Chapter 1: Problem 68
In Exercises \(67-69\), solve each equation. \(2 x^{2}+x=6\) (Section P.7, Example 7)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution to the equation \(2x^{2} + x - 6 = 0\) are \(x = 1.5, -2.\)
Step by step solution
01
Rearrange the given equation
To solve the quadratic equation, we must first transfer it into its standard form. Which gives: \(2x^{2} + x - 6 = 0\)
02
Identify values of a, b and c
From the standard form of the quadratic equation, we can identify \(a = 2\), \(b = 1\), and \(c = -6\).
03
Calculate the determinant
The determinant, also known as discriminant is given as \(\Delta = b^{2} - 4ac\). So, calculating it will give us: \(\Delta = (1)^{2} - 4 * 2 * -6 = 1 + 48 = 49\).
04
Apply the quadratic formula
The solutions for \(x\) can be found using the quadratic formula \(-b \pm \sqrt{\Delta}/(2a)\). As \(\Delta > 0\), there will be two distinct real roots. So we get: \(x = [-1+\sqrt{49}]/(2*2) = 1.5, [-1-\sqrt{49}]/(2*2) = -2\)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Discriminant
When solving a quadratic equation, the discriminant helps you understand the nature of the roots without actually having to find them first. For the quadratic equation in standard form, \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), the discriminant \(\Delta\) is determined by the formula \(\Delta = b^2 - 4ac\).
\[\text{The discriminant helps to determine several root characteristics:}\]
\[\text{The discriminant helps to determine several root characteristics:}\]
- If \(\Delta > 0\), the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots.
- If \(\Delta = 0\), the equation has exactly one real root, or you might hear it as a repeated root.
- If \(\Delta < 0\), the equation has no real roots; instead, it has two complex (imaginary) roots.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a universal tool for solving quadratic equations, especially when factoring seems complicated or impossible. It is expressed as:
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]
This formula stems directly from rearranging a quadratic equation into its standard form and then using algebraic manipulation.
Steps to use the quadratic formula
\[ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \]
This formula stems directly from rearranging a quadratic equation into its standard form and then using algebraic manipulation.
Steps to use the quadratic formula
- First, ensure the equation is in the standard form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
- Identify the coefficients: \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\).
- Calculate the discriminant \(\Delta = b^2 - 4ac\).
- Plug these values into the quadratic formula.
- Solve for \(x\) taking both the positive and negative values of the square root, giving you two potential solutions.
Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation
The standard form of a quadratic equation is a self-contained format that looks like this: \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
Here, \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are constants with \(a eq 0\) to ensure the equation remains quadratic.
Placing a quadratic in standard form is the crucial first step needed to effectively solve it, whether through factoring, completing the square, or applying the quadratic formula.
Key Purposes of Standard Form:
Here, \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are constants with \(a eq 0\) to ensure the equation remains quadratic.
Placing a quadratic in standard form is the crucial first step needed to effectively solve it, whether through factoring, completing the square, or applying the quadratic formula.
Key Purposes of Standard Form:
- Identifying coefficients: Helps in easily picking out \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) which are essential in further calculations like using the quadratic formula.
- Simplifying the solving process: Once in standard form, a variety of solving methods become applicable.
- Analyzing graph behavior: It makes it easier to determine the upward or downward opening of the parabola, as well as the vertical intercept \(y = c\).