Answer:
The value is 
Step-by-step explanation:
From the question we are told that
The total number of cars is 
The number cars considered is 
Generally the number of different top three finishes possible for this race of 35 cars is mathematically represented as




The answer would be -0.512
You would get this answer because -0.8 times -0.8 equals 0.64. Positive 0.64 times negative 0.8 would result In -0.512
In this problem, we need to plug in the given x values for

and find a and b.
When we plug in 1, we get:

Simplify:



We got our first statement about the values of the variables. If we find one more we can find those 2 variables.
We have another given root: 4.
Plug it in:




Now we have our second one. We can combine them:

I use elimination method which is easier here.
Multiply the top equation by -1:

Add them up:

Simplify:

Now we have a, we can plug in one of those equations to find b:



So, the answers are

and

.