Find the roots of each of the following equations, if they exist, by applying the quadratic formula:
Question:
Find the roots of each of the following equations, if they exist, by applying the quadratic formula:
$2 x^{2}+6 \sqrt{3} x-60=0$
Solution:
The given equation is $2 x^{2}+6 \sqrt{3} x-60=0$.
Comparing it with $a x^{2}+b x+c=0$, we get
$a=2, b=6 \sqrt{3}$ and $c=-60$
$\therefore$ Discriminant, $D=b^{2}-4 a c=(6 \sqrt{3})^{2}-4 \times 2 \times(-60)=108+480=588>0$
So, the given equation has real roots.
Now, $\sqrt{D}=\sqrt{588}=14 \sqrt{3}$
$\therefore \alpha=\frac{-b+\sqrt{D}}{2 a}=\frac{-6 \sqrt{3}+14 \sqrt{3}}{2 \times 2}=\frac{8 \sqrt{3}}{4}=2 \sqrt{3}$
$\beta=\frac{-b-\sqrt{D}}{2 a}=\frac{-6 \sqrt{3}-14 \sqrt{3}}{2 \times 2}=\frac{-20 \sqrt{3}}{4}=-5 \sqrt{3}$
Hence, $2 \sqrt{3}$ and $-5 \sqrt{3}$ are the roots of the given equation.