asked 42.8k views
3 votes
Let d and q be the roots of the quadratic equation x^2 + 7x - 4 = 0. Find the value of 2d^2 + 19d + 5q - 8.

1 Answer

4 votes

With a bit of cleverness, we may write 2d^2+19d+5q-8 = 2(d^2+7d-4) + 5(d+q).

But d^2 + 7d - 4=0, because this is what it means for d to be a root of the given quadratic.

This leaves 5(d+q). By Vieta's formula, we know d+q = -7, so 5(d+q)=5(-7)=-35.

Solution 2:

You don't necessarily need to be clever: we can also substitute d^2 = -7d + 4 to change our expression to the equivalent 2(-7d+4) + 19d + 5q - 8 = -14d + 8 + 19d + 5q - 8 = 5(d+q) = 5(-7) = -35.

Notice, interestingly, that we can calculate this expression without knowing the values of d and q, and without knowing which root is being called d, and which is q!

answered
User Gal Silberman
by
8.9k points

Related questions

2 answers
1 vote
204k views
asked Aug 7, 2019 137k views
Eugstman asked Aug 7, 2019
by Eugstman
7.6k points
1 answer
3 votes
137k views
asked Jun 9, 2024 176k views
Rezoner asked Jun 9, 2024
by Rezoner
7.7k points
1 answer
3 votes
176k views
Welcome to Qamnty — a place to ask, share, and grow together. Join our community and get real answers from real people.