Solve: Finding the Missing Coefficient in x²+3x-2=0 for One Solution

Question

Complete the equation so that it has only one solution and then solve.

x2+3x2=0 \square x^2+3x-2=0

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Complete the unknown so that there will be only one solution and find it
00:03 A is the unknown
00:09 We will use the root expression in the root formula
00:16 For there to be only one solution it must be equal to 0
00:19 Let's examine the coefficients
00:25 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve to find the unknown A
00:36 Let's isolate A
00:41 This is the unknown
00:50 We'll use the root formula to find the possible solutions
01:00 We know that the root equals 0
01:03 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve to find the solution
01:14 Division is also multiplication by the reciprocal
01:25 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Set up the discriminant equation for the quadratic to have one solution.
  • Step 2: Solve for a a using the condition Δ=0 \Delta = 0 .
  • Step 3: Once a a is determined, solve for x x using the quadratic formula.

Step 1: To have only one solution, we use the discriminant condition:

Δ=b24ac=0 \Delta = b^2 - 4ac = 0

Substitute b=3 b = 3 and c=2 c = -2 :

324a(2)=0 3^2 - 4a(-2) = 0

Simplify the equation:

9+8a=0 9 + 8a = 0

Step 2: Solve for a a :

8a=9 8a = -9

a=98 a = -\frac{9}{8}

Step 3: Substitute a=98 a = -\frac{9}{8} in the quadratic equation and use the quadratic formula:

Our equation becomes 98x2+3x2=0-\frac{9}{8}x^2 + 3x - 2 = 0.

The quadratic formula is:

x=b±b24ac2a x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

Using a=98 a = -\frac{9}{8} , b=3 b = 3 , and c=2 c = -2 :

x=3±324(98)(2)2(98) x = \frac{-3 \pm \sqrt{3^2 - 4(-\frac{9}{8})(-2)}}{2(-\frac{9}{8})}

Since the discriminant is 0, we have one solution:

x=33 x = \frac{-3}{-3}

Thus, the solution is:

x=43 x = \frac{4}{3} , and the required value of =a=98 \square = a = -\frac{9}{8} .

Therefore, the correct choice is: x=43 x = \frac{4}{3} , =98 \square = -\frac{9}{8} .

Answer

x=43 x=\frac{4}{3} , =98 \square=-\frac{9}{8}