text: the sum of the solutions to 2x^2 - x- 3 = 0 is? could you show work please?  thanks 2x^2 - x- 3 = 0  a = 2 b = -1 c = -3  x = [-b +- sqrt(b^2-4ac)]/2a x = [-(-1) +- sqrt((-1)^2-4(2)(-3))]/2*2 x = [1 +- sqrt(1 - (-24))]/4 x = [1 +- sqrt(1 + 24)]/4 x = [1 +- sqrt(25)]/4 x = [1 +- 5]/4  thus,  x = [1+5]/4 or [1-5]/4 x = 6/4 or -4/4 x = 1.5 or -1  the *sum* of the solutions is 1.5 + -1 = .5 (or 1/2)