Final answer:
To solve the equation x² - 5x - 8 = 0, we can use the quadratic formula. The solutions for x are (5 + √57) / 2 and (5 - √57) / 2.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the equation x² - 5x - 8 = 0, we can use the quadratic formula. The quadratic formula states that for an equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0, the solutions for x can be found using the formula:
x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a)
In this equation, a = 1, b = -5, and c = -8. Plugging in these values, we get:
x = (5 ± √((-5)² - 4(1)(-8))) / (2(1))
Simplifying further, we have:
x = (5 ± √(25 + 32)) / 2
x = (5 ± √57) / 2
Therefore, the solutions for x are:
x = (5 + √57) / 2
x = (5 - √57) / 2