College Algebra, Chapter 1, 1.3, Section 1.3, Problem 76

Solve the equation $\displaystyle bx^2 + 2x + \frac{1}{b} = 0 (b \neq 0)$ for $x$.


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

bx^2 + 2x + \frac{1}{b} =& 0
&& \text{Given}
\\
\\
bx^2 + 2x =& \frac{-1}{b}
&& \text{Subtract } \frac{1}{b}
\\
\\
x^2 + \frac{2}{b} x =& \frac{-1}{b^2}
&& \text{Divide both sides by } b
\\
\\
x^2 + \frac{2}{b} x + \frac{1}{b^2} =& \frac{-1}{b^2} + \frac{1}{b^2}
&& \text{Complete the square: add } \left( \frac{\displaystyle \frac{2}{b}}{2} \right)^2 = \frac{1}{b^2}
\\
\\
\left( x + \frac{1}{b} \right)^2 =& 0
&& \text{Perfect square}
\\
\\
x + \frac{1}{b} =& \pm \sqrt{0}
&& \text{Take the square root}
\\
\\
x =& \frac{-1}{b}
&& \text{Solve for } x



\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In what ways might RFID technology be used to serve customers better? What problems might arise? Do you think that the technology might be valuable when implanted in animals or people?

Calculus: Early Transcendentals, Chapter 9, 9.3, Section 9.3, Problem 18

Single Variable Calculus, Chapter 3, 3.1, Section 3.1, Problem 24