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Ch. 1 - Equations and Inequalities
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 2, Problem 116

Find all values of x satisfying the given conditions. y = 5x2 + 3x and y = 2

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1
Start by setting the two equations equal to each other since both represent y. This gives: 5x^2 + 3x = 2.
Rearrange the equation to set it equal to 0, which is the standard form for a quadratic equation: 5x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0.
Identify the coefficients of the quadratic equation: a = 5, b = 3, and c = -2. These will be used in the quadratic formula.
Apply the quadratic formula: x = \(\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}\)}{2a}. Substitute the values of a, b, and c into the formula.
Simplify the discriminant b^2 - 4ac and then compute the two possible solutions for x by evaluating the formula with both the plus and minus options for the square root.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Quadratic Functions

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, typically expressed in the form y = ax^2 + bx + c. In this case, the function y = 5x^2 + 3x represents a parabola that opens upwards, where 'a' is positive. Understanding the properties of quadratic functions, such as their vertex, axis of symmetry, and roots, is essential for solving equations involving them.
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Finding Intersections

Finding the intersection of two functions involves determining the values of x where the functions are equal. In this problem, we set the quadratic function equal to the constant function y = 2 to find the x-values that satisfy both equations. This process often requires rearranging the equation into standard form and applying methods such as factoring, completing the square, or using the quadratic formula.
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The Quadratic Formula

The quadratic formula, x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a), is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations of the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0. It provides the solutions for x based on the coefficients a, b, and c. In this context, once the equation is rearranged to standard form, applying the quadratic formula will yield the x-values where the two functions intersect.
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