This is a quadratic equation with a general equation of ax^2 + bx + c.
The quadratic formula can help to get the roots of the equation. We know the highest degree of that equation is 2; so there will be also two roots.
The quadratic formula is
x = [-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)] / 2a
With a = 1, b = 7, c = 2,
x = {-7 ± √[(7)^2 - 4(1)(2)]} / 2(1) = (-7 ± √41) / 2
So the two roots are
x1 = (-7 + √41) / 2 = -0.2984
x2 = (-7 - √41) / 2 = 0.2984
This is also another way of factorizing the equation
(x + 0.2984)(x + 0.2984) = x^2 + 7x + 2
I do believe it is 12 as well considering the fact that it's negative three and not positive. If it was a positive three then maybe it would be 18.
The price of the stock is below its starting price because the price will decrease before it increases
