I will be taking the Accuplacer test at my school in December. I was given a practice test at my school's testing center and this is one of the questions:
If 3x^2 - 2x + 7 = 0, then (x - 1/3)^2 =
A. 20/9
B. 7/9
C. -7/9
D. -8/9
E. -20/9
By using the quadratic formula I get A. 20/9. However, in the answer sheets it lists that the answer is E. -20/9. Not only do I think it's wrong, but I also think it's impossible to get a negative answer out of (x - 1/3)^2 since I understand it to be the case that any exponent that's a multiple of 2 will always give you a positive answer.
Am I off base here, guys? I appreciate any comments and people shipping in with what they think of the problem and answer situation.
If 3x^2 - 2x + 7 = 0, then (x - 1/3)^2 =
A. 20/9
B. 7/9
C. -7/9
D. -8/9
E. -20/9
By using the quadratic formula I get A. 20/9. However, in the answer sheets it lists that the answer is E. -20/9. Not only do I think it's wrong, but I also think it's impossible to get a negative answer out of (x - 1/3)^2 since I understand it to be the case that any exponent that's a multiple of 2 will always give you a positive answer.
Am I off base here, guys? I appreciate any comments and people shipping in with what they think of the problem and answer situation.