[MOVED] finding base of quadratic system

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Bhuvanesh123

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The roots of the quadratic equation x^2-12x+37=0 are 5 and 8. Find the base system in which this equation is written

If the roots are 5 and 8, then the equation can be written as
(((x^2 -(5+8)x + (5*8) = 0}}}
so in what base is 5+8 = 12 and 5*8 = 37?
The base must be greater that 8 since one of the solutions is 8.
The base is greater than 10 since 5*8 base 10 is 40 and our product is 37
Try 11. Hey, it works!
5+8 base 11 = 12 and (5*8) base 11 = 37.

How they say the base should be greater than 8 and also than 10..thank you in advance
 

The base is greater than 8 because 8 is a digit in the base system used.

If 5*8 in base 10 is 40 but the answer is 37 the base has to be be greater than 10.
This is similar to saying 16 (base10) is 10 (base16)
 

What said by ads-ee is correct. However you can write:

5+8=b+2
5*8=3*b+7

both of them give b=11
 

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