Chapter 7: Problem 39
$$ \text { Solve the given quadratic equations by factoring.}$$ In Eq. \((7.1),\) for \(a=2, b=-7,\) and \(c=3,\) show that the sum of the roots is \(-b / a\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The sum of the roots \(\frac{7}{2}\) is indeed equal to \(-b/a\).
Step by step solution
01
Write the quadratic equation
Given the quadratic equation in the standard form \[ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \]Substitute the provided values into the equation:\[ 2x^2 - 7x + 3 = 0 \]
02
Factor the quadratic equation
To factor the equation, look for two numbers that multiply to \(a \cdot c = 2 \cdot 3 = 6\) and add to \(b = -7\). These numbers are \(-1\) and \(-6\). Thus, rewrite the equation:\[ 2x^2 - x - 6x + 3 = 0 \] Next, group terms and factor them:\[ (2x^2 - x) + (-6x + 3) = 0 \] \[ x(2x - 1) - 3(2x - 1) = 0 \] Now factor by grouping:\[ (x - 3)(2x - 1) = 0 \]
03
Identify the roots
Set each factor equal to zero and solve for \(x\):\[ x - 3 = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad 2x - 1 = 0 \]Solving these:\[ x = 3 \quad \text{and} \quad x = \frac{1}{2} \]
04
Sum the roots
Now add the roots from Step 3:\[ 3 + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{6}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{2} \]
05
Calculate \((-b)/a\)
Substitute the given values into the formula \((-b)/a\) to check the sum of roots.\[ \text{Sum of roots} = -\frac{-7}{2} = \frac{7}{2} \]
06
Verification
The calculated sum of the roots (\(\frac{7}{2}\)) matches the value \(-b/a\) (\(\frac{7}{2}\)), confirming the relationship.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Factoring
Factoring is a crucial method for solving quadratic equations. The goal is to express the equation as a product of two binomials. For our equation, we are dealing with the quadratic form:
- \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
- They multiply to \( 6 \) (since \( 2 \cdot 3 = 6 \))
- They add to \(-7\) (which is the given \( b \))
Sum of Roots
The sum of roots of a quadratic equation offers insights into the relationship between 'b' and 'a'. In a standard quadratic equation:
For our example, substituting in our given values \( a = 2 \) and \( b = -7 \) results in:
- \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
For our example, substituting in our given values \( a = 2 \) and \( b = -7 \) results in:
- Sum of roots = \( -(-7)/2 = 7/2 \)
- Negative signs might appear twice, once from the formula and once from the sign of \( b \).
- The outcome ensures it reflects the actual sum of roots derived from the factors.
Standard Form
The standard form of a quadratic equation is fundamental for factoring and finding roots. It follows the structure:
In the given problem, substituting the values \( a = 2 \), \( b = -7 \), and \( c = 3 \) results in the equation \( 2x^2 - 7x + 3 = 0 \). This step is critical:
- \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
In the given problem, substituting the values \( a = 2 \), \( b = -7 \), and \( c = 3 \) results in the equation \( 2x^2 - 7x + 3 = 0 \). This step is critical:
- It ensures that all coefficients are correctly placed before the factoring process.
- It validates whether a solution pertains to real roots by indicating whether a solution is possible or if complex numbers may come into play.
Roots
The roots of a quadratic equation are its solutions. They are the values of \( x \) that satisfy the equation when plugged back in. For instance, once factored, our equation \( (x - 3)(2x - 1) = 0 \) is straightforward to solve.
To find the roots, apply the Zero Product Property:
To find the roots, apply the Zero Product Property:
- If \( (a)(b) = 0 \), then \( a = 0 \) or \( b = 0 \).
- \( x - 3 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 3 \)
- \( 2x - 1 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{1}{2} \)