What is the difference between the roots of the equation \(7x^{2}-30x+32=0\)?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: \(\tfrac{2}{7}\)
Compute the discriminant: for \(7x^{2}-30x+32=0\), \(a=7,\;b=-30,\;c=32\) so \(D=b^{2}-4ac=900-896=4\). The difference between roots equals \(|r_{1}-r_{2}|=\dfrac{\sqrt{D}}{a}\). Therefore the difference is \(\dfrac{\sqrt{4}}{7}=\dfrac{2}{7}\). Note: the option \(\tfrac{4}{7}\) results from mistakenly using \(D/a\), and \(\tfrac{16}{7}\) is one of the roots (the other root is 2), not their difference. Exam tip: use \(|r_{1}-r_{2}|=\sqrt{D}/|a|\) to get the answer quickly without finding both roots explicitly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
\(\tfrac{2}{7}\)
Why is this the correct answer?
Compute the discriminant: for \(7x^{2}-30x+32=0\), \(a=7,\;b=-30,\;c=32\) so \(D=b^{2}-4ac=900-896=4\). The difference between roots equals \(|r_{1}-r_{2}|=\dfrac{\sqrt{D}}{a}\). Therefore the difference is \(\dfrac{\sqrt{4}}{7}=\dfrac{2}{7}\). Note: the option \(\tfrac{4}{7}\) results from mistakenly using \(D/a\), and \(\tfrac{16}{7}\) is one of the roots (the other root is 2), not their difference. Exam tip: use \(|r_{1}-r_{2}|=\sqrt{D}/|a|\) to get the answer quickly without finding both roots explicitly.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 10 Mathematics question. Chapter: Quadratic Equations. Topic: Introduction to Quadratic Equations.
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