SOLUTION: Find the values of​ a, b, and c for which the quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0 has the solutions 4-√ 17 and 4+√ 17. ​(Hint: Use the​ zero-product property in​ reverse.)

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Find the values of​ a, b, and c for which the quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0 has the solutions 4-√ 17 and 4+√ 17. ​(Hint: Use the​ zero-product property in​ reverse.)       Log On


   



Question 1192071: Find the values of​ a, b, and c for which the quadratic equation ax^2+bx+c=0 has the solutions 4-√ 17 and 4+√ 17.
​(Hint: Use the​ zero-product property in​ reverse.) thank you!

Answer by math_tutor2020(3817) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

x+=+4+-+sqrt%2817%29 and x+=+4+%2B+sqrt%2817%29 are the two roots of the form m-n and m%2Bn

Where,
m+=+4
n+=+sqrt%2817%29

Use Vieta's formulas to sum the roots:
root1%2Broot2+=+%28m-n%29%2B%28m%2Bn%29
root1%2Broot2+=+2m+
root1%2Broot2+=+8
and multiply the roots as well
root1%2Aroot2+=+%28m-n%29%2A%28m%2Bn%29+
root1%2Aroot2+=+m%5E2+-+n%5E2 Difference of squares rule
root1%2Aroot2+=+4%5E2+-+%28sqrt%2817%29%29%5E2
root1%2Aroot2+=+16+-17
root1%2Aroot2+=+-1

The negative of the sum of the roots is the value of b, while c represents the product of the roots.
b = -8 and c = -1

Why does this work? Consider the two roots to be r and s
This means x+=+r and x+=+s lead to x-r+=+0 and x+-+s+=+0 respectively.
Furthermore, %28x-r%29%28x-s%29+=+x%5E2-sx-rx%2Brs+=+x%5E2-%28s%2Br%29x%2Brs+=+0
The -(s+r)x term matches with bx, showing that b = -(s+r). We add the two roots, then flip the sign to get the value of b.
The rs term is the product of the roots and matches with c.

Answer: x%5E2+-+8x+-+1+=+0
You can confirm this answer by using the quadratic formula to arrive back to the original roots mentioned.

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Another approach:

x+=+4+-+sqrt%2817%29
x-4+=+-sqrt%2817%29
%28x-4%29%5E2+=+%28-sqrt%2817%29%29%5E2
%28x-4%29%5E2+=+17

Through very nearly identical steps, you should find that x+=+4%2Bsqrt%2817%29 also leads to %28x-4%29%5E2+=+17
Using the square root method, solving %28x-4%29%5E2+=+17 leads back to the original roots mentioned.

Now let's expand things out and get everything to one side.
%28x-4%29%5E2+=+17
%28x-4%29%28x-4%29+=+17
x%28x-4%29-4%28x-4%29+=+17
x%5E2-4x-4x%2B16+=+17
x%5E2-4x-4x%2B16-17+=+0
x%5E2-8x-1+=+0
We get the same answer as before.