Someone help me out? I need to solve for X.

2x²+14x-60=0

Question

Someone help me out? I need to solve for X.

2x²+14x-60=0

campbell_st · Answer

start by dividing every term by 2

then you get

$$x^2 + 7x - 30 = 0$$

this can be factorised.... find the factors of -30 that add to 7

the larger factor is positive and the smaller is negative

anonymous · Answer

-3 and 10?

campbell_st · Answer

they are the factors so you have 

(x -3)(x+10) = 0

for the solutions you now need to solve

x - 3 = 0       and      x + 10 = 0

anonymous · Answer

x=3 and x=-10? I'm really confused right now lol.

campbell_st · Answer

ok... so factoring allows you rewrite the quadratic equation in a simpler form, the product of 2 binomials. (x -3)(x+10) = 0

if either binomial is equal to zero, the whole equation will be zero... and true. 

so thats why you let each binomial equal zero then solve it

x - 3= 0..... means x = 3  is a solution to the quadratic.

x + 10 - 0    means x = -10 is a solution to the quadratic

you can substitute into the original equation to check 

2(3)^2 + 14(3) - 60 = 18 + 42 - 60  = 0

so x = 3 is a solution

anonymous · Answer

so both x = 3 AND x= -10 would be solutions?

campbell_st · Answer

thats correct.... you can substitute x = -10 and check

anonymous · Answer

Ah, I see what you mean. Thanks a lot man!