Let's dive into solving a quadratic equation together! A quadratic equation typically takes the form of ax² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are constants, and a is not equal to zero. To illustrate the solution process, let’s consider a specific example: 2x² + 4x - 6 = 0.
Step 1: Identify the Coefficients
In our equation, we can identify the coefficients as follows:
Step 2: Apply the Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for finding the roots of any quadratic equation. It is given by:
x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a)
Now, let's plug in our coefficients into this formula.
Step 3: Calculate the Discriminant
The discriminant (D) is the part of the formula under the square root: D = b² - 4ac. This value helps us determine the nature of the roots.
For our equation:
- D = 4² - 4(2)(-6)
- D = 16 + 48
- D = 64
Since the discriminant is positive, we will have two distinct real roots.
Step 4: Solve for x
Now, we can substitute the values of a, b, and D back into the quadratic formula:
- x = (-4 ± √64) / (2 * 2)
- x = (-4 ± 8) / 4
This gives us two possible solutions:
- x₁ = (-4 + 8) / 4 = 4 / 4 = 1
- x₂ = (-4 - 8) / 4 = -12 / 4 = -3
Final Solutions
The solutions to the quadratic equation 2x² + 4x - 6 = 0 are:
In summary, we identified the coefficients, applied the quadratic formula, calculated the discriminant, and found the roots. This method can be applied to any quadratic equation, making it a versatile tool in algebra. If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!