Graphical Solution of a Quadratic Equation Using a Result from Optics

Initializing live version
Download to Desktop

Requires a Wolfram Notebook System

Interact on desktop, mobile and cloud with the free Wolfram Player or other Wolfram Language products.

This Demonstration shows a graphical solution of the quadratic equation . If and are the roots of the equation, then and . So , where . From optics, if a convex lens with focal length is located at the point , then . We must find the position of so that . The harmonic mean of and is . Since , can be constructed by Euclidean geometry.

Contributed by: Izidor Hafner (October 2018)
Open content licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


Details


Snapshots



Feedback (field required)
Email (field required) Name
Occupation Organization
Note: Your message & contact information may be shared with the author of any specific Demonstration for which you give feedback.
Send