Question

factoring 2x^2 - 7x - 4 = 0 ?? for some reason I'm stuck on this one.. I need to find the solutions.

Answer 1

\[2x^2 - 7x - 4 = 0\]
break down the middle term
\[(2x-8x + x - 4 = 0\]
factor out
\[2x(x - 4) + (x-4) = 0\]
factor out again
\[(x-4)(2x+1) = 0\]
does that help?

Answer 2

yeah the final answer (x - 4)(2x +1) was what I had gotten.. but I need to find the solutions for x after that :/
I know x - 4 = 0
+4 +4
x= 4
but I'm trying to figure out what x equals for (2x + 1)
thank you

Answer 3

\[2x + 1 = 0\]
\[2x = -1\]
\[x = -\frac 12\]

Answer 4

got it?

Answer 5

ohh so it turns into a fraction.. Okay thank you :)

Answer 6

<tips imaginary hat>