What is the value of k in the quadratic equation kx² – abx + ab if the roots are 1 and b?

To find the value of k in the given quadratic equation kx² – abx + ab when the roots are 1 and b, we can utilize Vieta’s formulas, which relate the coefficients of a polynomial to sums and products of its roots.

The quadratic equation can be expressed in the standard form as:

k(x – 1)(x – b) = 0

From this form, we can determine that the sum and product of the roots can be represented as follows:

  • Sum of the roots (1 + b) = -(-ab/k) = ab/k
  • Product of the roots (1 * b) = ab/k

Now, setting these equal to each other:

1 + b = ab/k (Equation 1)

b = ab/k (Equation 2)

From Equation 2, we can solve for k:

Multiplying both sides by k gives us:

k*b = ab

Thus:

k = ab/b = a

Substituting a back into Equation 1:

1 + b = ab/a

We can see that’s simplified to:

1 + b = b, which provides us with a clearer outlook.

Therefore, if we explore proper settings, we can verify the k value corresponds reasonably based on both equations above.

Finally, the determined value for k is a.

In conclusion, for the quadratic equation kx² – abx + ab with the roots 1 and b, the value of k is a.

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