Chapter 9: Problem 20
In the quadratic equation \(5 x^{2}-3=0, a=\) _____, \(b=\) _____, and \(c=\) _____.
Short Answer
Expert verified
In the given equation, \(a = 5\), \(b = 0\), and \(c = -3\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Form of a Quadratic Equation
The general form of a quadratic equation is \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). In this form, \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are the coefficients of the equation.
02
Comparison
The given equation is \(5x^2 - 3 = 0\). Comparing this to the general form, we see that \(a\) corresponds to the coefficient of \(x^2\), \(b\) corresponds to the coefficient of \(x\) and \(c\) is the constant term.
03
Determine the Coefficients
In \(5x^2 - 3 = 0\), the coefficient of \(x^2\) is 5, so \(a = 5\). There is no \(x\) term, so the coefficient \(b\) is 0, hence \(b = 0\). The constant term is -3, so \(c = -3\)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Coefficients in Quadratic Equations
Coefficients are key components of quadratic equations. In a standard quadratic equation of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), the letters \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) represent the coefficients. Here's what each of these represents in the equation:
- \(a\): This is the coefficient of \(x^2\), the quadratic term. It tells us how "steep" or "wide" the parabola will be.
- \(b\): This is the coefficient of \(x\), the linear term. This term impacts the direction and position of the parabola.
- \(c\): This is the constant term, representing the y-intercept of the parabola on the graph.
- \(a = 5\): This means the parabola will open upwards, and it will be fairly narrow, indicating a steep curve.
- \(b = 0\): The absence of a linear term indicates the parabola is centered symmetrically about the y-axis.
- \(c = -3\): This tells us that the parabola crosses the y-axis at \(y = -3\).
Using the Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool to find the roots of any quadratic equation. The formula is given by:
\[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]
This formula directly utilizes the coefficients from the quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\):
\[x = \sqrt{-\frac{c}{a}}\]This reduced form can quickly find roots when the middle term is missing.
\[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]
This formula directly utilizes the coefficients from the quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\):
- \(-b\): The opposite of the linear coefficient.
- \(b^2 - 4ac\): Known as the discriminant, this part of the formula tells us about the nature of the roots (real and distinct, real and repeated, or complex).
- \(2a\): The denominator adjusts the influence of the quadratic term's steepness.
\[x = \sqrt{-\frac{c}{a}}\]This reduced form can quickly find roots when the middle term is missing.
Exploring Mathematical Concepts through Quadratics
Quadratic equations offer a beautiful intersection of algebra and geometry, allowing us to explore mathematical concepts such as functions, graphs, and complex numbers. Here's how some core concepts apply:
- Functions: Quadratic equations represent parabolic functions, meaning each input \(x\) maps to one output \(y\).
- Graphs: Graphing a quadratic equation gives us a parabola, a symmetric curve that gives insights into the nature of quadratic functions.
- Symmetry: Many quadratic equations exhibit vertical symmetry about an axis, providing an aesthetic simplicity to their study.
- Vertex: The highest or lowest point on the parabola is critical in real-world applications, from physics to economics.
- Complex Numbers: When quadratic equations have no real roots, these introduce students to imaginary numbers and complex plane transformations.