ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


Math I Videos 77 videos

SAT Math 2.4 Algebra and Functions
187 Views

SAT Math 2.4 Algebra and Functions

Solving Proportions Using Cross Products
6802 Views

This video covers how to use cross products to solve for a missing number in a proportion by setting that proportion with a variable over the produ...

GED Math 2.4 Rational Numbers
190 Views

GED Math 2.4 Rational Numbers. Lucius's favorite restaurant is how many km from his home?

See All

ACT Math 1.3 Intermediate Algebra 506 Views


Share It!


Description:

ACT Math Intermediate Algebra Drill 1, Problem 3. Can you find the value of a in this expression?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:02

And here's another shmoop de jour...

00:04

Solve for a: 2a squared plus 4a minus 1 equals 0.

00:08

And here are the potential answers...

00:14

Before we even think about starting, we should always glance at the potential answer set first

00:19

Here, the numbers scream at us that the quadratic equation will be involved.

00:23

The quadratic equation looks like this:

00:26

We are drawing from a line of the equation "ax squared plus bx plus c."

00:31

...and we have to figure out what a, b and c are so we can plug them into the right places.

00:37

In this case, the 2 comes from here; it's A.

00:39

B is here, and it's 4.

00:42

And C is here, and it's negative 1.

00:45

Now we just plug in the numbers and this is what we get.

00:47

Now we just have to simplify. We get negative 4 plus or minus 4 squared which is 16....

00:53

...minus 4 times 2, then times negative 1...

00:57

... so it's plus 8... and we get negative 4 plus or minus 16 plus 8, or 24, here under

01:02

the square root symbol...

01:03

...all over 2 times 2, or 4.

01:07

Simplify one more time and we have...

01:09

Both A -- here... and B -- here.

01:12

Answer: D.

Related Videos

ACT Math 3.1 Intermediate Algebra
1955 Views

ACT Math: Intermediate Algebra: Drill 3, Problem 1. Find the fifth number in the series.

ACT Math 3.1 Plane Geometry
2559 Views

ACT Math: Plane Geometry Drill 3, Problem 1. What is the area of the trapezoid shape in the video?

Inequalities in Number Lines
3229 Views

ACT Math: Coordinate Geometry Drill 1, Problem 1. Which inequality is expressed by the number line?

Simplifying Radicals
9741 Views

We don't like knocking people down to size, but we do like simplifying radicals. Join us?

Arithmetic Math
2251 Views

If fleeing criminals always fled the scene of the crime at perfect right angles, it would be much easier to determine their whereabouts. Fortunatel...