Chapter 1: Problem 74
Find all real solutions of the quadratic equation. $$0=x^{2}-4 x+1$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The real solutions are \( x = 2 + \sqrt{3} \) and \( x = 2 - \sqrt{3} \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the quadratic equation
The given quadratic equation is \( x^2 - 4x + 1 = 0 \). We need to find the values of \( x \) for which this equation holds true.
02
Recall the quadratic formula
The quadratic formula is \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \), where \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are the coefficients from the quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). In this equation, \( a = 1 \), \( b = -4 \), and \( c = 1 \).
03
Calculate the discriminant
The discriminant of the quadratic equation is given by \( \, D = b^2 - 4ac \). Substitute the values of \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) into the discriminant formula: \( D = (-4)^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 1 = 16 - 4 = 12 \).
04
Solve for x using the quadratic formula
Now, substitute \( a = 1 \), \( b = -4 \), and \( D = 12 \) into the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{12}}{2 \times 1} = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{12}}{2} \]Since \( \sqrt{12} = \sqrt{4 \times 3} = 2\sqrt{3} \), the solutions become:\[ x = \frac{4 + 2\sqrt{3}}{2} \] and \[ x = \frac{4 - 2\sqrt{3}}{2} \]Simplifying these gives \( x = 2 + \sqrt{3} \) and \( x = 2 - \sqrt{3} \).
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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 and an essential aspect of solving quadratic equations. These are equations of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). This formula allows us to find the roots or solutions of any quadratic equation, even when factoring is complicated or not possible. The quadratic formula is:
- \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \)
- The symbol \(\pm\) indicates that there will generally be two solutions, one using the plus and one using the minus.
- The part \(b^2 - 4ac \) is known as the discriminant, which we'll cover later.
Discriminant
The discriminant is a crucial component within the quadratic formula, \( b^2 - 4ac \), and it helps determine the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation. The value of the discriminant tells us how many real solutions exist:
- If \( D > 0 \), the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots.
- If \( D = 0 \), there is exactly one real root, or a repeated root.
- If \( D < 0 \), there are no real roots; however, there are two complex roots.
Real Solutions
Real solutions of a quadratic equation refer to the values of \( x \) that satisfy the equation where the discriminant, \( D \), is non-negative. Once the discriminant is determined, the real solutions are calculated using the quadratic formula:
- The solutions are valid numbers on the real number line.