Chapter 11: Problem 73
Show that whenever there is just one solution of \(a x^{2}+b x+c=0,\) that solution is of the form \(-b /(2 a)\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
When there is one solution, it is \( x = \frac{-b}{2a} \).
Step by step solution
01
Recognize the type of equation
This is a quadratic equation in the form of: \( ax^{2} + bx + c = 0 \).
02
Examine the conditions for a single solution
For a quadratic equation to have exactly one solution, the discriminant must be zero. The discriminant \(\text{\( D \)}\) is given by: \[ D = b^{2} - 4ac \]. For there to be just one solution, set \( D \) equal to zero: \( b^{2} - 4ac = 0 \).
03
Solve for the derived condition
Solve the equation from Step 2: \( b^{2} = 4ac \).
04
Determine the single solution
With \( b^{2} = 4ac \), substitute this result into the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4ac}}{2a} \]. Using \( b^{2} = 4ac \), the formula simplifies to: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{0}}{2a} \) Since \( \sqrt{0} = 0 \), the equation simplifies to: \[ x = \frac{-b}{2a} \].
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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 key part of solving quadratic equations. It is denoted by the symbol \( D \) and is found using the formula \[ D = b^{2} - 4ac \]. This value gives us important information about the nature of the solutions of a quadratic equation. When solving quadratic equations, keep the following in mind:
- If \( D > 0 \), the quadratic equation has two distinct real solutions.
- If \( D = 0 \), the equation has one real solution (a double root). This means the parabola touches the x-axis at exactly one point.
- If \( D < 0 \), the equation has two complex solutions (no real solutions), meaning the parabola does not touch the x-axis at all.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a universal tool to solve any quadratic equation of the form \( ax^{2} + bx + c = 0 \). It is given by: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4ac}}{2a} \]. This formula uses the discriminant inside the square root to determine the nature of the solutions. Here's how we use the quadratic formula:
For instance, if \( D = 0 \), the square root term (\( \sqrt{D} \)) will be zero, leaving us with one solution: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm 0}{2a} = \frac{-b}{2a} \]. This scenario confirms the result we need to prove.
- Identify the coefficients \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) from the equation.
- Calculate the discriminant \( D = b^{2} - 4ac \).
- Plug \( a \), \( b \), and \( D \) into the quadratic formula.
For instance, if \( D = 0 \), the square root term (\( \sqrt{D} \)) will be zero, leaving us with one solution: \[ x = \frac{-b \pm 0}{2a} = \frac{-b}{2a} \]. This scenario confirms the result we need to prove.
Solving Quadratic Equations
To solve a quadratic equation, follow these steps:
In the specific case provided, we have shown that when \( D = 0 \), the quadratic equation \( ax^{2} + bx + c = 0 \) has exactly one solution given by, \[ x = \frac{-b}{2a} \]. This highlights the importance of understanding the discriminant and the quadratic formula in solving quadratic equations efficiently.
- First, ensure the equation is in the standard form \( ax^{2} + bx + c = 0 \).
- Calculate the discriminant \( D \).
- Based on the value of \( D \), determine the nature and number of solutions:
- If \( D > 0 \), use both \( \pm \sqrt{D} \) in the quadratic formula to find two distinct solutions.
- If \( D = 0 \), substitute \( D \) into the quadratic formula to get a single solution: \[ x = \frac{-b}{2a} \].
- If \( D < 0 \), the solutions will involve complex numbers.
In the specific case provided, we have shown that when \( D = 0 \), the quadratic equation \( ax^{2} + bx + c = 0 \) has exactly one solution given by, \[ x = \frac{-b}{2a} \]. This highlights the importance of understanding the discriminant and the quadratic formula in solving quadratic equations efficiently.