You have to use the discriminant to find the real number solutions. discriminant=b^2-4ac
a=-2, b=-1, c=-5 (the co-efficients from your equation, in order)
1-4(-2)(-5)=1-40=-39
Since it came out to -39, there are no real number solutions (because it is negative). When the answer is positive, there are two real number solutions. When the answer is zero, there is one real number solution.
Determine the number of real-number solutions to the equation
-2x2 - x - 5 = 0, given the graph of y = -2x2 - x - 5
1 answer