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The discriminant if a quadratic equation is negative. One solution is 4 + 7i. What is the other solution? *

7 - 4i
4 - 7i
- 4 + 7i
7 + 4i

User Dshgna
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1 Answer

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Answer: B) 4 - 7i

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Step-by-step explanation:

When you have a quadratic in the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0, where a,b,c are real numbers, then a negative discriminant leads to having a pair of complex roots. The roots come in conjugate pairs meaning that p+qi is one root while p-qi is the other root. The p,q are real numbers.

In the case of 4+7i being one root, we have p = 4 and q = 7, since it matches with p+qi. The other root must be 4-7i since it matches with p-qi.

In short, we flip the plus to a minus when going from 4+7i to 4-7i. All of this applies when we have a,b,c as real numbers.

If we allowed a,b,c to be complex numbers, then the roots may not necessarily come in conjugate pairs.

User Pravsels
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