Quadratic Equations with positive root

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving quadratic equations that have at least one positive root, specifically focusing on the equation x² - (m-3)x + m = 0. Participants explore various methods to determine the values of 'm' that satisfy this condition, including the use of the discriminant and properties of the roots.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant begins by checking the discriminant and finds conditions for D > 0, suggesting m in the intervals (-∞, -1) and (9, ∞).
  • Another participant suggests using the sum and product of the roots, which are m-3 and m, respectively, to find conditions for positive roots.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the utility of the sum and product of roots, indicating they have considered these factors already.
  • It is proposed that either m < 0 or m ≥ 9 may be necessary for at least one positive root.
  • One participant provides the quadratic formula and discusses the implications of the roots being positive, leading to inequalities involving m.
  • Another participant questions the validity of a derived inequality, exploring the implications of the square root and its conditions.
  • Discussion includes the consideration of cases where both roots could be non-positive, emphasizing the need to find when the larger root is positive.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on how to approach the problem, with no clear consensus on the best method or the specific values of 'm' that ensure at least one positive root. Multiple competing views remain regarding the conditions derived from the quadratic formula and the discriminant.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the quadratic equation has real roots only for certain values of m, specifically m ≤ 1 or m ≥ 9, which may limit the applicability of some derived conditions.

konichiwa2x
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How do you solve quadratic equations which have atleast one positive root??
The question was this:
Find the value of 'm' for which the roots are such that at least one is positive. x2 -(m-3)x + m = 0 mR.

Can someone help me get started?

Here is my work: I
checked the discriminant. for D>0,
m (-inf,-1) (9,inf)
Now what do i do? please help:confused:
 
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probably you use the fact that the sum of the roots is m-3 and the product of the roots is m.
 
well how is that going to help? I have thought of all that.
 
it seems either m < 0 or m >=9?
 
bomba923 said:
[tex]x^2 - \left( {m - 3} \right)x + m = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{{3 - m \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} }}{2}[/tex]

Should be

[tex]\frac{{m - 3 \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} }}{2}[/tex]

Since the quadratic formula says
If ax2 + bx + c = 0
then

[tex]x = \frac{{-b \pm \sqrt {b^2 - 4ac} }}{2a}[/tex]
 
konichiwa2x said:
How do you solve quadratic equations which have atleast one positive root??
The question was this:
Find the value of 'm' for which the roots are such that at least one is positive. x2 -(m-3)x + m = 0 mR.

Can someone help me get started?

Here is my work: I
checked the discriminant. for D>0,
m (-inf,-1) (9,inf)
Now what do i do? please help:confused:
You have to find a value of 'm' such that at least one of the roots of x2-(m-3)x+m is positive.
Why not just use the quadratic formula?
[tex]x^2 - \left( {m - 3} \right)x + m = 0 \Rightarrow x = \frac{{{m - 3} \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} }}{2}[/tex]

And so,
[tex]\begin{gathered}<br /> \frac{{m - 3 \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} }}<br /> {2} > 0 \Rightarrow \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} > 3 - m \Rightarrow \hfill \\<br /> m^2 - 10m + 9 > \pm \left( {m^2 - 6m + 9} \right) \hfill \\ <br /> \end{gathered}[/tex]

*For m2-10m+9 > m2-6m+9,
[tex]m^2 - 10m + 9 > m^2 - 6m + 9 \Rightarrow - 4m > 0 \Rightarrow m < 0[/tex]

*For m2-10m+9 > -(m2-6m+9),
[tex]m^2 - 10m + 9 > - m^2 + 6m - 9 \Rightarrow m^2 - 8m + 9 > 0 \Rightarrow m > 4 + \sqrt 7 \text{ or } m < 4 - \sqrt 7[/tex]However, x2-(m-3)x+m has a real discriminant only for m≤1 or m≥9.

The inequality m2-10m+9 > m2-6m+9 derived m<4-sqrt(7) and m>4-sqrt(7), the former of which is weaker than m<0 (as derived from the inequality m2-10m+9 > m2-6m+9), and the latter of which is weaker than the condition m≥9 (necessary for x2-(m-3)x+m to have real discrimants when m≥0).

Thus, choose an m<0 or an m≥9 and the problem is solved.
 
bomba923 said:
[tex]\begin{gathered}<br /> \frac{{m - 3 \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} }}<br /> {2} > 0 \Rightarrow \pm \sqrt {m^2 - 10m + 9} > 3 - m \Rightarrow \hfill \\<br /> m^2 - 10m + 9 > \pm \left( {m^2 - 6m + 9} \right) \hfill \\ <br /> \end{gathered}[/tex]
Are you saying that [tex]\begin{gathered} \pm \sqrt{A} > B \\ \Rightarrow A > \pm B ^ 2 \end{gathered}[/tex]?
Say, we have to solve the equation:
[tex]\begin{gathered} \pm \sqrt{x} > x + 1 \\ \Rightarrow x > \pm (x ^ 2 + 2x + 1) \end{gathered}[/tex]
** x > x2 + 2x + 1 [tex]\Rightarrow x \in \emptyset[/tex]
** x > -x2 - 2x - 1 [tex]\Rightarrow \left[ \begin{array}{l} x < \frac{-3 - \sqrt{5}}{2} \\ x > \frac{-3 + \sqrt{5}}{2} \\ \end{array} \right.[/tex]
And [tex]\sqrt{x}[/tex] is defined for x >= 0, and [tex]\frac{-3 + \sqrt{5}}{2} < 0 \leq x[/tex], so the solution to the inequality is x >= 0?
Say, x = 0.5, is:
[tex]\pm \sqrt{0.5} > 0.5 + 1 = 1.5[/tex]?
 
Last edited:
konichiwa2x said:
How do you solve quadratic equations which have atleast one positive root??
The question was this:
Find the value of 'm' for which the roots are such that at least one is positive. x2 -(m-3)x + m = 0 mR.

Can someone help me get started?

Here is my work: I
checked the discriminant. for D>0,
m (-inf,-1) (9,inf)
Now what do i do? please help:confused:
Say you have two roots x1 < x2
** Say, the larger root of the equation is non-positive, i.e x2 <= 0. So we'll have:
x1 < x2 < 0. Both roots are non-positive. And this is not the case we are looking for, right?
** If the larger root of the equation is positive, then of course we have at least one positive root, namely x2.
So what we will have to do is to find the cases in which the larger root is positive. Right?
There are two roots of the equation above:
[tex]x = \frac{m - 3 \pm \sqrt{m ^ 2 - 10 m + 9}}{2}[/tex], which is the larger one?
Can you get me?
Can you go from here? :)
 
Last edited:
yup thanks for the help all.:approve:
 

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