QUADRATIC EQUATION & EXPRESSIONS

Quadratic Equation
An equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a 0 and a, b, c are real numbers, is called a quadratic
equation. The numbers a, b, c are called the coefficients of the quadratic equation. A root of the quadratic
equation is a number (real or complex) such that a2 + b + c = 0.
The roots of the quadratic equation are given by x =

b b2 4ac
.
2a

Basic Results:

The quantity D (D=b2 4ac) is known as the discriminant of the quadratic equation.
The quadratic equation has real and equal roots if and only if D = 0 i.e. b2 4ac = 0.
The quadratic equation has real and distinct roots if and only if D > 0 i.e. b2 4ac > 0.
The quadratic equation has complex roots with nonzero imaginary parts if and only if D < 0 i.e.
b2 4ac < 0.

Let and be two roots of the given quadratic equation. Then + = b/a and = c/a.
If and are the roots of an equation, then the equation is x2 ( + ) x + = 0.
In a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 if a + b + c = 0, then x = 1 is one of the root of the
equation.

If the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is satisfied by more than two numbers (real or
imaginary) then it becomes an identity i.e., a = b = c = 0
x +1 x 2
+
= 3 (x 1, - 2).
Illustration 1: Solve
x 1 x + 2
Solution:

x +1 x 2
+
=3
x 1 x + 2
x +1 x 2
+
3 = 0

x 1 x + 2
( x + 1)( x + 2 ) + ( x 1)( x 2 ) 3 ( x 1)( x + 2)
=0

( x 1)( x + 2 )

(x + 1) (x + 2) + (x 1) (x 2) 3(x 1) (x + 2) = 0
x2 + 3x + 2 + x2 3x + 2 3(x2 + x 2) = 0
x2 3x + 10 = 0
(x2 + 3x 10) = 0
x2 + 3x 10 = 0
(x + 5) (x 2) = 0 x = 5, or x = 2.
x = 5, 2 are the solutions of the given equation.
Illustration 2: Find if the roots of the equation (a + b 2c) x2 + (a + c 2b) x + (b + c 2a) = 0 are real
or complex, where a, b, c R.
Solution:

Since (a + b 2c) + (a + c 2b) + (b + c 2a) = 0

x = 1 is one of the root.

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Hence the roots are real.

Illustration 3:. The sum of squares of two consecutive positive integers is 221. Find the integers.
Solution:

Let x be one of the positive integers. Then the other is x + 1

sum of squares of the integers = x2 + (x + 1)2 = 221
x2 + x2 + 2x + 1 221 = 0
2x2 + 2x 220 = 0
2(x2 + x 110) = 0
x2 + x 110 = 0
(x 10) (x + 11) = 0 x = 10 or x = 11.
consecutive positive integers are 10 and 11.

Illustration 4:. One side of a rectangle exceeds its other side by 2 cm. If its area is 195 cm2, determine
the sides of the rectangle.
Solution:

Let one side be x cm

Then other side will be (x + 2) cm
Area of rectangle = x (x + 2)
x (x + 2) = 195
x2 + 2x 195 = 0
x2 + 15x 13x 195 = 0
x(x + 15) 13(x + 15) = 0
(x 13) (x + 15) = 0
x = 13 or x = 15.
Since, side of the rectangle cannot be negative
x = 13.
sides of rectangle are x, x + 2 = 13 cm, 15 cm.

Illustration 5: The hypotenuse of a right angled triangle is 25 cm. The difference between the lengths of
the other two sides of the triangle is 17 cm. Find the lengths of these sides.
Solution:

Let the length of the shorter side be x cm.

Then, the length of the longer side = (x + 17) cm
AB = x, BC = x + 17, CA = 25
By Pythagoras theorem
AB2 + BC2 = 252 x2 + (x + 17)2 = 252
2x2 + 34x 336 = 0
x2 + 17x 168 = 0
(x 7) (x + 24) = 0 x = 7, x = 24
But side of triangle cannot be negative

25

x+17

x=7
Length of the shorter side x = 7 cm
Let of the longer side = x + 17 = 7 + 17 = 24 cm.

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Illustration 6: Solve the following equation by factorization method

Solution:

4
5
3 =
x
2x + 3

x 0,

3
.
2

4
5
3 =
x
2x + 3

(4 3x) (2x + 3) = 5x
6x2 + 6x 12 = 0
x2 + x 2 = 0
(x + 2) (x 1) = 0
x = 2 or x = 1.
Illustration 7: Find k for which the equation (k 12)x2 + 2(k 12) x + 2 = 0 has equal roots.
Solution:

For the given equation

a = k 12, b = 2(k 12) c = 2
D = b2 4ac
= 4(k 12)2 4(k 12) (2)
= 4(k 12) (k 14)
A quadratic equation has equal roots if D = 0
4(k 12) (k 14) = 0
k = 12 or k = 14
k =14 only.

