Solve -2x² - 5x + 7 = 0
The solutions of -2x² - 5x + 7 = 0 are x = -7/2 or x = 1.
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 = -5, c = 7.
- 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
Method 1, factoring. The roots are rational, so the left side factors:
- 5
A product is zero when one of its factors is zero, so set each factor equal to 0 and solve:
- 6
Method 2, The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:
- 7
Simplify to get the solutions:
- 8
Check by putting x = -7/2 back in: a·x² + b·x + c = -2·(49/4) + (-5)·(-7/2) + 7 = 0 ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -2x^2 - 5x + 7 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = -\frac{7}{2},\ 1 \]
\[ -2x^2 - 5x + 7 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-5)^2 - 4\cdot(-2)\cdot7 = 25 + 56 = 81 \]
\[ -\left(2x + 7\right)\left(x - 1\right) = 0 \]
\[ 2x + 7 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -\frac{7}{2}\qquad x - 1 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 1 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{5 \pm \sqrt{81}}{-4} \]
\[ x = -\frac{7}{2}\quad\text{or}\quad x = 1 \]The parabola y = -2x² - 5x + 7
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -4.25 | -7.875 |
| -3.25 | 2.125 |
| -2.25 | 8.125 |
| -1.25 | 10.125 |
| -0.25 | 8.125 |
| 0.75 | 2.125 |
| 1.75 | -7.875 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -2x² - 5x + 7 = 0?
The solutions of -2x² - 5x + 7 = 0 are x = -7/2 or x = 1.
Does -2x² - 5x + 7 = 0 factor?
Yes: -1(2x+7)(x-1) = 0.
What is the vertex of y = -2x² - 5x + 7?
(-5/4, 81/8). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -5/2, product = c/a = -7/2.