<s>[INST] How to solve this quadratic equation (with $x$ represented by a fraction containing a square root)? If $x-\frac{4}{5} = \pm \frac{\sqrt{31}}{5}$, how can I find the values of a and b in the following equation?
$$5x^2+ax+b=0?$$
I've tried substituting $(\frac{4}{5} \pm \frac{\sqrt{31}}{5})$ for $x$ and got totally confused there.
 [/INST] So, I have: $$x=\frac{-a\pm\sqrt{b^2-20a}}{10}=-\frac{a}{10}\pm\frac{\sqrt{b^2-20a}}{5}$$
Now $x=\frac{4}{5}\pm\frac{\sqrt{31}}{5}$, so: $-\frac{a}{10}=\frac{4}{5}$ and $\frac{\sqrt{b^2-20a}}{5}=\frac{\sqrt{31}}{5}$
From the first $a=-8$ and substituing in the second: $b=-3$
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