3x2 + 6x - 2 = 0 When we have a polynomial with powers of x up to 2 (a quadratic equation) we can apply the quadratic formula : -b ± root(b2-4ac)/2a where your equation is in the form ax2 + bx + c 0 so applying it here we get two solutions: - 6 ± root(36 - 43-2)/2*3 = - 6 ± root (60)/6