Solve -3x² - 11x - 5 = 0
The solutions of -3x² - 11x - 5 = 0 are x = (-11 + √61)/6 or x = (-11 - √61)/6, that is x ≈ -3.1350416 and x ≈ -0.53162505.
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 = -11, 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
The quadratic formula works for every quadratic:
- 5
Simplify (pull the square out of the root) to get the solutions:
- 6
As decimals: x ≈ -3.1350416 and x ≈ -0.53162505.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ -3.1350416 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -3x^2 - 11x - 5 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = \frac{-11 + \sqrt{61}}{6},\ \frac{-11 - \sqrt{61}}{6} \]
\[ -3x^2 - 11x - 5 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-11)^2 - 4\cdot(-3)\cdot(-5) = 121 - 60 = 61 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{11 \pm \sqrt{61}}{-6} \]
\[ x = \frac{-11 + \sqrt{61}}{6}\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{-11 - \sqrt{61}}{6} \]The parabola y = -3x² - 11x - 5
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -4.8333 | -21.916067 |
| -3.8333 | -6.9162667 |
| -2.8333 | 2.0835333 |
| -1.8333 | 5.0833333 |
| -0.8333 | 2.0831333 |
| 0.1667 | -6.9170667 |
| 1.1667 | -21.917267 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -3x² - 11x - 5 = 0?
The solutions of -3x² - 11x - 5 = 0 are x = (-11 + √61)/6 or x = (-11 - √61)/6, that is x ≈ -3.1350416 and x ≈ -0.53162505.
Does -3x² - 11x - 5 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 61 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = -3x² - 11x - 5?
(-11/6, 61/12). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -11/3, product = c/a = 5/3.