Question

Using the quadratic formula how would one solve 5x^2 -4px-p^2= 0

[i'm really confused by the two powers; shouldn't there only be one in a quadratic pattern]

Answer 1

\[5x^2-4px-p^2\]

Answer 2

\[b ^{2}-4ac=0\]
a=5, b=-4p, c=-p^2

Answer 3

use quadratic formula to solve the p

Answer 4

So you solve for p and x seperatley

Answer 5

the question want to find p right?

Answer 6

Solve for x

Answer 7

use factorisation
(-5x-p)(-1x+p)=0

Answer 8

here you are required to factorise to solve for x ..good job @jckm135

Answer 9

But it says use quadratic formula

Answer 10

honestly i've never used the quadratic formula for this type of example

Answer 11

ill try wolfram alpha, thanks anyway

Answer 12

when u have an expression like this u have to ask which of the two letters is your unknown

Answer 13

if anyone is interested
http://i.imgur.com/GsybwCP.png

Answer 14

p is constant, x is variable here

Answer 15

if the unknown is x then your equation is
\[ \large \color{red}{5}x^2\color{red}{-4p}x\color{red}{-p^2}=0 \]
and the quadratic formula gives you the solutions
\[ \large x=\frac{-(-4p)\pm\sqrt{(-4p)^2-4(5)(-p^2)}}{2(5)} \]

Answer 16

got it?

and yes, as ganeshie8 points out, it is traditional for x to be the unknown and any other letter to be a constant

Answer 17

Yeah thanks a lot i think i just got a bit lost when i was adding the like terms