How many solutions does the equation [tex]$x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0$[/tex] have?

A. No real solution
B. 1 real solution
C. 2 rational solutions
D. 2 irrational solutions
E. Cannot be determined



Answer :

To determine the number of solutions for the quadratic equation [tex]\(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0\)[/tex], we need to analyze its discriminant. The discriminant ([tex]\(\Delta\)[/tex]) for a quadratic equation of the form [tex]\(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\)[/tex] is given by the formula:

[tex]\[ \Delta = b^2 - 4ac \][/tex]

In our specific equation [tex]\(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0\)[/tex], the coefficients are:
- [tex]\(a = 1\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(b = -4\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(c = 4\)[/tex]

Substituting these values into the discriminant formula, we get:

[tex]\[ \Delta = (-4)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 \][/tex]

Calculating this step-by-step:

[tex]\[ \Delta = 16 - 16 \][/tex]

[tex]\[ \Delta = 0 \][/tex]

The discriminant ([tex]\(\Delta\)[/tex]) is 0. The number of solutions of a quadratic equation depends on the value of the discriminant:

1. If [tex]\(\Delta > 0\)[/tex], the equation has two distinct real solutions.
2. If [tex]\(\Delta = 0\)[/tex], the equation has exactly one real solution (often called a repeated or double root).
3. If [tex]\(\Delta < 0\)[/tex], the equation has no real solutions but two complex solutions.

Since our discriminant is 0, the quadratic equation [tex]\(x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0\)[/tex] has exactly one real solution.

Thus, the correct answer is:

(B) 1 real solution