2. The sum of the roots of the equation \( -x^{2}+6 x-5=0 \) is (A) -5 (B) \( \quad-4 \) (C) 3 (D) 6 Another topic listed under the heading Algebraic Processes is Number Sense. The following que depends on Number Sense (the bigger a number, the bigger its square root) as well as the conce tested in the first two questions above.

Did you know that for any quadratic equation in the standard form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), the sum of the roots can be quickly found using the formula \( -\frac{b}{a} \)? In your equation \( -x^{2} + 6x - 5 = 0 \), \( a = -1 \) and \( b = 6 \). Plugging those values in, we get \( -\frac{6}{-1} = 6 \), which is the answer option (D)! Moreover, quadratic equations can often represent real-world scenarios such as the trajectory of a projectile. For instance, if you throw a ball, the path it follows can be modeled by a quadratic function. The roots of the equation will tell you at what points the ball will hit the ground. So understanding how to find these roots helps in predicting the ball's travel—a useful skill whether you’re playing sports or exploring physics!