Chapter 4: Problem 11
For \(x^{2}-(a+3)(x)+4=0\) to have real solutions, the range of \(a\) is a. \((-\infty,-7] \cup[1, \infty)\) b. \((-3, \infty)\) c. \((-\infty,-7]\) d. \([1, \infty)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The range of \(a\) is \((-
fty,-7] \cup[1,
fty)\). Option (a).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Quadratic Coefficient
The given equation is a quadratic in terms of \( x \). Identify the coefficients: \( a = 1 \), \( b = -(a+3) \), and \( c = 4 \).
02
Apply the Condition for Real Solutions
For the quadratic equation to have real solutions, the discriminant must be greater than or equal to zero: \( b^2 - 4ac \geq 0 \).
03
Write the Discriminant Formula
Apply the coefficients to the discriminant formula: \( (-(a+3))^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 \geq 0 \) yields \( (a+3)^2 - 16 \geq 0 \).
04
Expand and Simplify
Expand \((a+3)^2\) to \(a^2 + 6a + 9\). Thus, we have \(a^2 + 6a + 9 - 16 \geq 0\). Simplify it to get \(a^2 + 6a - 7 \geq 0\).
05
Solve the Quadratic Inequality
Solve the inequality \(a^2 + 6a - 7 \geq 0\). First, find the roots of the corresponding equation \(a^2 + 6a - 7 = 0\) using the quadratic formula: \( a = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} \).
06
Calculate the Roots
Using the quadratic formula, substitute \( a = 1, b = 6, c = -7 \). Calculate the roots as \( a = \frac{-6 \pm \sqrt{6^2 - 4 \times 1 \times (-7)}}{2 \times 1} = \frac{-6 \pm \sqrt{64}}{2} \), giving roots \( a = 1 \) and \( a = -7 \).
07
Analyze the Inequality
The inequality \( a^2 + 6a - 7 \geq 0 \) describes a parabola opening upwards with roots at \( a = -7 \) and \( a = 1 \). Thus, the inequality is satisfied for \( a \leq -7 \) or \( a \geq 1 \).
08
Select the Correct Option
Based on the analysis, the range of \( a \) for which the quadratic equation has real solutions is \((-fty, -7] \cup [1, fty)\). This corresponds to option (a).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Discriminant
The discriminant is a fundamental concept in quadratic equations. It helps us determine the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation. The standard form of a quadratic equation is given by \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). For any quadratic equation, the discriminant \( \Delta \) is calculated using the formula \( b^2 - 4ac \).
The value of the discriminant tells us about the quantity and type of roots:
The value of the discriminant tells us about the quantity and type of roots:
- If \( \Delta > 0 \), the equation has two distinct real roots.
- If \( \Delta = 0 \), the equation has exactly one real root, also known as a repeated or double root.
- If \( \Delta < 0 \), the equation has no real roots but two complex conjugate roots.
Quadratic Inequality
Quadratic inequalities involve expressions like \( ax^2 + bx + c \leq 0 \), \( ax^2 + bx + c \geq 0 \), etc. Solving these involves finding the values that make the inequality true. It typically requires a combination of algebraic manipulation and understanding the nature of quadratic graphs.
Here's how you can tackle a quadratic inequality:
Here's how you can tackle a quadratic inequality:
- First, find the roots of the corresponding quadratic equation by setting it to zero and solving.
- Next, consider the parabola's direction: if the leading coefficient \( a \) is positive, the parabola opens upwards; if negative, it opens downwards.
- Use the roots to divide the number line into intervals, each interval corresponding to where the quadratic inequality might hold.
- Test points from each interval in the original inequality to see which intervals satisfy it.
Real Solutions
Real solutions to a quadratic equation refer to the x-values that satisfy the equation resulting in real numbers. As previously mentioned, the nature of these solutions is dictated by the discriminant \( b^2 - 4ac \). When solving for real solutions, we focus on scenarios where the discriminant is non-negative, meaning \( b^2 - 4ac \geq 0 \).
This guarantees:
This guarantees:
- Two distinct real solutions if \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \).
- A single real solution if \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \).
Roots of Quadratic Equation
The roots of a quadratic equation are the values of \( x \) that satisfy the equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). These roots can be found using the quadratic formula: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \). The expression \( \pm \) indicates there are generally two roots, which may be the same or different depending on the discriminant.
Two key points about roots are:
Two key points about roots are:
- They correspond to the x-intercepts of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation when graphed.
- In cases involving quadratic inequalities, understanding the roots is essential because they help determine the intervals where the inequality is true.