Solve -2x² + 9x - 8 = 0
The solutions of -2x² + 9x - 8 = 0 are x = (9 + √17)/4 or x = (9 - √17)/4, that is x ≈ 1.2192236 and x ≈ 3.2807764.
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 = -2, b = 9, c = -8.
- 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 ≈ 1.2192236 and x ≈ 3.2807764.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 1.2192236 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -2x^2 + 9x - 8 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{17}}{4},\ \frac{9 - \sqrt{17}}{4} \]
\[ -2x^2 + 9x - 8 = 0 \]
\[ D = 9^2 - 4\cdot(-2)\cdot(-8) = 81 - 64 = 17 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-9 \pm \sqrt{17}}{-4} \]
\[ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{17}}{4}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{9 - \sqrt{17}}{4} \]The parabola y = -2x² + 9x - 8
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -0.75 | -15.875 |
| 0.25 | -5.875 |
| 1.25 | 0.125 |
| 2.25 | 2.125 |
| 3.25 | 0.125 |
| 4.25 | -5.875 |
| 5.25 | -15.875 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -2x² + 9x - 8 = 0?
The solutions of -2x² + 9x - 8 = 0 are x = (9 + √17)/4 or x = (9 - √17)/4, that is x ≈ 1.2192236 and x ≈ 3.2807764.
Does -2x² + 9x - 8 = 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 = -2x² + 9x - 8?
(9/4, 17/8). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 9/2, product = c/a = 4.