Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2016

Algebra Difficulty 2.5 Junior Find the answer Canada

If x=18x=18 is one of the solutions of the equation x2+12x+c=0x^2+12x+c=0, the other solution of this equation is

Pick one

Solution

Solution 1

Since x=18x=18 is a solution to the equation x2+12x+c=0x^2+12x+c=0, then x=18x=18 satisfies this equation.

Thus, 182+12(18)+c=018^2+12(18)+c=0 and so 324+216+c=0324+216 + c = 0 or c=540c = -540.

Therefore, the original equation becomes x2+12x540=0x^2+12x-540=0 or (x18)(x+30)=0(x-18)(x+30)=0.

Therefore, the other solution is x=30x=-30.

Solution 2

We use the fact that the sum of the roots of an equation of the form x2+bx+c=0x^2+bx+c=0 is b-b.

If the roots of the equation x2+12x+c=0x^2+12x+c=0 are 1818 and rr, then 18+r=1218+r=-12 or r=30r = -30.

Therefore, the other solution is x=30x=-30.

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Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.