Solve the equation 3, x, squared, minus, 13, x, plus, 5, equals, 03x

2
−13x+5=0 to the nearest tenth.

1 answer

To solve the quadratic equation \( 3x^2 - 13x + 5 = 0 \), we can use the quadratic formula:

\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]

In this equation:

  • \( a = 3 \)
  • \( b = -13 \)
  • \( c = 5 \)

Now, we calculate the values:

  1. Calculate the discriminant: \[ b^2 - 4ac = (-13)^2 - 4 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 = 169 - 60 = 109 \]

  2. Now substituting the values into the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{-(-13) \pm \sqrt{109}}{2 \cdot 3} \] \[ x = \frac{13 \pm \sqrt{109}}{6} \]

  3. Now we need to calculate \( \sqrt{109} \): \[ \sqrt{109} \approx 10.4403 \]

  4. Substitute back: \[ x = \frac{13 \pm 10.4403}{6} \]

  5. Now calculate the two possible values for \( x \):

    • First value: \[ x_1 = \frac{13 + 10.4403}{6} = \frac{23.4403}{6} \approx 3.9067 \approx 3.9 \text{ (to the nearest tenth)} \]
    • Second value: \[ x_2 = \frac{13 - 10.4403}{6} = \frac{2.5597}{6} \approx 0.4266 \approx 0.4 \text{ (to the nearest tenth)} \]

The two solutions rounded to the nearest tenth are:

  • \( x \approx 3.9 \)
  • \( x \approx 0.4 \)

Thus, the solutions are \( x = 3.9 \) and \( x = 0.4 \).