Homework Help: Algebra

Posted by Corinna on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 2:37pm.

I had to solve 2x^2-x-1 using the quad. formula. I got it down to (1 +/- the square root of neg. 8) divided by four. I broke the sq. of neg. 8 into the sq. root of 4 and the sq. root of -2. But my question is could it also be the sq. root of -4 and the sq. root of two? Is one way right or wrong? And when I go from there, I reduced this to 1+/-2 times the sq. root of 2i/4. I further reduced it to 1/4 +/- 1/2 the sq. root of i/2. But I'm not sure if I reduced it properly. Could you show me? Thank you!

Algebra - jim, Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 2:53pm
Doublecheck the expression within the square root, and watch your signs.

b^2 - 4ac

1 - (4)(1)(-1)
Algebra - oops typo - jim, Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 2:55pm
b^2 - 4ac

1 - (4)(2)(-1)

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