Solve -3x² + 8x - 5 = 0
The solutions of -3x² + 8x - 5 = 0 are x = 1 or x = 5/3.
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 = -3, b = 8, c = -5.
- 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 = 1 back in: a·x² + b·x + c = -3·(1) + 8·(1) + (-5) = 0 ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -3x^2 + 8x - 5 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = 1,\ \frac{5}{3} \]
\[ -3x^2 + 8x - 5 = 0 \]
\[ D = 8^2 - 4\cdot(-3)\cdot(-5) = 64 - 60 = 4 \]
\[ -\left(x - 1\right)\left(3x - 5\right) = 0 \]
\[ x - 1 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 1\qquad 3x - 5 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{5}{3} \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-8 \pm \sqrt{4}}{-6} \]
\[ x = 1\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{5}{3} \]The parabola y = -3x² + 8x - 5
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.6667 | -26.667267 |
| -0.6667 | -11.667067 |
| 0.3333 | -2.6668667 |
| 1.3333 | 0.33333333 |
| 2.3333 | -2.6664667 |
| 3.3333 | -11.666267 |
| 4.3333 | -26.666067 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -3x² + 8x - 5 = 0?
The solutions of -3x² + 8x - 5 = 0 are x = 1 or x = 5/3.
Does -3x² + 8x - 5 = 0 factor?
Yes: -1(x-1)(3x-5) = 0.
What is the vertex of y = -3x² + 8x - 5?
(4/3, 1/3). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 8/3, product = c/a = 5/3.