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-3x^{2}+2x+1=0
Rearrange the polynomial to put it in standard form. Place the terms in order from highest to lowest power.
a+b=2 ab=-3=-3
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as -3x^{2}+ax+bx+1. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
a=3 b=-1
Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. The only such pair is the system solution.
\left(-3x^{2}+3x\right)+\left(-x+1\right)
Rewrite -3x^{2}+2x+1 as \left(-3x^{2}+3x\right)+\left(-x+1\right).
3x\left(-x+1\right)-x+1
Factor out 3x in -3x^{2}+3x.
\left(-x+1\right)\left(3x+1\right)
Factor out common term -x+1 by using distributive property.
x=1 x=-\frac{1}{3}
To find equation solutions, solve -x+1=0 and 3x+1=0.
-3x^{2}+2x+1=0
All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. The quadratic formula gives two solutions, one when ± is addition and one when it is subtraction.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{2^{2}-4\left(-3\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute -3 for a, 2 for b, and 1 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4-4\left(-3\right)}}{2\left(-3\right)}
Square 2.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{4+12}}{2\left(-3\right)}
Multiply -4 times -3.
x=\frac{-2±\sqrt{16}}{2\left(-3\right)}
Add 4 to 12.
x=\frac{-2±4}{2\left(-3\right)}
Take the square root of 16.
x=\frac{-2±4}{-6}
Multiply 2 times -3.
x=\frac{2}{-6}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-2±4}{-6} when ± is plus. Add -2 to 4.
x=-\frac{1}{3}
Reduce the fraction \frac{2}{-6} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.
x=-\frac{6}{-6}
Now solve the equation x=\frac{-2±4}{-6} when ± is minus. Subtract 4 from -2.
x=1
Divide -6 by -6.
x=-\frac{1}{3} x=1
The equation is now solved.
-3x^{2}+2x+1=0
Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by completing the square. In order to complete the square, the equation must first be in the form x^{2}+bx=c.
-3x^{2}+2x+1-1=-1
Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation.
-3x^{2}+2x=-1
Subtracting 1 from itself leaves 0.
\frac{-3x^{2}+2x}{-3}=-\frac{1}{-3}
Divide both sides by -3.
x^{2}+\frac{2}{-3}x=-\frac{1}{-3}
Dividing by -3 undoes the multiplication by -3.
x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x=-\frac{1}{-3}
Divide 2 by -3.
x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x=\frac{1}{3}
Divide -1 by -3.
x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x+\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{2}=\frac{1}{3}+\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{2}
Divide -\frac{2}{3}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get -\frac{1}{3}. Then add the square of -\frac{1}{3} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x+\frac{1}{9}=\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{9}
Square -\frac{1}{3} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x+\frac{1}{9}=\frac{4}{9}
Add \frac{1}{3} to \frac{1}{9} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(x-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{2}=\frac{4}{9}
Factor x^{2}-\frac{2}{3}x+\frac{1}{9}. In general, when x^{2}+bx+c is a perfect square, it can always be factored as \left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^{2}.
\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{4}{9}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
x-\frac{1}{3}=\frac{2}{3} x-\frac{1}{3}=-\frac{2}{3}
Simplify.
x=1 x=-\frac{1}{3}
Add \frac{1}{3} to both sides of the equation.