Answer:
2.5 or 3.5
Step-by-step explanation:
The quadratic formula is [tex]x = -b +/- \frac{\sqrt{b^2 + 4ac}}{2a}[/tex] .
a, b, and c are determined by the terms in the formula ax^2 + bx + c
They gave you the equation x^2 - 3x - 2, which fits that formula. a is 1, b is -3, and c is -2. So plug those values into the equation:
[tex]x = -(-3) +/- \frac{\sqrt{(-3)^2 + 4(1)(-2)}}{2(1)}[/tex]
[tex]x = 3 +/- \frac{\sqrt{9 -8}}{2}[/tex]
[tex]x = 3 +/- \frac{\sqrt{1}}{2}[/tex]
[tex]x = 3 +/- \frac{1}{2}[/tex]
So x is 3 plus or minus -1/2. 3 plus -1/2 is 2.5
3 minus -1/2 is 3.5
So the 2 possible x values are 2.5 and 3.5.
