Identify coefficients: Identify the coefficients of the quadratic equation.The quadratic equation is in the form ax2+bx+c=0. For the equation 3x2+5x+4=0, the coefficients are: a=3, b=5, and c=4.
Check factorability: Check if the quadratic equation can be factored easily.In this case, the equation 3x2+5x+4 does not factor easily into two binomials. Therefore, we will use the quadratic formula to find the solutions.
Write quadratic formula: Write down the quadratic formula.The quadratic formula is x=2a−b±b2−4ac. We will use this formula to find the values of x that satisfy the equation 3x2+5x+4=0.
Substitute coefficients: Substitute the coefficients into the quadratic formula.Substitute a=3, b=5, and c=4 into the quadratic formula to get x=2(3)−(5)±(5)2−4(3)(4).
Simplify and calculate discriminant: Simplify under the square root and calculate the discriminant.Calculate the discriminant (b2−4ac)=(5)2−4(3)(4)=25−48=−23.
Use complex numbers: Since the discriminant is negative, the solutions will be complex numbers. We can write the solutions as x=6−5±−23. The square root of a negative number is an imaginary number, so we can express −23 as i23, where i is the imaginary unit.
Write final solutions: Write the final solutions.The solutions to the equation 3x2+5x+4=0 are x=6−5+i23 and x=6−5−i23.
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