Final answer:
The context of the problem often determines which solutions to a quadratic equation are appropriate. Negative values may be discarded if the scenario requires positive numbers, indicating that Lavan's argument for positive solutions like x = 1 may be correct, depending on the specifics of the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
When solving quadratic equations, we often find two potential solutions due to the nature of squaring an unknown. These solutions are often referred to as the roots of the quadratic equation. However, not all solutions that we calculate can be applied to real-world scenarios or the context of a problem. For instance, negative solutions in contexts that require positive values (like time or distance) do not make sense and hence are discarded.
As illustrated in the reference, when dealing with quadratic equations, such as x² + 0.00088x - 0.000484 = 0, applying the quadratic formula may yield a positive and a negative value. In problems concerning physical quantities, like concentrations or time durations, the negative value is often non-sensical and hence, the positive value is deemed the appropriate solution. Therefore, if Devra finds that x = -10 is a solution, but the context of the problem does not support negative values, then this solution would be rejected in favor of a positive solution like x = 1, as suggested by Lavan.