SOLUTION: Use the guadratic formula to solve the following. Leave irrational roots in the simplest radical form. Totaly confused please help. Thanks 3x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0 2x^2 - 3x + 1 = 0

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: Use the guadratic formula to solve the following. Leave irrational roots in the simplest radical form. Totaly confused please help. Thanks 3x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0 2x^2 - 3x + 1 = 0      Log On


   

Question 203052This question is from textbook
: Use the guadratic formula to solve the following. Leave irrational roots in the simplest radical form. Totaly confused please help. Thanks
3x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0
2x^2 - 3x + 1 = 0 This question is from textbook

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's do the first problem to, hopefully, clear up your confusion!
Use the quadratic formula:
x+=+%28-b%2B-sqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F2a to solve:
highlight%283%29x%5E2highlight_green%28-4%29x%2Bhighlight%28-5%29+=+0 Here, highlight%28a+=+3%29, highlight_green%28b+=+-4%29, and highlight%28c+=+-5%29
Making these substitutions into the formula, we get:
x+=+%28-%28-4%29%2B-sqrt%28%28-4%29%5E2-4%283%29%28-5%29%29%29%2F2%283%29
x+=+%284%2B-sqrt%2816-%28-60%29%29%29%2F6
x+=+%284%2B-sqrt%2876%29%29%2F6
x+=+%284%2B-sqrt%284%2A19%29%29%2F6
x+=+%284%2B2sqrt%2819%29%29%2F6 or x+=+%284-2sqrt%2819%29%29%2F6 and this can be further simplified to:
highlight%28x+=+%282%2Bsqrt%2819%29%29%2F3%29 or highlight_green%28x+=+%282-sqrt%2819%29%29%2F3%29
These are the solutions in simplest radical form.
When the intructions are to "leave the roots in simplest radical form"
it simply means that you do not try to evaluate the square root but do simplify the fraction as much as you can.
I hope this helps you solve the second problem, but if you are still having difficulties, please re-post.