The Quadratic Formula: Applying the formula with two solutions

The parameters are expressed in the quadratic equation as follows:

aX2+bX+c=0

We substitute into the formula:

-5±√(5²-4*1*4) 
          2

-5±√(25-16)
         2

-5±√9
    2

-5±3
   2

The symbol ± means that we have to solve this part twice, once with a plus and a second time with a minus,

This is how we later get two results.

-5-3 = -8
-8/2 = -4

-5+3 = -2
-2/2 = -1

And thus we find out that X = -1, -4

Let's recall the quadratic formula:

We'll substitute the given data into the formula:

$x={{-(-10)\pm\sqrt{-10^2-4\cdot2\cdot(-12)}\over 2\cdot2}}$

Let's simplify and solve the part under the square root:

$x={{10\pm\sqrt{100+96}\over 4}}$

$x={{10\pm\sqrt{196}\over 4}}$

$x={{10\pm14\over 4}}$

Now we'll solve using both methods, once with the addition sign and once with the subtraction sign:

$x={{10+14\over 4}} = {24\over4}=6$

$x={{10-14\over 4}} = {-4\over4}=-1$

We've arrived at the solution: X=6,-1

To answer the question, we'll need to recall the quadratic formula:

$x = {-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac} \over 2a}$

Let's remember that:

a is the coefficient of X²

b is the coefficient of X

c is the free term

And if we look again at the formula given to us:

a=1

b=10

c=9

Let's substitute into the formula:

$x = {-10 \pm \sqrt{10^2-4\cdot 1 \cdot 9} \over 2\cdot 1}$

Let's start by solving what's under the square root:

$x = {-10 \pm \sqrt{100-36} \over 2}$

$x = {-10 \pm \sqrt{64} \over 2}$

$x = {-10 \pm 8 \over 2}$

Now we'll solve twice, once with plus and once with minus

$x = {-10 +8 \over 2}= {-2 \over 2} = -1$

$x = {-10 -8 \over 2} = {-18 \over 2} =-9$

And we can see that we got two solutions, X=-1 and X=-9

And that's the solution!