How do you solve x2+3x+2=0 using the quadratic formula?

1 Answer
Kayla
Dec 26, 2016

The two solutions are x=−1 and x=−2

Explanation:

Since this question is given in standard form, meaning that it follows the form: ax2+bx+c=0, we can use the quadratic formula to solve for x:

![http://www.1728.org/http://quadratc.htm](https://useruploads.socratic.org/X4QibY3hTiagek8Kw3kN_quadratc.png)
I think it's worthwhile to mention that a is the number that has the x2 term associated with it. Thus, it would be 1x2 for this question. b is the number that has the x variable associated with it and it would be 3x, and c is a number by itself and in this case it is 2.

Now, we just plug our values into the equation like this:

x=−(3)±√(3)2−4(1)(2)2(1)

x=−3±√9−82

x=−3±√12

For these type of problems, you will obtain two solutions because of the ± part. So what you want to do is add -3 and √1 together and divide that by 2:

x=−3+√12
x=−22=−1

Now, we subtract √1 from -3 and divide that by 2:

x=−3−√12
x=−42=−2

Therefore, the two possible solutions are:
x=−1 and x=−2

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