Solve 5x² + 2x - 1 = 0
The solutions of 5x² + 2x - 1 = 0 are x = (-1 + √6)/5 or x = (-1 - √6)/5, that is x ≈ 0.28989795 and x ≈ -0.68989795.
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 = 5, b = 2, 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 ≈ 0.28989795 and x ≈ -0.68989795.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 0.28989795 the left side is -2.220446e-16 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ 5x^2 + 2x - 1 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{6}}{5},\ \frac{-1 - \sqrt{6}}{5} \]
\[ 5x^2 + 2x - 1 = 0 \]
\[ D = 2^2 - 4\cdot5\cdot(-1) = 4 + 20 = 24 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{24}}{10} \]
\[ x = \frac{-1 + \sqrt{6}}{5}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-1 - \sqrt{6}}{5} \]The parabola y = 5x² + 2x - 1
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -3.2 | 43.8 |
| -2.2 | 18.8 |
| -1.2 | 3.8 |
| -0.2 | -1.2 |
| 0.8 | 3.8 |
| 1.8 | 18.8 |
| 2.8 | 43.8 |
Questions
What are the solutions of 5x² + 2x - 1 = 0?
The solutions of 5x² + 2x - 1 = 0 are x = (-1 + √6)/5 or x = (-1 - √6)/5, that is x ≈ 0.28989795 and x ≈ -0.68989795.
Does 5x² + 2x - 1 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 24 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = 5x² + 2x - 1?
(-1/5, -6/5). The parabola opens upwards, so this is the minimum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -2/5, product = c/a = -1/5.