How to solve this in equality? 3x^2+11x

Question

How to solve this in equality? 3x^2+11x<4. I know the answer and have tried to get it but not sure how because of all the x's in the equation. Thanks!

tkhunny · Answer

Have you considered factoring and solving?  3x^2 + 11x - 4 = 0

anonymous · Answer

I tried that but I didn't subtract the 4 over. I'll try

tkhunny · Answer

There is no point to factoring if one side is not zero (0)!  ALWAYS make it zero.

anonymous · Answer

??? This is an inequality though. Not a factoring equation. The answer is -4<x<(1/3) but I got (-11+sqrt(13))/6), (-11-sqrt(13))/6)

anonymous · Answer

I used the quadratic formula

tkhunny · Answer

There should be no square roots.  You'll just have to trust me for a moment on the factoring an EQUATION, rather than worrying about it being an inequality.  Deal?

Try that quadratic formula again, or just figure out how it factors.  Something went wrong, there.

anonymous · Answer

Ok

anonymous · Answer

Yay! I found what I did wrong :p during the process I sqrt(169) to get 13 but I left 13 in the square root by accident. Thanks I got the answer!!

tkhunny · Answer

Well, there you go.  Good work.