# Math Help - further maths quadratics and roots again

1. ## further maths quadratics and roots again

Getting used to these equations now just stuck on this one.

The equation 2x² - 7x + 4 = 0 has roots a and b. find the quadratic equation with integer coefficients and with roots 1/a² , 1/b²

i have the sum = 7/2 and the product = 2

pleeease help

2. Hello, djmccabie!

The equation $2x^2 - 7x + 4 \:= \:0$ has roots $a$ and $b.$
Find the quadratic equation with integer coefficients and with roots: . $\frac{1}{a^2},\;\;\frac{1}{b^2}$

i have the sum = 7/2 and the product = 2 . . . . Good!
Looking ahead, we want the equation with: . $\begin{array}{ccccc}\text{Sum} &=& \dfrac{1}{a^2} +\dfrac{1}{b^2} &=& \dfrac{a^2+b^2}{a^2b^2}\\ \\[-3mm] \text{Product} &=& \dfrac{1}{a^2}\cdot\dfrac{1}{b^2} &=&\dfrac{1}{a^2b^2} \end{array}$

We have: . $\begin{array}{cccc}a + b &=&\frac{7}{2} & {\color{blue}[1]} \\ ab &=& 2 & {\color{blue}[2]} \end{array}$

Square [1]: . $(a + b)^2 \:=\:\left(\frac{7}{2}\right)^2 \quad\Rightarrow\quad a^2 + 2ab + b^2 \:=\:\frac{49}{4}$

. . $\text{and we have: }\;(a^2 + b^2) + 2\underbrace{(ab)}_{2} \:=\:\frac{49}{4} \quad\Rightarrow\quad \boxed{a^2+b^2 \:=\:\frac{33}{4}}$

Square [2]: . $(ab)^2 \:=\:2^2 \quad\Rightarrow\quad \boxed{a^2b^2 \:=\:4}$

. . $\text{Sum} \;=\;\frac{a^2+b^2}{a^2b^2} \;=\;\frac{\frac{33}{4}}{4} \;=\;\frac{33}{16}$

. . $\text{Product} \;=\;\frac{1}{a^2b^2} \;=\;\frac{1}{4}$

The equation is: . $x^2 - \frac{33}{16}x + \frac{1}{4} \:=\:0 \quad\Rightarrow\quad \boxed{16x^2 - 33x + 4 \:=\:0}$

3. Thanks a lot! i guess you enjoy going through this website lol great help