Solve 4x² + x - 1 = 0
The solutions of 4x² + x - 1 = 0 are x = (-1 + √17)/8 or x = (-1 - √17)/8, that is x ≈ 0.3903882 and x ≈ -0.6403882.
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 = 1, c = -1.
- 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 ≈ 0.3903882 and x ≈ -0.6403882.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 0.3903882 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 4x^2 + x - 1 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{17}}{8},\ \frac{-1 - \sqrt{17}}{8} \]
\[ 4x^2 + x - 1 = 0 \]
\[ D = 1^2 - 4\cdot4\cdot(-1) = 1 + 16 = 17 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-1 \pm \sqrt{17}}{8} \]
\[ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{17}}{8}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-1 - \sqrt{17}}{8} \]The parabola y = 4x² + x - 1
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -3.125 | 34.9375 |
| -2.125 | 14.9375 |
| -1.125 | 2.9375 |
| -0.125 | -1.0625 |
| 0.875 | 2.9375 |
| 1.875 | 14.9375 |
| 2.875 | 34.9375 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 4x² + x - 1 = 0?
The solutions of 4x² + x - 1 = 0 are x = (-1 + √17)/8 or x = (-1 - √17)/8, that is x ≈ 0.3903882 and x ≈ -0.6403882.
Does 4x² + x - 1 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 17 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 4x² + x - 1?
(-1/8, -17/16). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -1/4, product = c/a = -1/4.