
The solutions of 4x² + 11x - 5 = 0 are x = (-11 + √201)/8 or x = (-11 - √201)/8, that is x ≈ 0.39718086 and x ≈ -3.1471809.
Does 4x² + 11x - 5 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 201 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 4x² + 11x - 5?
(-11/8, -201/16). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -11/4, product = c/a = -5/4.