Analyzing the Setup
To solve for the quadratic equation, we first identify the properties of the roots a and b using the given Arithmetic Mean (AM) and Geometric Mean (GM).
The Arithmetic Mean is defined as:
This immediately reveals that the sum of the roots, S=a+b, is equal to 18.
The Master Equation
Next, we utilize the Geometric Mean, which is defined as:
By squaring both sides, we determine the product of the roots, P=ab, to be 16.
We now invoke the power of Vieta's formulas. Any quadratic equation with roots a and b follows the standard template:
Final Calculation
By substituting our calculated values for the sum and product into the template, we obtain the final equation:
The beauty of this approach lies in the fact that we never needed to calculate the individual values of a or b. We only required their collective properties to define the structure of the equation.
Strategic Takeaway
In the JEE examination, time is your most precious resource. By mastering the relationship between roots and coefficients, you bypass tedious calculations and move directly to the solution.
Always look for the underlying structure, trust the formulas, and aim for the most elegant path. The equation x2−18x+16=0 is the perfect encapsulation of the relationship between these two mysterious roots.