SOLUTION: I have my answer for a quadratic equation, but I don't know what number goes first. My answer is x1=4 and x2=2. would the answer be: {4,2} or {2,4}. I am a 10 year old doing alg

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: I have my answer for a quadratic equation, but I don't know what number goes first. My answer is x1=4 and x2=2. would the answer be: {4,2} or {2,4}. I am a 10 year old doing alg      Log On


   

Question 873518: I have my answer for a quadratic equation, but I don't know what number goes first. My answer is x1=4 and x2=2. would the answer be: {4,2} or {2,4}. I am a 10 year old doing algebra
Found 3 solutions by josmiceli, KMST, josgarithmetic:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I assume these x-values are the roots
of the quadratic
You must have done something like this:
+y+=+ax%5E2+%2B+b%2Ax+%2B+c+
+0+=+ax%5E2+%2B+b%2Ax+%2B+c+
Then you got:
+0+=+%28+x%5B1%5D+-+4+%29%2A%28+x%5B2%5D+-+2+%29+
------------------------------
Note that you set +y+=+0+ first, and
then found that
+x%5B1%5D+=+4+
+x%5B2%5D+=+2+
Are the values that make this last equation true
So, the roots are at the points:
( 4,0 ) and ( 2,0 )



Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Usually, we list answers in increasing order, so I would answer {2,4} or maybe {2, 4}.
The order should not matter, because the solution set {4,2} is the same set as {2,4}.

However, if you have to input your answers to be graded by a computer, try to guess what answer is expected. If the programmer was good, all reasonable answers will be accepted. If it's a cheap program, strange things could happen, such as {2, 4} being an accepted answer, and {2,4} (without the space) graded as wrong.
Anyway, if there is a sensible human in charge of verifying the grade, the human should be able to over-rule the computer, so communicate with the human if your right answer is graded as wrong.

Answer by josgarithmetic(39630) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Give the exact problem description and the exact question.

You are showing answers to be sets, so the order of the elements is not important, although the ordering of the elements could be useful. Either of your sets are good; but not seeing your equation, the correctness of those answers is unknown.