document.write( "Question 1109774: The roots of (x-1)(x-2)=p are equal. Find p.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The answer is p=1/4, how do they get that? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #724733 by greenestamps(13367) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

\n" ); document.write( "The answer, as the other tutor showed, is -1/4, not 1/4.

\n" ); document.write( "If the roots of $\"%28x-1%29%28x-2%29=p\"$ are equal, then $\"%28x-1%29%28x-2%29-p\"$ is a perfect square.

\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x-1%29%28x-2%29-p+=+x%5E2-3x%2B2-p\"$

\n" ); document.write( "If that is to be a perfect square, then it must be equal to $\"%28x-3%2F2%29%5E2+=+x%5E2-3x%2B9%2F4\"$ .

\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, $\"2-p+=+9%2F4\"$ --> $\"p+=+-1%2F4\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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