How do you solve 4x^2-14x-8=0?

1 Answer
Jul 8, 2015

The solutions for the equation are
color(blue)(x=4, x=-1/2

Explanation:

4x^2 -14x -8 = 0

We can first factorise the equation and then find the solutions :

Factorising by splitting the middle term:

4x^2 -14x -8 = 0

4x^2 + color(blue)(2x -16x) -2 = 0

2x (2x+1) -8 (2x+1) = 0

color(blue)((2x -8)(2x+1) = 0

Now, equating the factors with zero to obtain the solutions
2x -8 = 0 , color(blue)(x=8/2 = 4
2x+1 = 0 ,color(blue)( x =-1/2