Chapter 1: Problem 54
Use the quadratic formula and a calculator to find all real solutions, rounded to three decimals. $$ x^{2}-2.450 x+1.500=0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The real solutions are \(x = 1.250\) and \(x = 1.200\).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We need to solve the quadratic equation \(x^2 - 2.450x + 1.500 = 0\) using the quadratic formula to find all the real solutions. The quadratic formula is given by \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\), where \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are the coefficients from the quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
02
Identify Coefficients
From the equation \(x^2 - 2.450x + 1.500 = 0\), identify the coefficients as follows: \(a = 1\), \(b = -2.450\), and \(c = 1.500\).
03
Calculate the Discriminant
Calculate the discriminant using the formula \(b^2 - 4ac\). Substitute the values to get \((-2.450)^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 1.500 = 6.0025 - 6 = 0.0025\).
04
Apply the Quadratic Formula
Now apply the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{-(-2.450) \pm \sqrt{0.0025}}{2 \times 1} \]Simplify the expression: \( x = \frac{2.450 \pm 0.05}{2} \).
05
Calculate the Solutions
Calculate the two possible values of \(x\):1. \(x = \frac{2.450 + 0.05}{2} = 1.250\)2. \(x = \frac{2.450 - 0.05}{2} = 1.200\)
06
Round the Solutions
Both solutions \(x = 1.250\) and \(x = 1.200\) are already rounded to three decimal places.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Real Solutions
Real solutions in a quadratic equation are values of \(x\) that make the equation true and belong to the set of real numbers. These solutions are determined by the points where a parabola, represented by the equation, intersects the x-axis.
- If the parabola touches the x-axis at one point, the equation has one real solution, also known as a repeated root.
- If it intersects at two points, there are two distinct real solutions.
- When the parabola does not touch the x-axis at all, there are no real solutions.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation represents a polynomial equation of degree two, and it can typically be expressed in the standard form as \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). Here, \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are constants, and \(x\) is the variable that we're solving for.
- If \(a = 0\), the equation is not quadratic because without \(x^2\), it reduces to a linear equation.
- The graph of a quadratic equation is a parabola, which opens upwards if \(a > 0\) and downwards if \(a < 0\).
Discriminant
The discriminant is a component of the quadratic formula, denoted as \(b^2 - 4ac\). It helps determine the nature and quantity of solutions of the quadratic equation.
- If the discriminant is positive, the equation has two distinct real solutions.
- If it is zero, there is exactly one real solution, which means the parabola touches the x-axis at one point.
- If it is negative, the equation has no real solutions as the parabola does not intersect the x-axis.