Solve f(x)=3x^2-6x-2

$$f ( x ) = 3 x ^ { 2 } - 6 x - 2$$

Factor

$$3\left(x-\left(-\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1\right)\right)\left(x-\left(\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1\right)\right)$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Quadratic polynomial can be factored using the transformation ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right), where x_{1} and x_{2} are the solutions of the quadratic equation ax^{2}+bx+c=0.

$$3x^{2}-6x-2=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±\sqrt{\left(-6\right)^{2}-4\times 3\left(-2\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Square -6.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±\sqrt{36-4\times 3\left(-2\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -4 times 3.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±\sqrt{36-12\left(-2\right)}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -12 times -2.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±\sqrt{36+24}}{2\times 3}$$

Add 36 to 24.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±\sqrt{60}}{2\times 3}$$

Take the square root of 60.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-6\right)±2\sqrt{15}}{2\times 3}$$

The opposite of -6 is 6.

$$x=\frac{6±2\sqrt{15}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply 2 times 3.

$$x=\frac{6±2\sqrt{15}}{6}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{6±2\sqrt{15}}{6} when ± is plus. Add 6 to 2\sqrt{15}.

$$x=\frac{2\sqrt{15}+6}{6}$$

Divide 6+2\sqrt{15} by 6.

$$x=\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{6±2\sqrt{15}}{6} when ± is minus. Subtract 2\sqrt{15} from 6.

$$x=\frac{6-2\sqrt{15}}{6}$$

Divide 6-2\sqrt{15} by 6.

$$x=-\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 1+\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3} for x_{1} and 1-\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3} for x_{2}.

$$3x^{2}-6x-2=3\left(x-\left(\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1\right)\right)\left(x-\left(-\frac{\sqrt{15}}{3}+1\right)\right)$$

Steps Using Direct Factoring Method

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by a new direct factoring method that does not require guess work. To use the direct factoring method, the equation must be in the form x^2+Bx+C=0.This is achieved by dividing both sides of the equation by 3

$$x ^ 2 -2x -\frac{2}{3} = 0$$

Let r and s be the factors for the quadratic equation such that x^2+Bx+C=(x−r)(x−s) where sum of factors (r+s)=−B and the product of factors rs = C

$$r + s = 2 rs = -\frac{2}{3}$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 2 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*2 = 1. You can also see that the midpoint of r and s corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation y=x^2+Bx+C. The values of r and s are equidistant from the center by an unknown quantity u. Express r and s with respect to variable u. <div style='padding: 8px'><img src='https://opalmath.azureedge.net/customsolver/quadraticgraph.png' style='width: 100%;max-width: 700px' /></div>

$$r = 1 - u s = 1 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = -\frac{2}{3}

$$(1 - u) (1 + u) = -\frac{2}{3}$$

Simplify by expanding (a -b) (a + b) = a^2 – b^2

$$1 - u^2 = -\frac{2}{3}$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting 1 on both sides

$$-u^2 = -\frac{2}{3}-1 = -\frac{5}{3}$$

Simplify the expression by multiplying -1 on both sides and take the square root to obtain the value of unknown variable u

$$u^2 = \frac{5}{3} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{5}{3}} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{3}}$$

The factors r and s are the solutions to the quadratic equation. Substitute the value of u to compute the r and s.

$$r =1 - \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{3}} = -0.291 s = 1 + \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{3}} = 2.291$$

Evaluate

$$3x^{2}-6x-2$$