Solve 4x² - 11x - 12 = 0
The solutions of 4x² - 11x - 12 = 0 are x = (11 + √313)/8 or x = (11 - √313)/8, that is x ≈ 3.5864758 and x ≈ -0.83647575.
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 = -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 ≈ 3.5864758 and x ≈ -0.83647575.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 3.5864758 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 4x^2 - 11x - 12 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{11 + \sqrt{313}}{8},\ \frac{11 - \sqrt{313}}{8} \]
\[ 4x^2 - 11x - 12 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-11)^2 - 4\cdot4\cdot(-12) = 121 + 192 = 313 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{11 \pm \sqrt{313}}{8} \]
\[ x = \frac{11 + \sqrt{313}}{8}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{11 - \sqrt{313}}{8} \]The parabola y = 4x² - 11x - 12
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.625 | 16.4375 |
| -0.625 | -3.5625 |
| 0.375 | -15.5625 |
| 1.375 | -19.5625 |
| 2.375 | -15.5625 |
| 3.375 | -3.5625 |
| 4.375 | 16.4375 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 4x² - 11x - 12 = 0?
The solutions of 4x² - 11x - 12 = 0 are x = (11 + √313)/8 or x = (11 - √313)/8, that is x ≈ 3.5864758 and x ≈ -0.83647575.
Does 4x² - 11x - 12 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 313 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 4x² - 11x - 12?
(11/8, -313/16). 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 = -3.