How do you know when an equation has only one solution? - Answers

when the variable is to the power one you will only have one answer....2 solutions when to the power 23 when cubed etc.note: when multiple answers it is possible for answers to repeat ex. x^2+4x+4 =0would factor to (x+2)(x+2)=0 so x=-2 and x=-2 there is only one answer but it repeats. [Note: the graph of this parabola will 'just touch' the x-axis at x = -2]Also, it may seem that there is only one solution, for example x³ - 5x² + 8x - 6 = 0 looks like it only has one solution at x = 3 (as the graph of it will only cross the x-axis once at x = 3), but there are two more solutions which require the use of complex numbers, in this case namely x = 1 + i, and x = 1 - i (where i = √-1).