Chapter 4: Problem 5
Find all real numbers (if any) that are fixed points for the given functions. $$h(x)=x^{2}-3 x-5$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The fixed points are \( x = 5 \) and \( x = -1 \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Definition of a Fixed Point
A fixed point of a function \( h(x) \) occurs when \( h(x) = x \). This means that the point \( x \) does not change the value of the function.
02
Setting Up the Equation
To find the fixed points, we set \( h(x) = x \). Therefore, we have the equation \( x^2 - 3x - 5 = x \).
03
Rearranging the Equation
Rearrange the equation to have all terms on one side, resulting in: \( x^2 - 3x - 5 - x = 0 \). Simplify this to obtain \( x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0 \).
04
Solving the Quadratic Equation
The equation \( x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0 \) is a standard quadratic equation. To solve it, we can use the quadratic formula: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \), where \( a = 1 \), \( b = -4 \), and \( c = -5 \).
05
Calculating the Discriminant
Calculate the discriminant: \( b^2 - 4ac = (-4)^2 - 4(1)(-5) = 16 + 20 = 36 \). Since the discriminant is positive, there are two real solutions.
06
Applying the Quadratic Formula
Use the quadratic formula to find the roots: \( x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{36}}{2(1)} = \frac{4 \pm 6}{2} \).
07
Determining the Solutions
Calculate the two possible solutions: \( x = \frac{4 + 6}{2} = 5 \) and \( x = \frac{4 - 6}{2} = -1 \).
08
Verifying the Fixed Points
Verify that at \( x = 5 \), \( h(5) = 5 \). Likewise, check \( x = -1 \), \( h(-1) = -1 \). Both values satisfy the equation \( h(x) = x \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is an algebraic expression where the highest exponent of the variable is 2. It takes the general form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are constants, and \( a \) cannot be zero. Understanding quadratics is crucial because they frequently appear in various mathematical contexts, including physics, engineering, and economics.
Quadratic equations can have:
Quadratic equations can have:
- Two real solutions
- One real solution (a repeated root)
- No real solutions (if solutions are complex)
Discriminant
The discriminant is a key concept in determining the nature of the solutions of a quadratic equation. For the quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), the discriminant is given by the formula \( b^2 - 4ac \). The discriminant helps us understand how many real roots our quadratic equation will have.
Here's what the discriminant tells us:
Here's what the discriminant tells us:
- If \( b^2 - 4ac > 0 \), there are two distinct real roots.
- If \( b^2 - 4ac = 0 \), there is exactly one real root, meaning the parabola touches the x-axis at one point (tangent).
- If \( b^2 - 4ac < 0 \), there are no real roots, as the solutions are complex numbers (the parabola doesn’t intersect the x-axis).
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a powerful tool used to find the solutions of a quadratic equation. For the equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), the solutions can be found using:\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]This formula helps find the roots of any quadratic equation by simply substituting the values of \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) into it. It’s universally applicable and especially useful when factoring is complex or impossible.
Steps to use the quadratic formula:
Steps to use the quadratic formula:
- Identify coefficients \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) from the equation.
- Calculate the discriminant \( b^2 - 4ac \).
- Substitute \( b \), the discriminant, and \( a \) into the formula.
- Compute the values to get the solutions.