Chapter 17: Problem 478
Solve \(x^{2}-7 x+10=0\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions to the given quadratic equation \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\) are \(x = -2\) and \(x = -5\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the equation format
Identify that the given equation is a quadratic equation in the format of \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). In our case, \(a = 1\), \(b = -7\), and \(c = 10\).
02
Factor the quadratic equation
Now, we need to factor the quadratic equation into the form \((x - m)(x - n) = 0\). To find the two factors m and n, look for two numbers whose product is equal to "a * c" and whose sum is equal to "b". In our case, the product is \(1 * 10 = 10\) and the sum is \(-7\).
The two numbers are \(-2\) and \(-5\), since \(-2 * -5 = 10\) and \(-2 + (-5) = -7\).
Now, rewrite the quadratic equation as the product of these factors: \((x - (-2))(x - (-5))\), which simplifies to \((x + 2)(x + 5) = 0\).
03
Identify solutions
The equation \((x + 2)(x + 5) = 0\) is satisfied when either one of its factors is equal to zero. That is, we need to solve the equations \(x + 2 = 0\) and \(x + 5 = 0\).
From the first equation, \(x + 2 = 0\), we get \(x = -2\). From the second equation, \(x + 5 = 0\), we get \(x = -5\).
04
Write the final solution
The solutions to the given quadratic equation \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\) are \(x = -2\) and \(x = -5\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Factoring Quadratics
Quadratic equations often come in the form of \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), which might seem intimidating at first. A super helpful way to solve them is by factoring. Factoring involves rewriting the quadratic as a product of two binomials. The trick is to find two numbers that multiply together to give you \(a \cdot c\), and add up to \(b\).
In our specific equation \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\), identifying these two numbers is key. Here, you look for numbers that multiply to 10 (\(a \cdot c\)) and add up to -7 (\(b\)).
In our specific equation \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\), identifying these two numbers is key. Here, you look for numbers that multiply to 10 (\(a \cdot c\)) and add up to -7 (\(b\)).
- Two numbers that work are -2 and -5.
Solving Equations
Solving quadratic equations often feels like unraveling a mystery. Once you’ve factored the quadratic equation into \((x - 2)(x - 5) = 0\), you can solve it using the Zero Product Property. The principle here is simple: if the product of two numbers is zero, at least one of the numbers must be zero.
- This means you set each factor equal to zero: \(x - 2 = 0\) or \(x - 5 = 0\).
- Resolving these simple equations gives you the solutions \(x = 2\) and \(x = 5\).
Roots of Quadratic
The solutions we find – in this case, \(x = 2\) and \(x = 5\) – are called the roots of the quadratic equation. These roots tell us where the parabola represented by \(x^2 - 7x + 10 = 0\) intersects the x-axis.
- A quadratic equation can have two, one, or no real roots.
- In this specific instance, there are two distinct real roots.
Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic expressions form the backbone of many math problems, especially quadratics. They consist of variables and coefficients organized in a logical manner. In quadratic equations like \(x^2 - 7x + 10\), understanding how each part interacts is important.
- The term \(x^2\) is called the quadratic term and it shapes the parabola.
- The term \(-7x\) is the linear term and affects the symmetry.
- The constant 10 shifts the parabola vertically on the graph.