Question

Solve the equation x² -5x -12 = 0 graphically.

Answer 1

First, let us draw the graph of $y=x^2-5x-12$

Now, let us assign the integer values from -2 to 2 for x

$\begin{array}{cccccc}x& -2& -1& 0& 1& 2\\ y=x^2-5x-12& 2& -6& -12& -16& -18\end{array}$

Scale: x-axis 1 cm = 10 units; y-axis 1 cm = 10 units

The graph of $y=x^2-5x-12$ has two solutions which are (-1.7720, 0) and (6.77,0).