Solve -3x² - x + 10 = 0
The solutions of -3x² - x + 10 = 0 are x = -2 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 = -1, c = 10.
- 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 = -2 back in: a·x² + b·x + c = -3·(4) + (-1)·(-2) + 10 = 0 ✓
LaTeX source of the formulas on this page
\[ -3x^2 - x + 10 = 0\ \Rightarrow\ x = -2,\ \frac{5}{3} \]
\[ -3x^2 - x + 10 = 0 \]
\[ D = (-1)^2 - 4\cdot(-3)\cdot10 = 1 + 120 = 121 \]
\[ -\left(x + 2\right)\left(3x - 5\right) = 0 \]
\[ x + 2 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -2\qquad 3x - 5 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{5}{3} \]
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{121}}{-6} \]
\[ x = -2\quad\text{or}\quad x = \frac{5}{3} \]The parabola y = -3x² - x + 10
| x | y |
|---|---|
| -3.1667 | -16.917267 |
| -2.1667 | -1.9170667 |
| -1.1667 | 7.0831333 |
| -0.1667 | 10.083333 |
| 0.8333 | 7.0835333 |
| 1.8333 | -1.9162667 |
| 2.8333 | -16.916067 |
Questions
What are the solutions of -3x² - x + 10 = 0?
The solutions of -3x² - x + 10 = 0 are x = -2 or x = 5/3.
Does -3x² - x + 10 = 0 factor?
Yes: -1(x+2)(3x-5) = 0.
What is the vertex of y = -3x² - x + 10?
(-1/6, 121/12). The parabola opens downwards, so this is the maximum.
What are the sum and product of the roots?
Sum = −b/a = -1/3, product = c/a = -10/3.