Illustration 8: If the equation x 2 ( 2 + m ) x + m2 4m + 4 = 0 has coincident roots, then find the

possible values of m.
Solution:

roots are coincident,

discriminant = 0

( 2 + m ) = 4 m2 4m + 4 .
2

This will give m =

2
or 6 .
3

Illustration 9: Solve 3x + 3-x 2 = 0.

Solution:

3x + 3x 2 = 0
1
3x + x 2 = 0
3
1
t+ 2=0
t
2
t 2t + 1 = 0
(t 1)2 = 0 t = 1
3x = 1 3x = 30 x = 0.

let t = 3x

Illustration 10: If the equation (2 5 + 6 )x2 + (2 3 + 2)x + (2 4) = 0 is satisfied by more than two
values of x, then find the parameter .

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Solution:

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If an equation of degree two is satisfied by more than two values of x, then it must be an
identity.
2 5 + 6 = 0, 2 3 + 2 = 0, 2 4 = 0
= 2, 3 and = 1, 2 and = 2, 2.
Common value of which satisfies each condition is = 2.

Illustration 11: Find the value of m for which the equation (1 + m)x2 2(1 + 3m)x + (1 + 8m) = 0 has
equal roots.
Solution:

Given equation is (1 + m)x2 2(1 + 3m)x + (1 + 8m) = 0.

If roots are equal, then discriminant = 4(1 + 3m)2 4(1 + m) (1 + 8m) = 0
m2 3m = 0 or m = 0, 3.

Problems based on sum and product of roots

Illustration 12: Find the value of m if the product of the roots of the equation mx2+ 6x + (2m 1) = 0 is
1.
Solution:

Product of the roots =

2m 1
= 1
m

2m 1 = m
3m = 1
1
m= .
3
Illustration 13: If the sum of the roots of the equation qx2 + 2x + 3q = 0 is equal to their product, then find
the value of q.
Solution:

Let , be the roots

2
+=
q
3q
=3
=
q

Since + =
2
=3
q
2
q=
3
Illustration 14: Determine the equation, sum of whose roots is 1 and sum of their squares is 13.
Solution:

Let , be roots of the required quadratic equation

+ = 1, 2 + 2 = 13
(+ )2 = 2 + 2 + 2
1 = 13 + 2
2 = -12
= -6.
required quadratic equation is x2 ( + )x + = 0

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x2 x 6 = 0.
Illustration 15: If the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are in the ratio m : n, prove that
mnb2 = ac(m + n)2
Solution:

:=m:n
m
=

n
+ m+n
=

(Applying Componendo and Dividendo)

mn

( + ) (m + n)
=
2
2
( ) (m n)
2
2
( + )
(m + n)
=
2
2
( + ) 4 (m n )
2
(m + n)
b2 / a 2
=
b2
c ( m n )2
4
2

a2

(m + n)
b2
=
2
b 4ac ( m n )2

b2(m n)2 = b2 (m + n)2 4ac( m + n)2

4ac( m + n)2 = b2 [(m + n)2 (m n)2]
4ac(m + n)2 = b2 [4mn]
mnb2 = ac(m + n)2
2 2

Illustration 16: If and be roots of equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, prove that a
+
+ b + = b.

Solution:
Here + = b/a and = c/a.
2 2

Now, a
+
+ b +

) (

a 3 + 3 + b 2 + 2

3
2
a ( + ) 3 ( + ) + b ( + ) 2

b 3
b 2
c b
c
a 3 + b 2
a a
a
a
a
=
c/a
bc
= a =b.
c /a

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Illustration 17: If and are the roots of the equation 2x2 3x 6 = 0, then find the equation whose
roots are 2 + 2, 2 + 2.
Solution:

Here + = 3/2, = 6/2 = 3 so that

S = 2 + 2 + 4 = ( + )2 2 + 4 =

49
,
4

P = 22 + 2(2 + 2) + 4 = 22 + 4 + 2[( + )2 2 ] =

118
.
4

49
118
Therefore, the equation is x2
x +
=0
4

4
4x2 49x + 118 = 0.
Illustration 18: If the roots of the equation x2 px + q = 0 differ by unity then find the relation between p
and q.
Solution:

Suppose the equation x2 px + q = 0 has the roots + 1

and then + 1+ = p 2 = p 1 . . . . (1)
and (+1) = q 2 + = q.
. . . .. (2)
Putting the value of from (1) in (2), we get

(p 1)2

p 1
+
=q
4
2
(p 1)2 + 2(p 1) = 4q
p2 1 = 4q p2 = 4q + 1.
Alternative: Let and be the roots. | | = 1
( + )2 4 = 1
p2 4q = 1, or p2 = 1+ 4q.
Illustration 19: If p and q are the roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, then find the value of p and q.
Solution:

Since p and q are roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0,

p + q = p and pq = q
pq = q
q = 0 or p = 1.
If q = 0, then p = 0 and if p =1, then q = 2.

