Answers: a = 1/4, b = 2
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Work Shown:
sqrt(-256) = sqrt(-1*256)
sqrt(-256) = sqrt(-1)*sqrt(256)
sqrt(-256) = i*16
sqrt(-256) = 16i
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The given equation
[tex]x = \frac{2\pm\sqrt{-256}}{8}[/tex]
turns into
[tex]x = \frac{2\pm16i}{8}[/tex]
[tex]x = \frac{2}{8}\pm \frac{16}{8}i[/tex]
[tex]x = \frac{1}{4}\pm 2i[/tex]
Compare this to [tex]x = a \pm bi[/tex] and we see that a = 1/4 and b = 2.
