Finding a Second Degree Equation from Its Solutions
This post about finding a second degree equation from its solutions is part of a series of posts to help you prepare for the Advanced Algebra and Functions part of the Accuplacer test.
Question
x = 4 is the only solution to one of the equations below.
Which one?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Solution
Note
For solving equations, the terms “root,” “solution,” “zero,” and “x-intercept” all mean pretty much the same thing, an answer to the problem. “Zero” and “x-intercept” come from the way equations are usually graphed for a problem: The equation is set equal to zero and then solved for the x-value that makes it all equal zero. On a graph, that x-value is an x-intercept.
Back to the Question
The factor theorem says that if is a solution to
, then
must be a factor of
. For example, if
is a solution,
must be a factor of
.
For which of the answer choices is a factor? Choices B and D. What’s the right answer?
The other clue in the question is that is the only solution. The factor theorem says also that if
is a factor of
, then c must be a solution to
. Note that the equation in answer choice D also contains another factor:
. If
is a factor, then -4 is a solution. That would make
a second solution — but the question says there can be only one, so D cannot be the correct answer.
That means the correct answer is choice B.
Related: “Solving a Quadratic” and “How Can You Find a Quadratic’s Equation from Its Graph?”
The Accuplacer sample problem on which this one is based is #12 in the sample questions for the Accuplacer Advanced Algebra and Functions test.