# Math Help - parabola problems, and other questions

1. ## parabola problems, and other questions

Hello, I have a few questions that are making my head hurt.

Question 1:
if the parabola $y -2=a(x-3)^2$ goes through the point (2,0), what is the value of a?

Question 2:
Given $x^3-4x^2+2x+1=0$
a:How many possible positive roots are there?
b:How many possible negative roots are there?
c:What are the possible negative roots?
d:Using synthetic substitution, which of the possible rational roots is actually a root of the equation?
e:Find the irrational roots of the equation.(Hint:Use the quadratic formula to solve the depressed equation.)

Thanks

2. ## First one..

Given $y-2 = a(x-3)^2$ /devide both sides by $(x-3)^2$

then $a = (y-2)/(x-3)^2$ you know that when x = 2; y = 0 so just plug those in.. and there you have it...

3. Originally Posted by koumori
Question 1:
if the parabola $y -2=a(x-3)^2$ goes through the4 point (2,0), what is the value of a?

Thanks
$0 -2=a(2-3)^2$

now solve for $a$ . You may need to use complex numbers.

Originally Posted by koumori

Question 2:
Given $x^3-4x^2+2x+1=0$
a:How many possible positive roots are there?
b:How many possible negative roots are there?
c:What are the possible negative roots?
d:Using synthetic substitution, which of the possible rational roots is actually a root of the equation?
e:Find the irrational roots of the equation.(Hint:Use the quadratic formula to solve the depressed equation.)

Thanks

This one is a little harder, what have you tried?

4. ## how?

Just curious, how could a complex number be involved?

I just get $a = -2$?

what am I missing?

5. Originally Posted by koumori
Hello, I have a few questions that are making my head hurt.

Question 1:
if the parabola $y -2=a(x-3)^2$ goes through the point (2,0), what is the value of a?

Question 2:
Given $x^3-4x^2+2x+1=0$
a:How many possible positive roots are there?
b:How many possible negative roots are there?
c:What are the possible negative roots?
d:Using synthetic substitution, which of the possible rational roots is actually a root of the equation?
e:Find the irrational roots of the equation.(Hint:Use the quadratic formula to solve the depressed equation.)

Thanks
2) you know something times something = 1
so you try 1 for example,
$1^3-4(1)^2+2(1)+1=0$

so (x-1) is one of the root.

divide the equation by $(x-1)$
$(x-1)(x^2-3x-1)=0$

use the quadratic equation. to solve for the other two roots.

2a) 2
b)1
e) $\frac{3+/-\sqrt{(-3)^2-4*1*-1)}}{2}$
$=\frac{3+/-\sqrt{13}}{2}$

hope this helps.

6. Originally Posted by pickslides
Originally Posted by koumori
Question 2:
Given $x^3-4x^2+2x+1=0$
a:How many possible positive roots are there?
b:How many possible negative roots are there?
c:What are the possible negative roots?
d:Using synthetic substitution, which of the possible rational roots is actually a root of the equation?
e:Find the irrational roots of the equation.(Hint:Use the quadratic formula to solve the depressed equation.)

This one is a little harder, what have you tried?
Well...I'm pretty sure I know the answers for a,b, and c: (a:1)(b:1)(c:-\frac{1}{1} , \frac{1}{1}.
For "d" I've used synthetic substitution and I think that the answer is -1, that last one is the one that makes my head hurt.
If I'm not much mistaken, the depressed equation is: [tex]x^2+3x+1=0[\math]
when I use the quadratic equation on it, I get a gibberish answer that is rational:-2.168 approximately.

7. Originally Posted by koumori
Well...I'm pretty sure I know the answers for a,b, and c: (a:1)(b:1)(c:-\frac{1}{1} , \frac{1}{1}.
For "d" I've used synthetic substitution and I think that the answer is -1, that last one is the one that makes my head hurt.
If I'm not much mistaken, the depressed equation is: [tex]x^2+3x+1=0[\math]
when I use the quadratic equation on it, I get a gibberish answer that is rational:-2.168 approximately.
x = 1 is clearly a solution. Therefore x - 1 is a factor of $x^3 - 4x^2 + 2x + 1$. Therefore the quadratic factor is $x^2 - 3x - 1$.

8. ok, I think I really went wrong somewhere!
When I do synthetic division on the equation I find that -1 gives a remainder of 0....
I remember that if there is no remainder left after doing synthetic division then the divisor is a factor of the equation.

Now I am confused.....where did I mess up?

9. Originally Posted by koumori
ok, I think I really went wrong somewhere!
When I do synthetic division on the equation I find that -1 gives a remainder of 0....
I remember that if there is no remainder left after doing synthetic division then the divisor is a factor of the equation.

Now I am confused.....where did I mess up?
Since you have not posted your working it's impossible to know where you messed up (and yes, you have messed up somewhere because (-1)^3 - 4(-1)^2 + 2(-1) + 1 does not equal zero).

10. Ok....lesson learned!
1 is the number to use, so that means that the depressed equation is:
$x^2 - 3x - 1$ then, the result, when the quadratic equation is applied is 3+i or 3-i?

11. Originally Posted by pickslides
$0 -2=a(2-3)^2$

now solve for $a$ . You may need to use complex numbers.

This one is a little harder, what have you tried?
Complex numbers are unnecessary to solve the equation you posted. -1 squared is 1. Therefore you have -2 = a*1; thus $a = \frac {-1}{2}.$

12. Try using Descartes' Rule of Signs

13. Originally Posted by mattio
Try using Descartes' Rule of Signs
Thanks! I did, I got an answer of 1 possible positive root and one possible negative root.
Is that correct?