Homework Help: Algebra

Posted by Megan on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 10:33pm.

For what value(s) of b will x^2 + bx + 3 have exactly one root?

I'm rather new at this but wouldn't b=2*sqrt(3) give (x+sqrt3)² as factors and that would give one root?
Check my thinking.

for a quadratic equation to have exactly one root, the discriminat must be zero i.e

if equation is:
ax^2+bx+c=0 , then for exactly one root,
b^2-4ac=0
i.e.
b^2=4ac
for your equation,
x^2+bx+3=0
b^2=4(1)(3)
=12
hence
b=sqrt(12)
=2(sqrt(3))

No one has answered this question yet.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

algebra 2 - Not sure if either one of these answer are correct to simplify the ...
Algebra - SIMPLIFY: ROOT 0F 7 * ROOT OF 14 SIMPLIFY: ROOT OF 1/5 EVALUATE, IF ...
algebra - simplify: square root of 5 + square root of 20 - square root of 27 + ...
math - determine the area of triangle abc when side ab= square root of x, side ...
Precal grade 11 - If 3 is one root of 2x^2 + bx + 3 =0 find the other root and ...
math calculus please help! - l = lim as x approaches 0 of x/(the square root of...
algebra - Can someone help me solve this: Decide all values of b in the ...
***updated answer algebra**** - Can someone help me solve this: Decide all ...
algebra - Determine the value(s) of k for which x^2+(k-2)x-2k=0 has equal and ...
Algebra-Please help-I'm desperate to understand - Posted by Megan on Tuesday...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: