Chapter 2: Problem 52
Abercrombie and Fitch stock had a price given as \(P=0.2 t^{2}-5.6 t+50.2,\) where \(t\) is the time in months from 1999 to \(2001 .(t=1 \text { is January } 1999) .\) Find the two months in which the price of the stock was \(\$ 30 .\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The stock price was $30 in April 1999 and January 2001.
Step by step solution
01
Set the Equation Equal to 30
The goal is to find the values of \( t \) (months) when the stock price \( P \) is \( 30 \). We start by setting the equation \( P=0.2t^2-5.6t+50.2 \) equal to 30: \[ 0.2t^2 - 5.6t + 50.2 = 30 \]
02
Simplify the Equation
Subtract 30 from both sides to simplify the equation: \[ 0.2t^2 - 5.6t + 20.2 = 0 \]
03
Solve the Quadratic Equation
We have a quadratic equation in the form \( at^2 + bt + c = 0 \). Here, \( a = 0.2 \), \( b = -5.6 \), and \( c = 20.2 \). Use the quadratic formula: \[ t = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \] Calculate the discriminant: \( b^2 - 4ac = (-5.6)^2 - 4 \times 0.2 \times 20.2 \). This results in a discriminant of \( 31.36 - 16.16 = 15.2 \).
04
Calculate the Roots
Using the quadratic formula: \[ t = \frac{-(-5.6) \pm \sqrt{15.2}}{2 \times 0.2} = \frac{5.6 \pm \sqrt{15.2}}{0.4} \]. Let's compute the two roots: \( t_1 = \frac{5.6 + \sqrt{15.2}}{0.4} \) and \( t_2 = \frac{5.6 - \sqrt{15.2}}{0.4} \). Calculating these, we get two solutions for \( t \).
05
Verify the Solutions
Compute \( \sqrt{15.2} \), which approximately equals \( 3.8987 \). Substitute into the formulas to find: \[ t_1 = \frac{5.6 + 3.8987}{0.4} \approx \frac{9.4987}{0.4} \approx 23.75 \] and \[ t_2 = \frac{5.6 - 3.8987}{0.4} \approx \frac{1.7013}{0.4} \approx 4.253 \]. We round these to 24 and 4 (since \( t \) represents complete months).
06
Confirm the Months
The solutions correspond to \( t = 24 \) (January, 2001) and \( t = 4 \) (April, 1999). Check this by plugging these values back into the original equation to confirm \( P=30 \) for both months.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for solving equations of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). This formula helps you find the values of \( x \) (or any variable used) where the quadratic equation equals zero. The formula is given by: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]In this equation, \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are coefficients from the quadratic equation.
- \( a \): the coefficient of \( x^2 \)
- \( b \): the coefficient of \( x \)
- \( c \): the constant term
Stock Price
A stock price is the current price at which a particular stock can be bought or sold in the market. In the given problem, the stock price \( P \) of Abercrombie and Fitch is represented by the quadratic equation \( P = 0.2t^2 - 5.6t + 50.2 \), where \( t \) is the time in months. This equation shows how the stock price changes over time.
- Stock prices can fluctuate due to economic factors, company performance, market trends, and investor sentiment.
- Predicting stock price movements can be complex due to several influencing factors.
Time in Months
Time in months is a crucial variable in this stock price problem. Here, it is represented by \( t \) and acts as a sequence of intervals from January 1999 onward.
- \( t = 1 \) corresponds to January 1999.
- As \( t \) increases by one unit, it progresses to the next month.
- The problem requires calculating specific months (\( t \)) when certain conditions are met, like the stock price being \(30.
Discriminant
The discriminant is a part of the quadratic formula that helps determine the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation. It is found under the square root in the quadratic formula: \( b^2 - 4ac \).
- If the discriminant is positive, the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots.
- If it is zero, the equation has exactly one real root (repeated root).
- If it is negative, the equation has no real roots, but rather two complex roots.