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One of the five quadratics below has a repeated root. (The other four have distinct roots.) What is the repeated root?

\begin{align*}

&-x^2 + 18x + 81 \\
I need his answer fast!!
&3x^2 - 6x + 9 \\

&8x^2 - 32x + 32 \\

&25x^2 - 30x - 9 \\

&x^2 - 14x + 196

\end{align*}

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

(c) 8x^2 -32x +32, repeated root is x=2.

Explanation:

A quadratic with repeated roots will be a multiple of a perfect square trinomial. The form of it will be ...

a(x -b)² = ax² -2abx +ab² = a(x² -2bx +b²)

Dividing by the leading coefficient will leave a monic quadratic whose constant is a (positive) perfect square, and whose linear term has a coefficient that is double the root of the constant.

__

-x^2 + 18x + 81

Dividing by the leading coefficient gives ...

x^2 -18x -81 . . . . . a negative constant

__

3x^2 - 6x + 9

Dividing by the leading coefficient gives ...

x^2 -2x +3 . . . . . . constant is not a perfect square

__

8x^2 - 32x + 32

Dividing by the leading coefficient gives ...

x^2 -4x +4 = (x -2)^2 . . . . . has a repeated root of x=2

__

25x^2 - 30x - 9

Dividing by the leading coefficient gives ...

x^2 -1.2x -0.36 . . . . . . a negative constant

__

x^2 - 14x + 196

The x-coefficient is not 2 times the root of the constant.

14 = √196 ≠ 2√196

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