Solve -x² - 8x + 2 = 0
The solutions of -x² - 8x + 2 = 0 are x = -4 + 3√2 or x = -4 - 3√2, that is x ≈ -8.2426407 and x ≈ 0.24264069.
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 = -1, b = -8, c = 2.
- 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 ≈ -8.2426407 and x ≈ 0.24264069.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ -8.2426407 the left side is 1.4210855e-14 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -x^2 - 8x + 2 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = -4 + 3\sqrt{2},\ -4 - 3\sqrt{2} \]
\[ -x^2 - 8x + 2 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-8)^2 - 4\cdot(-1)\cdot2 = 64 + 8 = 72 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{8 \pm \sqrt{72}}{-2} \]
\[ x = -4 + 3\sqrt{2}\quad\text{or}\quad x = -4 - 3\sqrt{2} \]The parabola y = -x² - 8x + 2
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -7 | 9 |
| -6 | 14 |
| -5 | 17 |
| -4 | 18 |
| -3 | 17 |
| -2 | 14 |
| -1 | 9 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -x² - 8x + 2 = 0?
The solutions of -x² - 8x + 2 = 0 are x = -4 + 3√2 or x = -4 - 3√2, that is x ≈ -8.2426407 and x ≈ 0.24264069.
Does -x² - 8x + 2 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 72 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = -x² - 8x + 2?
(-4, 18). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -8, product = c/a = -2.