SOLUTION: How do you solve the quadratic equation 3x^2-7x+2=0 using formula? I have worked it out the overall square root to -73 however when i type this is my calculator says maths error?

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Question 312470: How do you solve the quadratic equation 3x^2-7x+2=0 using formula?
I have worked it out the overall square root to -73 however when i type this is my calculator says maths error?
Thanks For Your Help
Found 2 solutions by solver91311, CharlesG2:
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

You have two difficulties here.
First is the fact that you are trying to take the square root of a negative number. Remember, is not defined in the real numbers -- no wonder your calculator is pitching a fit! In order to find an approximation of the square root of -73 you need to factor it into two parts, (-1)(73). Use the definition of the imaginary number , that is , to write

But that problem is secondary to the fact that you improperly calculated the value under the radical in the quadratic formula.

For this equation, , , and

Note: -7 times -7 is +49.

or

John

Answer by CharlesG2(834) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"How do you solve the quadratic equation 3x^2-7x+2=0 using formula?
I have worked it out the overall square root to -73 however when i type this is my calculator says maths error?
Thanks For Your Help"

a = 3, b = -7, c = 2

x1 = (7 + 5)/6 = 12/6 = 2
x2 = (7 - 5)/6 = 2/6 = 1/3
check:
(x - 2)(x - 1/3) = 0 (use FOIL)
x^2 -(1/3)x -2x + 2/3 = 0
3x^2 - x - 6x + 2 = 0 (multiplied both sides by 3)
3x^2 - 7x + 2 = 0
not sure how you got your answer,
but if you taking a square root of a negative number on a calculator
you are going to get an error