document.write( "Question 1209115: Wilma and Greg were trying to solve the quadratic equation
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + bx + c = 0.
\n" ); document.write( "Wilma wrote down the wrong value of b (but her value of c was correct), and found the roots to be 5 and 15. Greg wrote down the wrong value of c (but his value of b was correct), and found the roots to be -5 and -7. What are the actual roots of x^2 + bx + c = 0?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #847695 by math_tutor2020(3817)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "If p,q are the roots then (x-p) and (x-q) are factors.
\n" ); document.write( "We can then say (x-p)(x-q) = x^2+bx+c\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Expand out the left hand side to get
\n" ); document.write( "(x-p)(x-q) = x^2+bx+c
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-qx-px+p*q = x^2+bx+c
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-(p+q)x+p*q = x^2+bx+c\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Compare terms
  • The x coefficients on the left and right sides are -(p+q) and b respectively. Therefore b = -(p+q).
  • The constant terms on the left and right sides are p*q and c respectively. Therefore c = p*q.
Side note: This is the quadratic case of Vieta's Formulas.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Wilma has the correct value of c, so,
\n" ); document.write( "c = p*q = 5*15 = 75\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Greg meanwhile has the correct value of b
\n" ); document.write( "b = -(p+q) = -(-5 - 7) = 12\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore b = 12 and c = 75.
\n" ); document.write( "The quadratic Wilma and Greg are trying to solve is x^2+12x+75 = 0.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'll let the student take over from here.
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