Skip to main content
Solve for y
Tick mark Image
Graph

Similar Problems from Web Search

Share

2y^{2}+7y+3=0
Add 3 to both sides.
a+b=7 ab=2\times 3=6
To solve the equation, factor the left hand side by grouping. First, left hand side needs to be rewritten as 2y^{2}+ay+by+3. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.
1,6 2,3
Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. List all such integer pairs that give product 6.
1+6=7 2+3=5
Calculate the sum for each pair.
a=1 b=6
The solution is the pair that gives sum 7.
\left(2y^{2}+y\right)+\left(6y+3\right)
Rewrite 2y^{2}+7y+3 as \left(2y^{2}+y\right)+\left(6y+3\right).
y\left(2y+1\right)+3\left(2y+1\right)
Factor out y in the first and 3 in the second group.
\left(2y+1\right)\left(y+3\right)
Factor out common term 2y+1 by using distributive property.
y=-\frac{1}{2} y=-3
To find equation solutions, solve 2y+1=0 and y+3=0.
2y^{2}+7y=-3
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.
2y^{2}+7y-\left(-3\right)=-3-\left(-3\right)
Add 3 to both sides of the equation.
2y^{2}+7y-\left(-3\right)=0
Subtracting -3 from itself leaves 0.
2y^{2}+7y+3=0
Subtract -3 from 0.
y=\frac{-7±\sqrt{7^{2}-4\times 2\times 3}}{2\times 2}
This equation is in standard form: ax^{2}+bx+c=0. Substitute 2 for a, 7 for b, and 3 for c in the quadratic formula, \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}.
y=\frac{-7±\sqrt{49-4\times 2\times 3}}{2\times 2}
Square 7.
y=\frac{-7±\sqrt{49-8\times 3}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -4 times 2.
y=\frac{-7±\sqrt{49-24}}{2\times 2}
Multiply -8 times 3.
y=\frac{-7±\sqrt{25}}{2\times 2}
Add 49 to -24.
y=\frac{-7±5}{2\times 2}
Take the square root of 25.
y=\frac{-7±5}{4}
Multiply 2 times 2.
y=-\frac{2}{4}
Now solve the equation y=\frac{-7±5}{4} when ± is plus. Add -7 to 5.
y=-\frac{1}{2}
Reduce the fraction \frac{-2}{4} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.
y=-\frac{12}{4}
Now solve the equation y=\frac{-7±5}{4} when ± is minus. Subtract 5 from -7.
y=-3
Divide -12 by 4.
y=-\frac{1}{2} y=-3
The equation is now solved.
2y^{2}+7y=-3
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.
\frac{2y^{2}+7y}{2}=-\frac{3}{2}
Divide both sides by 2.
y^{2}+\frac{7}{2}y=-\frac{3}{2}
Dividing by 2 undoes the multiplication by 2.
y^{2}+\frac{7}{2}y+\left(\frac{7}{4}\right)^{2}=-\frac{3}{2}+\left(\frac{7}{4}\right)^{2}
Divide \frac{7}{2}, the coefficient of the x term, by 2 to get \frac{7}{4}. Then add the square of \frac{7}{4} to both sides of the equation. This step makes the left hand side of the equation a perfect square.
y^{2}+\frac{7}{2}y+\frac{49}{16}=-\frac{3}{2}+\frac{49}{16}
Square \frac{7}{4} by squaring both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.
y^{2}+\frac{7}{2}y+\frac{49}{16}=\frac{25}{16}
Add -\frac{3}{2} to \frac{49}{16} by finding a common denominator and adding the numerators. Then reduce the fraction to lowest terms if possible.
\left(y+\frac{7}{4}\right)^{2}=\frac{25}{16}
Factor y^{2}+\frac{7}{2}y+\frac{49}{16}. 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(y+\frac{7}{4}\right)^{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{25}{16}}
Take the square root of both sides of the equation.
y+\frac{7}{4}=\frac{5}{4} y+\frac{7}{4}=-\frac{5}{4}
Simplify.
y=-\frac{1}{2} y=-3
Subtract \frac{7}{4} from both sides of the equation.