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 July 24th, 2017, 04:24 PM #1 Newbie   Joined: Jul 2017 From: New Zealand Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Algebra Help - Perfect squares The quadratic equation: px^2 +15p + 4 = (20 + 3p)x is a perfect square. Find the value(s) of p. Any help would be appreciated
 July 24th, 2017, 04:37 PM #2 Math Team   Joined: Oct 2011 From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,675 Thanks: 741 Not sure what you mean. Try p=4.
 July 24th, 2017, 05:29 PM #3 Newbie   Joined: Jul 2017 From: New Zealand Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 I dont know I got this in a practice paper exactly like this.
 July 24th, 2017, 06:13 PM #4 Senior Member     Joined: Sep 2015 From: USA Posts: 1,763 Thanks: 905 $p x^2 + 15p + 4 = (20+3p)x$ $p x^2 -(20+3p)x + (15p+4) = 0$ $(a x + b)^2 = a^2 x^2 + 2 a b x + b^2$ $p = a^2$ $-(20+3p) = 2 a b$ $(15p+4) = b^2$ probably the easiest way to solve this is just plug squared integers into the last equation $\left( \begin{array}{ccc} p &15p+4 &\sqrt{15p+4} \in \mathbb{N}\\ 1 & 19 & \text{False} \\ 4 & 64 & \text{True} \\ 9 & 139 & \text{False} \\ 16 & 244 & \text{False} \\ 25 & 379 & \text{False} \\ \end{array} \right)$ and as Denis said $p=4$ is the correct answer.
 July 24th, 2017, 06:19 PM #5 Newbie   Joined: Jul 2017 From: New Zealand Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanks to all!
 July 25th, 2017, 12:25 AM #6 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 18,595 Thanks: 1493 What about P = 256?
 July 25th, 2017, 10:52 AM #7 Math Team   Joined: Oct 2011 From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,675 Thanks: 741 Not being sure, I solved for p to get discriminant sqrt(-51p^2 + 104p + 400), which has only p=4 as integer solution. Apologies if I missed something...
 July 25th, 2017, 12:30 PM #8 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 18,595 Thanks: 1493 The question is poorly worded, as it's unclear what is meant by the equation being a perfect square. The equation can be rearranged so that one side is zero, but the question doesn't say this has to be done. If it is done, can one also multiply each side by a constant, so that p = -100/51 is equally acceptable? Arguably, that value is acceptable anyway.
 July 25th, 2017, 01:29 PM #9 Math Team   Joined: Oct 2011 From: Ottawa Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,675 Thanks: 741 Turns out that x=4 and p=4 is only integer solution. Tested thru dumb loop code, each from -499 to 499.

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