+656 The teacher has written an equation of the form \(p(x)=0\) on the board, where \(p(x)\)is a quadratic, but Heather can't read the linear term. She can see that the quadratic term is \(4x^2\) and that the constant is \(-24\). She asks her neighbor, Noel, what the linear term is.
Noel decides to tease her and just says, ``One of the roots is 4.''
Heather then says, ``Oh, thanks!''
She then correctly writes down the linear term. What was the linear term? Write the entire term, not just the coefficient.
The answer is NOT 0
Let p(x) = (Ax + B)(Cx + D). Then expanding, we get p(x) = ACx^2 + (AD + BC)x + BD, so AC = 4, BC = -24.
Also, x = 4 is a root, so B = 4A.
Solving this system, we get A = 1, B = 4, C = 4, D = -6, so the constant term is (AD + BC) x = (-6 + 16)x = 10x.
+266 Oh.. Guest was off by just a little....
The answer is -10x, not 10x!
It was 4x^2 - 10x - 24!
IF you are curious to see how i got the quadratic and the steps, just ask
I suggest you try to learn something from this problem, so you should ask someone, or me about the solutioin
