Section 1: Algebra and Functions

B. Quadratics

Sums and Products of Roots and Coefficients of ax2 + bx + c = 0

Given the quadratic function, ax2 + bx + c = 0

factorised as, (x – α)(x – β) = 0
and its roots, x = α and x = β,
then,
x2 – (α + β) x + αβ = x2 + b + c = 0
a a
where α and β are roots of the quadratic function.

Sum: α + β = – b Product: αβ = c
a a
thus, the equations
x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0

Example 1
The roots of the quadratic equation , 2x2 – 3x + 1 = 0 are α and β. Find:
(i) α+β (ii) αβ

Solution: a = 2, b = – 3 and c=1

 b   3 3
    
(i) Sum of roots: a 2 2
c 1
  
(ii) Product of roots: a 2

Example 2
The quadratic equation, x2 + 4x +3 = 0, has roots α and β. Find:
(i) α+β (ii) αβ

Solution: a = 1, b = 4 and c=3

 b  4 
     4
(i) Sum of roots: a 1
c 3
    3
(ii) Product of roots: a 1
Example 3

The quadratic equation, x2 – 4x + 3 = 0 has roots α and β, find the equation

whose roots are α2 and β2.

Solution:
 b   4
  
 4
Now a 1
c 3
    3
and a 1

but,            
2

  2       2
  2  2   2

so    2  2 2 2

the new equation is given by:

x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
x2 – (α2 + β2) x + α2β2 = 0
since,          2  2  2   
2 2 2 2
and
 4  23
2 = (3)2
 16  6
=9
 10

 x2 – (α2 + β2) x + α2β2 = 0

x2 – 10x + 9 = 0

Example 4

A quadratic equation of the form, 4x2 – 8x – 5 = 0 has roots α and β. Find

the equation whose roots are α + 1 and β + 1.
Solution:
 b   8 8
  
  2
Now a 4 4
c  5 5
   
and a 4 4

Since the new equation is given by:

x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
x2 – (α + 1 + β + 1) x + (α + 1)(β + 1) = 0
x 2      2x        1  0
x 2       2x          1  0
 5  
x 2  2   2x      2  1  0
 4  
 5 
x 2  4 x     3  0
 4 
7
x 2  4x   0
4

7
x 2  4x  0
4 or 4x2 – 16x + 7 = 0 (multiply throughout by 4)

Example 5
Given that x2 + (k – 5) x – k = 0 has real roots which differ by 4, find:
(i) the value of each root (ii) the value of k.

Solution:

Let one real root = α, and the other real root = α + 4

then,
x 2  k  5x  k  0
x   x    4  0
x   x    4  0
x x    4     x    4   0
x 2  x  4 x  x   2  4  0
x 2  2x  4 x   2  4  0

x 2   2  4x   2  4  0
 Since x2 + (k – 5) x – k = x2 + (– 2α – 4) x + (α2 + 4α)
then equating coefficients,

k  5  2  4
k  5  4  2
k  1  2
k 1
 
x: 2

 k   2  4
and constants:
 2  4  k  0
2
 k 1  k 1
   4 k 0
 2   2 
k  12  2k  1  k  0
4
k  12  8k  1  4k  0
multiply throughout by 4: k  2k  1  8k  8  4k  0
2

k 2  6k  9  0
k  3k  3  k  32  0

k–3=0
 k=3
k  1 3  1 2
    1
and 2 2 2

so the value of each root: α=–1

and α + 4 = – 1 + 4 = 3

Example 6
(a) Find the set of values of m for which the equation, x2 + mx +2m – 3 = 0,
has no real roots.
(b) The roots of the equation, x2 + mx +2m – 3 = 0 are α and β, where α > β.
When m = 7, find α + β and αβ. Form an equation with the integral
 
coefficients where the roots are  and  .
 (c) Prove that α – β = 5 .

