1957 AHSME Problems/Problem 40

Problem

If the parabola $y = -x^2 + bx - 8$ has its vertex on the $x$ -axis, then $b$ must be:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{a positive integer}\qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{a positive or a negative rational number}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{a positive rational number}\qquad\\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{a positive or a negative irrational number}\qquad\\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{a negative irrational number}$

Solution

$\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\text{ a positive or a negative irrational number}}$ .

1957 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 39	Followed by Problem 41
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1957 AHSME Problems/Problem 40

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