Solve -3x² + 9x - 2 = 0
The solutions of -3x² + 9x - 2 = 0 are x = (9 + √57)/6 or x = (9 - √57)/6, that is x ≈ 0.24169426 and x ≈ 2.7583057.
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 = 9, 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 ≈ 0.24169426 and x ≈ 2.7583057.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ 0.24169426 the left side is -2.220446e-16 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -3x^2 + 9x - 2 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{57}}{6},\ \frac{9 - \sqrt{57}}{6} \]
\[ -3x^2 + 9x - 2 = 0 \]
\[ D = 9^2 - 4\cdot(-3)\cdot(-2) = 81 - 24 = 57 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-9 \pm \sqrt{57}}{-6} \]
\[ x = \frac{9 + \sqrt{57}}{6}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{9 - \sqrt{57}}{6} \]The parabola y = -3x² + 9x - 2
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -1.5 | -22.25 |
| -0.5 | -7.25 |
| 0.5 | 1.75 |
| 1.5 | 4.75 |
| 2.5 | 1.75 |
| 3.5 | -7.25 |
| 4.5 | -22.25 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -3x² + 9x - 2 = 0?
The solutions of -3x² + 9x - 2 = 0 are x = (9 + √57)/6 or x = (9 - √57)/6, that is x ≈ 0.24169426 and x ≈ 2.7583057.
Does -3x² + 9x - 2 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 57 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = -3x² + 9x - 2?
(3/2, 19/4). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = 3, product = c/a = 2/3.