Question

In the first lecture recitation, it asks for Positive root of the following equation:
34*x^2 + 68*x - 510
Recall:
a*x^2 + b*x + c
x1 = ( - b + sqrt ( b*b - 4*a*c ) ) / ( 2*a)

Is there a simpler way to calculate this using python than going line by line calculating each separate equation, such as
math.sqrt((68*68)-(4*34*-510))
272.0
272.0/68
4
-68+4
-64

I am not even sure I got the right answer, so let me know where I am messing up here. Thanks!

Answer 1

you can type all those calculations in one step
(-b+math.sqrt(b*b-4*a*c))/(2*a)
but it should be plus minus square root...
and then u should check if it's positive or negative

Answer 2

ah and you also should check that b*b-4*a*c wouldn't be negative because it will give error if you try take square from it

Answer 3

Great Thanks! That helps a lot!