Chapter 3: Problem 69
Find all solutions of the equation and express them in the form \(a+b i.\) $$\frac{1}{2} x^{2}-x+5=0$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solutions are \(1 + 3i\) and \(1 - 3i\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the type of equation
The given equation is quadratic: \(\frac{1}{2}x^2 - x + 5 = 0\). We need to find its solutions.
02
Write the equation in standard form
To make it easier to solve, multiply the entire equation by 2 to eliminate the fraction: \(x^2 - 2x + 10 = 0\). This is now in standard quadratic form: \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\) where \(a = 1\), \(b = -2\), and \(c = 10\).
03
Calculate the discriminant
The discriminant \(\Delta\) is calculated using the formula \(b^2 - 4ac\). Substitute \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\): \((-2)^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 10 = 4 - 40 = -36\).
04
Determine solution type based on discriminant
Since the discriminant \(\Delta = -36\) is negative, the quadratic equation has two complex solutions.
05
Use the quadratic formula to find solutions
The quadratic formula is \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{\Delta}}{2a}\). Substitute \(a = 1\), \(b = -2\), and \(\Delta = -36\) into the formula: \(x = \frac{-(-2) \pm \sqrt{-36}}{2 \times 1}\) \(= \frac{2 \pm \sqrt{-36}}{2}\).
06
Simplify the solutions
Since \(\sqrt{-36} = 6i\), substitute back into the formula: \(x = \frac{2 \pm 6i}{2}\). Simplify both solutions: \(\frac{2 + 6i}{2} = 1 + 3i\) and \(\frac{2 - 6i}{2} = 1 - 3i\).
07
Write the solutions in the form of \(a + bi\)
The solutions are \(1 + 3i\) and \(1 - 3i\), both in the required form \(a + bi\).
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 Equation
A quadratic equation is a type of polynomial equation where the highest degree of the variable is 2. This means that the variable, often represented as \(x\), is squared. A standard quadratic equation takes the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), where \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are constants, and \(a eq 0\). Here’s a simple way to understand the parts of a quadratic equation:
- \(a\): This is the coefficient of \(x^2\), crucial for determining the equation's shape.
- \(b\): Known as the linear coefficient, it is associated with the \(x\) term.
- \(c\): This is the constant term that shifts the graph up or down on the y-axis.
Discriminant
The discriminant is a critical component of the quadratic equation, used to determine the nature of its solutions. For a quadratic equation of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), the discriminant \(\Delta\) is given by the expression \(b^2 - 4ac\). The value of the discriminant gives insight into the type and number of solutions the quadratic equation has.
- If \(\Delta > 0\), the equation has two distinct real solutions.
- If \(\Delta = 0\), there is exactly one real solution, also referred to as a repeated root.
- If \(\Delta < 0\), as in our case \(-36\), the equation results in two complex solutions, which are conjugates of each other.
Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is a universal method used to find solutions, also known as roots, of any quadratic equation. It is derived from completing the square and is expressed as: \[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\]This formula is incredibly handy, especially when factoring is difficult or impossible. Here is how it works:
- "\(+/-\)" indicates there are typically two solutions: one for the addition and one for the subtraction.
- "\(-b\)" begins the process by shifting the roots opposite of \(b\)'s influence.
- The square root term \(\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}\) incorporates the discriminant, controlling whether the solutions are real or complex.
- "\(/2a\)" normalizes the result according to the quadratic term’s coefficient.