Illustration 20: (, ); (, ) and (, ) are respectively the roots of x2 2px + 2 = 0, x2 2qx + 3 = 0 and
x2 2rx + 6 = 0. If , and are all positive, then find the value of p + q + r.
Solution:

We have, = 2, = 3 and = 6,
then = 2 3 6 = 6 and , , are all positive.
Thus we have = 2, = 1, = 3
Also, 2p = + = 3, 2q = + = 4 and 2r = + = 5.
Hence p + q + r = 6.

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ASSIGNMENTS
1.

Show that if the roots of the equation (a2 + b2)x2 + 2x (ac + bd) + c2 + d2 = 0 are real, they will be
equal.

2.

Prove that the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 3bx 4a = 0 are real and distinct for all real a
and b, where a b.

3.

Prove that the roots of the equation bx2 + (b c)x + (b c a) = 0 are real if those
of ax2 + 2bx + b = 0 are imaginary.

4.

If , are the roots of the equation x2 px + q = 0 and 1, 1 be the roots of the equation x2 qx
1
1
1
1
+
.
+ p = 0, then find
+
+
1 1 1 1

5.

If b R+, then show that equation ( 2 + b ) x 2 + ( 3 + b ) x + ( 4 + b ) = 0 has no real roots.

6.

Find the real roots of 32x

7.

Let x2 (m 3)x + m = 0 (m R) be a quadratic equation. Find the value of m for which the roots
(i)
are equal,
(ii)
are opposite in sign,

8.

If the roots of the equation (x a) (x b) k = 0 are c and d, then prove that the roots of
(x c) (x d) + k = 0 are a and b.

9.

The coefficient of x in the quadratic equation x2 + px + q = 0 was taken as 17 in place of 13. Its
roots were found to be 2, and 15. Find the roots of the original equation.

10.

If , , are three distinct roots of the equation (3 a)x2 + (2 + b)x + (c 1) = 0, then find the
value of (3 a)52 + (2 + b) 5 + (c 1).

11.

If the roots of the equation (b c)x2 + (c a)x + (a b) = 0 be equal, then prove that a, b, c are in
arithmetic progression.

12.

Find the number of real roots of the equation (x 1)2 + (x 2)2 + (x 3)2 = 0.

13.

If sum of roots of the equation x2 + (a + 3) x + b = 0, a, b R is 2, then find the value of a.

14.

If one root of the equation x2 x k = 0 be square of the other, then find the value of k.

15.

If the sum of the roots of the equation (a + 1)x2 + (2a + 3)x + (3a + 4) = 0 is 1, find the product of
the roots.

16.

If sin, cos are the roots of equation cx2 + bx + a = 0, then show that b2 2ac c2 = 0.

17.

If , be the roots of the equation 3x2 6x + 4 = 0, then find the value of

2 2
1 1
+

+ + + 2 + + 3 .

7x + 7

=9.

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18.

Let a, b, c be three distinct positive real numbers, then find the number of real roots of
ax4 + 2bx2 + c = 0.

19.

If x = 2 is the root of the equation ax2 + bx + 2c = 0, then find the value of 2a + b + c.

20.

Solve

21.

Find the solutions set of x4 5x2 + 6 = 0.

22.

If , are the roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, then find out the quadratic equation whose

roots are 1 + , 1 + .

23.

If x =

24.

If one root is the square of the other root of equation x2 + px + q = 0, then find the relation
between p and q.

25.

If the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 has the roots 0 and 1, then find the value of a + b.

2x
1
3x + 9
+
+
=0.
x 3 2x + 3 ( x 3 )( 2x + 3 )

2
and x = 3 are the roots of the equation ax2 + 7x + b = 0, find the values of a and b.
3

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ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENTS
4.

p2q2x2 p2q2x + p3 + q3 4pq = 0

6.

5
,1
2

7.

(i)

9.

3, 10

10.
12.
13.
14.

0
zero
1
(2 5)

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

2
b2 2ac c2 = 0
8
0
0
x = 1

21.

x = 2, 3

22.
23.
24.
25.

m {1, 9}

(ii)

m<0

qx p x + p = 0
3, 6
p3 (3p 1) q + q2 = 0
0

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