Question

If a and b are the two values of t that satisfy the equation t^2 − t − 6 = 0, with a≥b, what is the value of a − b?

5


-5


1


-1

Answer 1

it factors to be (t-3)(t+2) which would mean that t=3,-2 and since a has to be greater than or equal to b, a has to be the larger number. therefore, a=3 and b=-2. so a-b is the same as 3-(-2) which is really 3+2 and that equals 5. the correct answer is 5.