Solve -2x² - 7x + 8 = 0
The solutions of -2x² - 7x + 8 = 0 are x = (-7 + √113)/4 or x = (-7 - √113)/4, that is x ≈ -4.4075365 and x ≈ 0.90753645.
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 = -7, 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 ≈ -4.4075365 and x ≈ 0.90753645.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ -4.4075365 the left side is -3.5527137e-15 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -2x^2 - 7x + 8 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-7 + \sqrt{113}}{4},\ \frac{-7 - \sqrt{113}}{4} \]
\[ -2x^2 - 7x + 8 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-7)^2 - 4\cdot(-2)\cdot8 = 49 + 64 = 113 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{7 \pm \sqrt{113}}{-4} \]
\[ x = \frac{-7 + \sqrt{113}}{4}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-7 - \sqrt{113}}{4} \]The parabola y = -2x² - 7x + 8
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -4.75 | -3.875 |
| -3.75 | 6.125 |
| -2.75 | 12.125 |
| -1.75 | 14.125 |
| -0.75 | 12.125 |
| 0.25 | 6.125 |
| 1.25 | -3.875 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -2x² - 7x + 8 = 0?
The solutions of -2x² - 7x + 8 = 0 are x = (-7 + √113)/4 or x = (-7 - √113)/4, that is x ≈ -4.4075365 and x ≈ 0.90753645.
Does -2x² - 7x + 8 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 113 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = -2x² - 7x + 8?
(-7/4, 113/8). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -7/2, product = c/a = -4.