How can I prove that all quadratic equations

Alexis Alexander

Alexis Alexander

Answered question

2022-03-26

How can I prove that all quadratic equations are not injective?
I was trying to prove that any quadratic formula (ax2+bx+c) will not be injective, but I have a little problem.
I started by assuming f(x)=f(y). We can put x and y into the general form of quadratic function, and we get
ax2+bx+c=ay2+by+c
Subtract c from both sides and organise a little bit and you get
a(x2y2)+b(xy)=0
a(x+y)(xy)+b(xy)=0
Here we can assume that xy, hence xy0, so divide both sides by x-y, and we get
a(x+y)+b=0
However, from here I couldn't find any contradictions, which is a problem because there must be a contradiction as quadratic functions are not injective.

Answer & Explanation

Mason Knight

Mason Knight

Beginner2022-03-27Added 11 answers

There is no contradiction. You have in fact come upon the condition such that f(x)=f(y) for xy. With a little rearranging, you have
x=(b+ay)a
(if a=0 then you don't have a quadratic). In fact, this works both ways which can be shown by
f(y)f((b+ay)a)=ay2+by+ca((b+ay)a)2b((b+ay)a)c
=ay2+byb2a2byay2+b2a+by=0
is true for all y.
Theodore Davila

Theodore Davila

Beginner2022-03-28Added 14 answers

You just found the value of x and y such that f(x)=f(y) when xy.
To see it in a constructuve way observe that f(x)=ax2+bx+c=14a((2ax+b)2+4acb2)
Now observe that at y=xba we have 2ay+b=2axb so it follows that f(x)=f(y).

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