Solve -3x² - 12x - 3 = 0
The solutions of -3x² - 12x - 3 = 0 are x = -2 + √3 or x = -2 - √3, that is x ≈ -3.7320508 and x ≈ -0.26794919.
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 = -12, c = -3.
- 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 ≈ -3.7320508 and x ≈ -0.26794919.
- 7
Check numerically: for x ≈ -3.7320508 the left side is 0 (zero up to rounding) ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -3x^2 - 12x - 3 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = -2 + \sqrt{3},\ -2 - \sqrt{3} \]
\[ -3x^2 - 12x - 3 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-12)^2 - 4\cdot(-3)\cdot(-3) = 144 - 36 = 108 \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{12 \pm \sqrt{108}}{-6} \]
\[ x = -2 + \sqrt{3}\quad\text{or}\quad x = -2 - \sqrt{3} \]The parabola y = -3x² - 12x - 3
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -5 | -18 |
| -4 | -3 |
| -3 | 6 |
| -2 | 9 |
| -1 | 6 |
| 0 | -3 |
| 1 | -18 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -3x² - 12x - 3 = 0?
The solutions of -3x² - 12x - 3 = 0 are x = -2 + √3 or x = -2 - √3, that is x ≈ -3.7320508 and x ≈ -0.26794919.
Does -3x² - 12x - 3 = 0 factor?
Not over the integers, because the discriminant 108 is not a perfect square. Use the quadratic formula.
What is the vertex of y = -3x² - 12x - 3?
(-2, 9). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -4, product = c/a = 1.