Quadratika!

Algebra Level 2

Find the positive value of p p such that the quadratic equation p x 2 12 x + 4 = 0 px^2 - 12x + 4 = 0 has only one solution.


The answer is 9.

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13 solutions

Aditya Kumar
Aug 23, 2015

For a quadratic equation of the form a x 2 + b x + c = 0 ax^{2}+bx+c=0 to have only 1 solution, then its discriminant b 2 4 a c b^2 - 4ac must equal 0. Substituting the values from the given quadratic into b 2 4 a c = 0 b^2 - 4ac = 0 gives us ( 12 ) 2 4 ( p ) ( 4 ) = 0 (-12)^2 - 4(p)(4) = 0

144 16 p = 0 p = 9 144 - 16p = 0 \Longrightarrow p = 9

Good work, upvoted!

Swapnil Das - 5 years, 9 months ago

nice solution...

Joshua Calapardo - 5 years, 9 months ago

I used trial and error and got p=5 and x=2; (5)(2)^2-12(2)+4=0 But, whatever lol

Ian Carlo - 5 years, 4 months ago

I thought 0, because there was NOTHING saying that it must be a quadratic equation at last. Then, if P is equal to 0 we have a simple equation -12x+4=0

Another thing is "the quadratic equation ALWAYS has 2 solutions" but, sometimes, they're both equal.

I believe the aswer to the question MUST not be 9, because, if it was, then x' is 4/9 and x'' is 4/9.

If P is 0, then there is only one X= 1/3

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 8 months ago

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Sorry for late reply. But I see the question has been edited. Earlier it was mentioned that p is not 0.

Aditya Kumar - 5 years, 8 months ago

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It says 'positive value'. Zero is not positive anymore... LOL

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 7 months ago
Nihar Mahajan
Sep 2, 2015

Method without using the discriminant: To force a unique solution , the L.H.S must be a perfect square. Recall ( a b ) 2 = a 2 2 a b + b 2 (a-b)^2=a^2-2ab+b^2 . So observe the middle term. Note that 12 x = 2 ( 3 x ) ( 2 ) -12x = -2(3x)(2) .Since we already have 2 2 = 4 2^2=4 for the L.H.S to be a perfect square , clearly p x 2 = ( 3 x ) 2 = 9 x 2 p = 9 px^2=(3x)^2=9x^2 \Rightarrow \boxed{p=9} .

I thought 0, because there was NOTHING saying that it must be a quadratic equation at last. Then, if P is equal to 0 we have a simple equation -12x+4=0

Another thing is "the quadratic equation ALWAYS has 2 solutions" but, sometimes, they're both equal.

I believe the aswer to the question MUST not be 9, because, if it was, then x' is 4/9 and x'' is 4/9.

If P is 0, then there is only one X= 1/3

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 8 months ago

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Belief has no place in basic mathematics.

Christine Price - 5 years, 8 months ago

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Every time we have a quadratic equation, we have two roots. In the example, both are equal. TWO both duas dos A Priceless world is better.

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 7 months ago
Soumen Nandi
Aug 24, 2015

For one solution of a quadtric equation we have discriminant equal to 0 . therefore 12^2-16p = 0 ; =》p=9

Ben Vargas
Sep 19, 2015

x=-b/2a gives the x value for the vertex, once you find x, plug that in, chug to find P as the equation is set equal to zero, solve for P

Noel Lo
Sep 3, 2015

1 2 2 4 ( p ) ( 4 ) = 0 12^2-4(p)(4)=0

4 2 p = 1 2 2 4^2p =12^2

p = ( 12 4 ) 2 = 3 2 = 9 p=(\frac{12}{4})^2=3^2=9

Reuben Praveen
Sep 2, 2015

For a quadratic equation of the form y= ax^2 + bx+c, for there only to be one solution (when y=0), the discriminant b^2 -4ac must equal zero.

With the knowledge of b,a,c (a being p). you then have a linear equation of 144-16p=0, then rearranging and solving for p you find that p=9.

I thought 0, because there was NOTHING saying that it must be a quadratic equation at last. Then, if P is equal to 0 we have a simple equation -12x+4=0

Another thing is "the quadratic equation ALWAYS has 2 solutions" but, sometimes, they're both equal.

I believe the aswer to the question MUST not be 9, because, if it was, then x' is 4/9 and x'' is 4/9.

If P is 0, then there is only one X= 1/3

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 8 months ago
Hadia Qadir
Sep 2, 2015

For one solution, the discriminant would have to be zero, so \b^2 = 4ac, or (-12)^2 = 4p(4), or 144 = 16p, so p = 9.

Ben Habeahan
Sep 2, 2015

Since the equation has only one solution, we can write the equation; p x 2 12 x + 4 = ( a x + b ) 2 px^2-12x+4={(ax+b)}^2 p x 2 12 x + 4 = a 2 x 2 + 2 a b x + b 2 . px^2-12x+4=a^2x^2+2abx+b^2 .

From identity above, we can have b = ± 2 , a = 3 b= \pm2, a= \mp3 and p = 9 . p= \boxed9 .

Judd Baguio
Sep 1, 2015

Take the first derivative of eqn. 1 then find px, 2px - 12 = 0 px = 6 From eqn. 1, find x px^2 - 12x + 4 = 0 px(x) - 12x + 4 = 0 6x - 12x + 4 = 0 x = 2/3 then find p px = 6 p(2/3) = 6 p = 9

Simon Esslemont
Aug 26, 2015

(3x - 2)(3x -2)

One soln.

P=9

Please explain more

Abdur Rehman Zahid - 5 years, 9 months ago

I agree with @Abdur Rehman Zahid . You just proved by substitution that there is only one solution. Is it necessary for other quadratic polynomials There will exist factors (3x-2)(3x-2)?

Mehul Arora - 5 years, 9 months ago

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See my solution. I think it completes the expected portion :)

Nihar Mahajan - 5 years, 9 months ago

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Yep! That does complete the necessity :)

Mehul Arora - 5 years, 9 months ago
Aryan Waghavekar
Jan 17, 2020

THE ANSWER SHOULD BE ZERO SINCE THEY HAVE THE POLYNOMIAL HAS ONLY ONE SOLUTION WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE FOR LINEAR EQUATIONS AND NOT FOR QUADRATIC SINCE EVEN THOUGHT THE QUADRATIC POLYNOMIAL HAS ONE VALUE THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS TWO DIFFERENT EQUATIONS AND NOT SINGLE

Aditya Sky
Dec 12, 2015

For the given equation to have one solution, i.e, two identical roots, it's discriminant must be equal to zero. Writing the discriminant and performing some elementary manipulations would yield the value of " P " which is 6.

Tootie Frootie
Sep 5, 2015

Discriminant =0 b^2=4ac so p=9

I thought 0, because there was NOTHING saying that it must be a quadratic equation at last. Then, if P is equal to 0 we have a simple equation -12x+4=0

Another thing is "the quadratic equation ALWAYS has 2 solutions" but, sometimes, they're both equal.

I believe the aswer to the question MUST not be 9, because, if it was, then x' is 4/9 and x'' is 4/9.

If P is 0, then there is only one X= 1/3

Mauricio Braga - 5 years, 8 months ago

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