dvk007 wrote:
A quadratic equation is in the form of \(x^2–2px + m = 0\), where m is divisible by 5 and is less than 120. One of the roots of this equation is 7. If p is a prime number and one of the roots of the equation, \(x^2–2px + n = 0\) is 12, then what is the value of \(p+n–m\)?
A. 0
B. 6
C. 16
D. 26
E. 27
GIVEN: x = 7 is one of the roots of the equation x² – 2px + m = 0This means (x - 7) must be one of the factors of the expression on the left side of the equation. 
That is, x² – 2px + m = 0, can be rewritten as (x - 7)(x +/- something) = 0 
[notice that x = 7 is definitely a solution to the new equation]Let's assign the variable k to the missing number (aka "something")
We can write: x² – 2px + m = (x - 7)(x - k)
GIVEN: m is divisible by 5 and is less than 120We already know that: x² – 2px + m = (x - 7)(x - k) 
If we expand the right side we get: x² – 2px + 
m = x² – kx - 7x + 
7kNow rewrite the right side as follows: x² – 
2px + 
m = x² – 
(k + 7)x + 
7kWe can see that 
2p = k + 7And we can see that 
m = 7kIn order for m to be divisible by 5, it must be the case that k is divisible by 5. 
So, k COULD equal 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc
Let's test a few possible values of k
If k = 5, then 
2p = 5 + 7 = 12When we solve this, we get: p = 6
HOWEVER, we're told that p is PRIME
So, it cannot be the case that k = 5
If k = 10, then 
2p = 10 + 7 = 17When we solve this, we get: p = 8.5
HOWEVER, we're told that p is PRIME
So, it cannot be the case that k = 10
If k = 
15, then 
2p = 15 + 7 = 22When we solve this, we get: 
p = 11Aha! 11 is PRIME
So, it COULD be the case that k = 15. Let's confirm that this satisfies the other conditions in the question. 
If k = 
15, then we get: x² – 2px + m = (x - 7)(x - 
15) 
Expand and simplify the right side: x² – 
2px + 
m = x² – 
22x + 
105So, this meets the condition that says 
m is divisible by 5 and is less than 120We now know that 
p = 11 and 
m = 105All we need to do now is determine the value of n
GIVEN: x = 12 is one of the solutions of the equation x² – 2px + n = 0Plug in x = 12 to get: 12² – 2p(12) + n = 0
Since we already know that 
p = 11, we can replace p with 11 to get: 12² – 2(11)(12) + n = 0
Simplify: 144 - 264 + n = 0
Simplify: -120 + n = 0
Solve: 
n = 120What is the value of p + n – m?p + n – m = 
11 + 
120 - 
105= 26
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent