Question

3+-√(-3)^2 - 4(5)(-1)

It's for a quadratic equation, I want to know how to plug it into teh calculator. would it be -4(5)(-1) or 4(5)(-1)

Answer 1

Explanation:

Easy way to do this is step by step. Your quadratic, from your entry, must be

`5x^2-3x-1`.

Step by step looks like this, one thing at a time:

`x=(3+√((-3)^2-4(5)(-1)) )/(2(5))` becomes

`x=(3+√(9-(-20)) )/(10)` becomes

`x=(3+√(9+20) )/(10)`

and this of course is

`x=(3+√(29) )/(10)`

Do the same with the subtraction sign to get the other solution.

If you're unsure of how to enter it into your calculator, do it step by step so you don't mess up the sign. If you enter it incorrectly, you could end up with an imaginary number when it should be real, or a real one that should be imaginary.

Just my advice as a high school math teacher.