A real number x is such that the sum of the number and four times its square is the <strong>LEAST</strong>. What is that number?
- A. -0.625
- B. -0.125 ✓
- C. 0.125
- D. 1
Correct Answer: B. -0.125
Explanation
Let the number be x. The sum is the quadratic function f(x) = 4x^2 + x. The minimum value of a quadratic ax^2+bx+c occurs at x = -\frac{b}{2a}. Thus, x = -\frac{1}{2 \times 4} = -\frac{1}{8} = -0.125.
Related questions on Algebra
- If p + q + r = 0, then what is z^{\frac{p^2}{qr}} \times z^{\frac{q^2}{rp}} \times z^{\frac{r^2}{pq}} equal to ?
- What is the value of k for which (k^2 - 5k + 4)x^2 + (k^2 - 3k - 4)x + (k^2 - 4k) = 0 is an identity ?
- If \frac{a^2}{b^2 + c^2} = \frac{b^2}{c^2 + a^2} = \frac{c^2}{a^2 + b^2}, then what is the value of a^4 + b^4 + c^4 equal to ?
- If \frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{p} + \frac{1}{q}, then what is \frac{pq}{p^2 - q^2}\left(\frac{x + p}{x - p} - \frac{x + q}{x - q}\right) equa...
- If (x - 5) is the HCF of x^2 - x - p and x^2 - qx - 10, then what is the value of (p + q) ?