Chapter 1: Problem 38
Find all real solutions of the equation. $$ 8 x^{2}-6 x-9=0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions are \( x = \frac{3}{2} \) and \( x = \frac{-3}{4} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Quadratic Equation
The given equation is a quadratic equation of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). Here, \( a = 8 \), \( b = -6 \), and \( c = -9 \).
02
Calculate the Discriminant
The discriminant \( \Delta \) of a quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \) is calculated as \( b^2 - 4ac \). Substitute the values to find \( \Delta = (-6)^2 - 4 \times 8 \times (-9) = 36 + 288 = 324 \).
03
Evaluate the Discriminant
Since the discriminant \( \Delta = 324 \) is positive, the equation has two distinct real solutions.
04
Use the Quadratic Formula
The solutions are given by the quadratic formula \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{\Delta}}{2a} \). Substitute \( b = -6 \), \( \Delta = 324 \), and \( a = 8 \) into the formula: \( x = \frac{6 \pm \sqrt{324}}{16} \).
05
Calculate the Square Root
Compute \( \sqrt{324} = 18 \). So the solutions simplify to \( x = \frac{6 \pm 18}{16} \).
06
Find the Two Solutions
Substitute the values into the formula:- For the plus sign: \( x = \frac{6 + 18}{16} = \frac{24}{16} = \frac{3}{2} \).- For the minus sign: \( x = \frac{6 - 18}{16} = \frac{-12}{16} = \frac{-3}{4} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation
When solving a quadratic equation, the discriminant plays a crucial role. The discriminant is the part of the quadratic equation under the square root in the quadratic formula and is calculated using the formula: \( \Delta = b^2 - 4ac \). This small piece of the puzzle tells us how many real solutions we can expect from our quadratic equation.
- If \( \Delta > 0 \), there are two distinct real solutions.
- If \( \Delta = 0 \), there is exactly one real solution, also known as a repeated or double root.
- If \( \Delta < 0 \), no real solutions exist; instead, you have two complex solutions.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool used to find solutions of quadratic equations. The formula is given by:\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{\Delta}}{2a} \] It takes into account the coefficients from the standard quadratic form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \):
- \( a \), the coefficient of \( x^2 \)
- \( b \), the coefficient of \( x \)
- \( c \), the constant term
Real Solutions of Quadratic Equations
Real solutions of a quadratic equation refer to the x-values where the quadratic graph intersects the x-axis. They are called real because they represent actual points on a number line, as opposed to complex solutions, which involve imaginary numbers.
Once you've plugged values into the quadratic formula and calculated \( \Delta \), it's about performing some basic calculations:
Once you've plugged values into the quadratic formula and calculated \( \Delta \), it's about performing some basic calculations:
- Calculate \( x = \frac{6 + 18}{16} = \frac{24}{16} = \frac{3}{2} \)
- Calculate \( x = \frac{6 - 18}{16} = \frac{-12}{16} = \frac{-3}{4} \)