1950 AMC 12 Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 1950 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1950 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

3.

The sum of the roots of the equation 4x2+5−8x=04x^2+5-8x=0 is equal to:
88
−5-5
−54-\dfrac54
−2-2
None of these answers
Answer: E
Concepts:Vieta’s Formulasquadratic
Small hint:
Rewrite the equation in descending powers of xx
Big hint:
For ax2+bx+c=0,ax^2+bx+c=0, the sum of the roots is −ba-\frac{b}{a}
Solution:
In standard form the equation is 4x2−8x+5=0.4x^2-8x+5=0. By Vieta’s formulas, the sum of its roots is −−84=2. -\frac{-8}{4}=2. This value is not among choices A through D.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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