16Hit1600
Advanced MathVery hardSum of the solutions of a second equation

Advanced Math practice question

The equation x² + px + q = 0 has solutions 2 and −6, where p and q are constants. If the equation x² + qx + p = 0 has solutions r and s, what is the value of r + s?

Answer: 12

From the first equation p = −(2 − 6) = 4 and q = (2)(−6) = −12. The second equation is x² − 12x + 4 = 0, whose solutions sum to 12.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 is p.
If you answered -4
−4 is the sum of the first equation's solutions.
If you answered -12
−12 is q, and the sum is −q.

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