MATH REVIEWER (HIGH SCHOOL)

1. For which real values of a does the equation

2
12 0 x ax + = have as its roots two consecutive integers?

Answer: 7 or 7

Solution:
Let r and 1 r + be the roots.
2 1 r a + = and
( ) 1 12 r r + =
( )
( )( )
2
1 12
12 0
4 3 0
4 or 3
r r
r r
r r
r
+ =
+ =
+ =
=


When
( ) 4, 2 4 1 7 r a = = + = .
When
( ) 3, 2 3 1 7 r a = = + = .

2. In ABC, Dand E are the midpoints on AB and BC , respectively, such that
2
3
AD AE
DB EC
= = . What is the
ratio of the area of ADEto the area of DECB?

Answer:
4
or 4: 21
21


Solution:
DE BCand ADE is similar to ABC.

| |
| |
| |
| |
2
4
25
4
25
2 2 4
Since ,
3 5 25
4

1 21
ADE
AD
DB ABC
ADE
DECB
| |
= = =
|
\ .
= =

3. Find the sum of the real roots of the equation
2 2
2 7 5 2 7 11 x x x x + + = + + .

Answer:
7
2


Solution:
Let
2
2 7 11 y x x = + + . Then,
2 2
2 7 11 y x x = + +
( )( )
2
2
6
6 0
3 2 0
3 or 2
y y
y y
y y
y
=
=
+ =
=

Since y
+
e , we take 3 y = .
2
2
2
2 7 11 3
2 7 11 9
2 7 2 0
x x
x x
x x
+ + =
+ + =
+ + =


Since the sum of the roots of an equation
2
0 ax bx c + + = is
b
a
, the sum of the real roots of the equation
is
7
2
.