Chapter 2: Problem 64
\(8 x^{2}-4 x-3=0\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The roots of the equation \(8x^{2}-4x-3=0\) are \(x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{7}}{4}\) and \(x = \frac{1 - \sqrt{7}}{4}\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify Coefficients
In the given equation \(8x^{2}-4x-3=0\), the coefficient a is 8, the coefficient b is -4, and the constant c is -3.
02
Substitute into the Quadratic Formula
Next, substitute the values of a, b and c into the Quadratic formula \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}\). Plugging these values in gives the equation \(x = \frac{-(-4) \pm \sqrt{(-4)^{2}-4*8*-3}}{2*8}\).
03
Evaluate Inside the Square Root
The next step is to simplify the equation. This starts with calculating the value under the square root. This gives \(x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{16+96}}{16}\).
04
Simplify the Square Root and the Equation
Simplifying the square root gives \(x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{112}}{16}\). Also, \(x = \frac{4 \pm 4\sqrt{7}}{16}\), which can be simplified further to \(x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{7}}{4}\).
05
Final Solutions
So, the two roots (values for x) of the given equation are \(x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{7}}{4}\) and \(x = \frac{1 - \sqrt{7}}{4}\).
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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 crucial tool in algebra for finding the roots of any quadratic equation. A quadratic equation is generally in the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\) where the letters \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) represent constants. The quadratic formula itself is given by: \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\).
This formula allows us to find solutions for \(x\), which are also known as the "roots" of the equation. Here's how it works:
This formula allows us to find solutions for \(x\), which are also known as the "roots" of the equation. Here's how it works:
- The term \(-b\) flips the sign of \(b\).
- \(b^2 - 4ac\) is called the discriminant and it determines the nature of the roots.
- The square root symbol \(\pm\) indicates there are generally two solutions.
Roots of Equations
Roots of a quadratic equation allow you to find where the equation equals zero. For the quadratic equation, these are the values of \(x\) that satisfy the equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). Using the quadratic formula, the solutions are derived as: \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\).
The nature of the roots depends heavily on the value of the discriminant \(b^2 - 4ac\):
The nature of the roots depends heavily on the value of the discriminant \(b^2 - 4ac\):
- If the discriminant is positive, there are two distinct real roots.
- If it is zero, there is exactly one real root, which means the parabolic graph of the equation touches the x-axis only once.
- If the discriminant is negative, the roots are complex, indicating the parabola does not intersect the x-axis at all.
Simplification of Radicals
Simplification of radicals is often needed while solving quadratic equations. A radical is an expression that uses the square root symbol, and simplifying it can make equations easier to solve and interpret. For example, consider \(\sqrt{112}\) from our equation where we simplify eventually to \(4\sqrt{7}\).
Here's a simple guide to simplify radicals:
Here's a simple guide to simplify radicals:
- Find factors of the number under the square root. Look for perfect square factors.
- Take the square root of the perfect square factor out of the radical.
- Continue this process until the expression under the square root can't be factored further by perfect squares.