The difference between the solutions to the equation x^2 = ax2=a is 30. What is aa?

1 Answer
Sep 21, 2017

a = pm 225a=±225

Explanation:

We have: x^(2) = ax2=a

Let's subtract aa from both sides of the equation:

Rightarrow x^(2) - a = 0x2a=0

Then, using the difference of two squares identity, we can solve for xx:

Rightarrow (x - sqrt(a))(x + sqrt(a)) = 0(xa)(x+a)=0

therefore x = pm sqrt(a)

Now, the difference between these two solutions of x is 30.

Let's use this fact to find the value of a:

Rightarrow sqrt(a) - (- sqrt(a)) = 30 Rightarrow sqrt(a) + sqrt(a) = 30 Rightarrow 2 sqrt(a) = 30 Rightarrow sqrt(a) = 15 therefore a = 225

or

Rightarrow - sqrt(a) - sqrt(a) = 30 Rightarrow - 2 sqrt(a) = 30 Rightarrow sqrt(a) = - 15 therefore a = - 225

Therefore, the value of a is either 225 or - 225.