Chapter 5: Problem 78
Evaluate \(b^{2}-4 a c\) for the given values of \(a, b,\) and \(c\). \(a=1, b=7, c=3\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The value of the expression is 37.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Formula
The expression we need to evaluate is the discriminant of a quadratic equation, denoted as \(b^2 - 4ac\). This expression is often used to determine the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
02
Substitute the Given Values
Insert the given values \(a = 1\), \(b = 7\), and \(c = 3\) into the formula \(b^2 - 4ac\):\[b^2 - 4ac = 7^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 3\]
03
Calculate \(b^2\)
Calculate \(7^2\), which is the square of \(b\):\[7^2 = 49\]
04
Calculate \(4ac\)
Calculate \(4 \times 1 \times 3\):\[4 \times 1 \times 3 = 12\]
05
Subtract \(4ac\) from \(b^2\)
Subtract the result from Step 4 from the result in Step 3:\[49 - 12 = 37\]
06
Conclude the Calculation
The final result of evaluating \(b^2 - 4ac\) when \(a=1\), \(b=7\), and \(c=3\) is 37.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means it involves the square of a variable. The standard form of a quadratic equation is given by:\[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \].Here, \( a, b, \) and \( c \) are coefficients, with \( a eq 0 \). It is crucial to have \( a eq 0 \) because if \( a = 0 \), we end up with a linear equation, not a quadratic.
The graphical representation of a quadratic equation is a parabola. The coefficient \( a \) determines the direction of the parabola:
The graphical representation of a quadratic equation is a parabola. The coefficient \( a \) determines the direction of the parabola:
- If \( a > 0 \), the parabola opens upwards.
- If \( a < 0 \), the parabola opens downwards.
Roots of Quadratic
A quadratic equation typically has two roots, which are the solutions to the equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). These roots can be found using the quadratic formula:\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \].
In this formula, the expression \( b^2 - 4ac \) is called the discriminant.The roots can be real or complex, and they can be identical or distinct:
In this formula, the expression \( b^2 - 4ac \) is called the discriminant.The roots can be real or complex, and they can be identical or distinct:
- If \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \), there are two distinct real roots.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \), there are two identical real roots, which means the roots are equal.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac < 0 \), the roots are complex numbers and no real solutions exist.
Nature of Roots
The nature of the roots of a quadratic equation is directly linked to the value of the discriminant \( b^2 - 4ac \). The discriminant gives us insight into the type of roots without needing to solve the equation completely.
Here's how the discriminant affects the roots:
Here's how the discriminant affects the roots:
- Positive Discriminant: When \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \), the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots. This indicates that the parabola intersects the x-axis at two points.
- Zero Discriminant: When \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \), the quadratic equation has two identical real roots, also known as repeated roots. The parabola touches the x-axis at exactly one point.
- Negative Discriminant: When \( b^2 - 4ac < 0 \), the roots are complex and imaginary, meaning the parabola does not intersect the x-axis at any point.