Chapter 13: Problem 112
If \(f(x)=5 x^{2}-2 x+9\) and \(f(a+1)=16,\) find the possible values for \(a\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The possible values of \(a\) are 0.4 and -2.
Step by step solution
01
Substitute the Value
Given the function \(f(x)=5x^2 - 2x + 9\) and knowing that \(f(a+1)=16\), substitute \(x = a+1\) into the function. Thus, \(f(a+1) = 5(a+1)^2 - 2(a+1) + 9\).
02
Expand the Expression
Expand \(5(a+1)^2 - 2(a+1) + 9\). First, calculate \((a+1)^2\), which is \(a^2 + 2a + 1\). Then multiply by 5: \(5(a^2 + 2a + 1) = 5a^2 + 10a + 5\).
03
Simplify the Equation
Now, subtract \(2(a+1)\), which gives \(2a + 2\). Combine all terms: \(5a^2 + 10a + 5 - 2a - 2 + 9\). Simplify it to \(5a^2 + 8a + 12\).
04
Set Equation to 16
Since \(f(a+1) = 16\), set up the equation: \(5a^2 + 8a + 12 = 16\).
05
Solve the Quadratic Equation
Subtract 16 from both sides to set the equation to zero: \(5a^2 + 8a + 12 - 16 = 0\), which simplifies to \(5a^2 + 8a - 4 = 0\).
06
Use the Quadratic Formula
Use the quadratic formula \(a = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\). Here, \(a = 5\), \(b = 8\), and \(c = -4\). Thus, solve for \(a\):
07
Calculate the Discriminant
Calculate the discriminant: \(b^2 - 4ac = 8^2 - 4(5)(-4) = 64 + 80 = 144\).
08
Find the Roots
The roots are \(a = \frac{-8 \pm \sqrt{144}}{10} = \frac{-8 \pm 12}{10}\). This gives two solutions: \(a = \frac{4}{10} = 0.4\) and \(a = \frac{-20}{10} = -2\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equations
Quadratic equations are a type of polynomial equation used frequently in algebra. They are typically written in the form: \[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \]Here, \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are constants, and \(a eq 0\). The quadratic equation forms a parabola when graphed, and solving it involves finding the values of \(x\) that satisfy the equation. Quadratic equations often appear in physics, engineering, and various real-world problems, making them very important to understand.
Function Substitution
When solving problems involving a function, you might need to substitute a variable. In this exercise, we are given a function \(f(x) = 5x^2 - 2x + 9\) and asked to find \(a\) such that \(f(a+1) = 16\). To do this, we substitute \(x\) with \(a+1\) in the function. This means we replace every occurrence of \(x\) in the equation with \(a+1\). For this example, \[ f(a+1) = 5(a+1)^2 - 2(a+1) + 9 \] Understanding function substitution is crucial as it allows us to transform and simplify equations, a common task in advanced math problems.
Discriminant Calculation
The discriminant is a key part of solving quadratic equations, found within the quadratic formula. It is represented by \(\Delta\) and is given by the expression: \[ b^2 - 4ac \] The discriminant tells us the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation:
- If \(\Delta > 0\), the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots.
- If \(\Delta = 0\), the quadratic equation has exactly one real root (a repeated root).
- If \(\Delta < 0\), the quadratic equation has two complex roots.
Quadratic Formula Application
The Quadratic Formula is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations. It is used to find the values of \(x\) that satisfy the equation. The formula is: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\] Using the quadratic formula involves several steps:
- First, identify the coefficients \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) in your equation.
- Next, calculate the discriminant \(b^2 - 4ac\).
- Then, apply the quadratic formula using these values.