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| Question 896352:  Please help me with this question. I have to solve by whichever method is easier. ( factoring, completing the square or the quadratic formula)
 A) what is the discriminant of the equation 4x^2+8x+k=0
 B) for what value of k will the equation have a double root?
 C)for what values of k will the equation have two real roots?
 D) for what values of k will the equation have imaginary roots?
 E) name three values of k for which the given equation has rational roots
 
 Found 2 solutions by  richwmiller, MathTherapy:
 Answer by richwmiller(17219)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!  a=4 b=8 c=k
 A)  sqrt( 8^2-4*4*k ))
 
 solve for k
 B) 0 =  sqrt( 8^2-4*4*k ) if d=0 there is one root (double root)
 when k=4
 C) 0< sqrt( 8^2-4*4*k ) if d is positive there are two real roots
 when k<4
 D) 0>  sqrt( 8^2-4*4*k )if d is negative then there are imaginary roots
 when k>4
 E)  k=1 k=2 k=3
 
 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping) |  | 
 
  Start with the given expression. 
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF  . 
 
 
 Now let's try to factor the inner expression
  
 
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 Looking at the expression
  , we can see that the first coefficient is  , the second coefficient is  , and the last term is  . 
 
 
 Now multiply the first coefficient
  by the last term  to get  . 
 
 
 Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to
  (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient  ? 
 
 
 To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of
  (the previous product). 
 
 
 Factors of
  : 
 1
 
 -1
 
 
 
 Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.
 
 
 
 These factors pair up and multiply to
  . 
 1*1 = 1
 (-1)*(-1) = 1
 
 
 Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient
  : 
 
 
 
 | First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | 1 | 1+1=2 |  | -1 | -1 | -1+(-1)=-2 | 
 
 
 
 From the table, we can see that the two numbers
  and  add to  (the middle coefficient). 
 
 
 So the two numbers
  and  both multiply to  and add to  
 
 
 Now replace the middle term
  with  . Remember,  and  add to  . So this shows us that  . 
 
 
 
  Replace the second term  with  . 
 
 
 
  Group the terms into two pairs. 
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF  from the first group. 
 
 
 
  Factor out  from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis. 
 
 
 
  Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term  
 
 
 
  Condense the terms. 
 
 
 --------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 So
  then factors further to  
 
 
 ===============================================================
 
 
 
 Answer:
 
 
 
 So
  completely factors to  . 
 
 
 In other words,
  . 
 
 
 Note: you can check the answer by expanding
  to get  or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical). 
 
 |  
 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping) |  | 
 Looking at the expression
  , we can see that the first coefficient is  , the second coefficient is  , and the last term is  . 
 
 
 Now multiply the first coefficient
  by the last term  to get  . 
 
 
 Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to
  (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient  ? 
 
 
 To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of
  (the previous product). 
 
 
 Factors of
  : 
 1,2,3,4,6,12
 
 -1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-12
 
 
 
 Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.
 
 
 
 These factors pair up and multiply to
  . 
 1*12 = 12
 2*6 = 12
 3*4 = 12
 (-1)*(-12) = 12
 (-2)*(-6) = 12
 (-3)*(-4) = 12
 
 
 Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient
  : 
 
 
 
 | First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | 12 | 1+12=13 |  | 2 | 6 | 2+6=8 |  | 3 | 4 | 3+4=7 |  | -1 | -12 | -1+(-12)=-13 |  | -2 | -6 | -2+(-6)=-8 |  | -3 | -4 | -3+(-4)=-7 | 
 
 
 
 From the table, we can see that the two numbers
  and  add to  (the middle coefficient). 
 
 
 So the two numbers
  and  both multiply to  and add to  
 
 
 Now replace the middle term
  with  . Remember,  and  add to  . So this shows us that  . 
 
 
 
  Replace the second term  with  . 
 
 
 
  Group the terms into two pairs. 
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF  from the first group. 
 
 
 
  Factor out  from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis. 
 
 
 
  Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term  
 
 
 ===============================================================
 
 
 
 Answer:
 
 
 
 So
  factors to  . 
 
 
 In other words,
  . 
 
 
 Note: you can check the answer by expanding
  to get  or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical). 
 
 |  
 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: Quadratic Formula |  | Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x: 
 
 Starting with the general quadratic
 
 
 
  
 
 the general solution using the quadratic equation is:
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 So lets solve
  ( notice  ,  , and  ) 
 
 
 
 
 
  Plug in a=4, b=8, and c=2 
 
 
 
 
  Square 8 to get 64 
 
 
 
 
  Multiply  to get  
 
 
 
 
  Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root) 
 
 
 
 
  Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this  solver) 
 
 
 
 
  Multiply 2 and 4 to get 8 
 
 So now the expression breaks down into two parts
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 Now break up the fraction
 
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 Simplify
 
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 So the solutions are:
 
 
  or  
 
 
 |  
 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: Quadratic Formula |  | Let's use the quadratic formula to solve for x: 
 
 Starting with the general quadratic
 
 
 
  
 
 the general solution using the quadratic equation is:
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 So lets solve
  ( notice  ,  , and  ) 
 
 
 
 
 
  Plug in a=4, b=8, and c=1 
 
 
 
 
  Square 8 to get 64 
 
 
 
 
  Multiply  to get  
 
 
 
 
  Combine like terms in the radicand (everything under the square root) 
 
 
 
 
  Simplify the square root (note: If you need help with simplifying the square root, check out this  solver) 
 
 
 
 
  Multiply 2 and 4 to get 8 
 
 So now the expression breaks down into two parts
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 Now break up the fraction
 
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 Simplify
 
 
 
 
  or  
 
 
 So the solutions are:
 
 
  or  
 
 
 |  
Answer by MathTherapy(10556)
      (Show Source): 
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