# Thread: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

1. ## find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

is m the slope? what formula i may use to solve for this?

2. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

Just because the textbook says $y = mx + b$ does not mean you should automatically assume $m$ is the slope. Besides, what slopes are mentioned in this problem?

3. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

no, im solving it this way that i have to divide both sides of the equation by x^2+ 1 then m = 1 - 4 sq. root of 3 x underneath x^2+1 sir may i know the next move for the value of m?

thanks

4. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

Okay, so $m = \frac{1 - 4 \sqrt{3}x}{x^2 + 1}$. But does get you any closer to a solution?

I would start with the original equation and expand the LHS, yielding

$mx^2 + m = 1 - 4 \sqrt{3} x$

$mx^2 + 4 \sqrt{3} x + (m-1) = 0$

This has two equal roots if and only if the discriminant is zero.

5. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

sir im solving for the discriminant.... that a = m, b = 4, and c = (m-1) is this correct? the equate to zero.

D = 4^2 - 4(m)(m-1)
D = 16 - 4m^2 + 4m
0 = 16 - 4m^2 + 4m
0 = -4(m^2-m-4)
0 = m^2-m-4 sir this not a factorable expression... what is the next sir?

thanks

6. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

There should be a $4 \sqrt{3}$ in there, i.e.

$D = (4 \sqrt{3})^2 - 4m(m-1) = 0$

$48 - 4m^2 + 4m = 0$

$m^2 - m - 12 = 0$, this factors. If it didn't factor, how would you solve it then?

7. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

if i were to solve it sir , i will use quadratic formula. is it ok?

factor like ( m - 4) (m + 3) = 0

then m = 4 or m = - 3

is that right sir?

8. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

m = 4:

4(x2 + 1) = 1 - (4√3)x

4x2 + 4 = 1 - (4√3)x

4x2 + (4√3)x + 3 = 0

since we are supposed to have 2 equal roots, this should factor as:

(2x + √3)2 = 0. does it?

m = -3:

-3(x2 + 1) = 1 - (4√3)x

-3x2 - 3 = 1 - (4√3)x

3x2 + (4√3)x + 4 = 0

again, this "ought" to factor as:

(√3x + 2)2 = 0. does it?

9. ## Re: find the values of m so that the equation will have two equal roots.

thanks Deveno