## bmxrider 2 years ago Only one question I cannot figue out. can someone help please. What are the solutions? 1/2x^2+ 2x + 3 =0

1. freakeo98

combine like terms

2. freakeo98

subtract 3 from both sides

3. bmxrider

what like terms, sorry I am having a lot of problems with this.

4. freakeo98

lol dude its ok, equations can be confusing to some

5. freakeo98

$\frac{ 1 }{ 2 }x^2+2x+3=0 thats what ur starting out with$

6. freakeo98

thats what ur starting with *

7. bmxrider

right. Than you want to get the three to the other side right.

8. freakeo98

u can do that first. the thing with equations is that there is no direct way of solving it. there r many ways. just make sure what ever u are doing, make sure it mathimatically makes sense

9. bmxrider

1/2^2+2x=-3

10. freakeo98

good, now simplify 1/2^x+2x

11. bmxrider

here is my problem and were I am stuck. Should I try and get rid of the 1/2?

12. freakeo98

do u have a calculator?

13. bmxrider

yes

14. freakeo98

ok good

15. freakeo98

square the half

16. bmxrider

lost me again. Sorry.

17. freakeo98

lol its ok. do u have a graphing calculator?

18. bmxrider

no

19. freakeo98

scientific?

20. bmxrider

yes

21. freakeo98

ok. put 1 divided by 2 and square it

22. freakeo98

it should be 1/2^2

23. freakeo98

there should be a calculator online

24. bmxrider

0.25

25. freakeo98

which is 1/4

26. bmxrider

I really need help on this to finish a test! last question.

27. CliffSedge

@freak098 , you clearly do not understand the question - none of what you said is valid here.

28. CliffSedge

This is a quadratic equation, and doesn't look factorable at first glance. Quadratic formula is your best option.

29. bmxrider

I think you use the quadratic formula. Am I correct?

30. bmxrider

yes

31. CliffSedge

Quadratic formula always works, so is typically the weapon of choice in this situation. A good way to start though, is to multiply everything by 2 first to clear the fraction.

32. bmxrider

2(1/2x^2+2x+3=0(2) x^2+4x+6=0 correct?

33. CliffSedge

Yeah, then use the QF on that.

34. bmxrider

ok. I think I got it now. It was the 1/2 I was confused on. Thank you very much.

35. CliffSedge

No problem. When I tried it, I was getting non-real answers, so don't be surprised about that.

36. bmxrider

ok. I will try it