Solution:

(a) If x2 + mx +2m – 3 = 0 has no real roots,

then, m 2  8m  12  0
b 2  4ac  0
m 2  6m  2m  12  0
m  412m  3  0
2
mm  6  2m  6  0
m 2  8m  12  0 m  6m  2  0
m  6m  2  0 m – 6 = 0 and m – 2 = 0
 2  m  6 m=6 & m=–2
because m2 > 0, (a = +ve) has a minimum point.
Answer = – 2 < m < 6 .

(b) When m = 7 then,

x2 + mx + 2m – 3 = x2 + 7x + 2(7) – 3
= x2 + 7x + 11= 0

 b  7 
     7
Now a 1
c 11
    11
and a 1

 
given the roots,  and  ,
then, the new equation is given by:
x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
     
x 2     x      0
     
 2   2 
x 2    x  1  0
  
but,            
2

  2       2
  2  2   2
so    2  2 2 2
 thus,
 2   2 
x 2    x  1  0
  
    2  2 
x  
2
x  1  0

  
  7 2  211 
x2   x 1  0
 11 
 49  22 
x2   x  1  0
 11 
27
x2  x 1  0
11
27
x2  x 1  0
 11 or 11x2 – 27x + 11 = 0 (Multiply throughout by 11)

(c)            
2

  2       2
  2  2   2
  2   2  2
But          2
2 2 2

so,
   2     2  2  2
      4
2

  7   411
2

 49  44
5

 α–β= 5.

Example 7
A quadratic equation of the form, 2x2 + 10x – 6 = 0 has roots A and B .
1 1
(a) Find the equation whose roots are A and B .
1 1
(b) Find the equation whose roots are A and B 2 .
2
Solution:
 b  10
A B    5
(a) Now, a 2
c 6
AB    3
and a 2
thus, x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
1 1 1 1
x 2    x      0
 A B  A B
 B  A 1
x2   x  0
 AB  AB
 5 1
x2   x  0
 3 3
5 1
x2  x   0
3 3
5 1
x2  x   0
 the new equation is: 3 3 or 3x2 – 5x – 1 = 0 .

(b) The new equation is given by:

x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
 1 1   1 1 
x 2   2  2 x   2  2   0
A B  A B 
B A 
2 2
1
x 2   2 2  x  2 2  0
 A B  A B
but,
 A  B 2   A  B  A  B 
 A 2  AB  AB  B 2
 A 2  2 AB  B 2
so  A  B 2  2 AB  A 2  B 2
thus,
  B 2  A2  1
x 2   2 2  x  2 2  0
 A B  A B
  A  B 2  2 AB  1
x 
2
2 2 x  2 2  0
 A B  A B
  A  B 2  2 AB  1
x 
2
x  0
  AB  2
  AB 2
  52  2 3  1
x 
2
x  0
  3 2
  32
 25  6  1
x2   x   0
 9  9
31 1
x2  x   0
9 9

31 1
x2  x 0
 the new equation is: 9 9 or 9x2 – 31x + 1 = 0 .
Example 8
A quadratic equation of the form, – 5x2 + 14x – 8 = 0 has roots  and  .
(a) Find the values of roots as + and 33.
(b) Find the equation whose roots are + and 33.

(c) Find the value of  – .

Solution:

(a) Now, ( + )3 = ( + ) [( + ) ( + )]

= ( + ) [ 2 +  +  + 2 ]

= ( + ) (2 + 2 + 2)

=  (2 + 2 + 2) +  (2 + 2 + 2)

= 3 + 22 + 2 + 2 + 22 + 3

= 3 + 32 + 32 + 3

So, ( + )3 – 32 – 32 = 3 + 3

Also, 3 + 3 = ( + )3 – 32 – 32

= ( + )3 – 3 ( + ) .

Since and , then

3 + 3 = ( + )3 – 3 ( + )

=
 =

= .

Also, 33 = ()3 = = .

(b) The new equation is given by:

x2 – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0

x2 – (3 + 3) x + ()3 = 0

x2 – x + =0

or 125x2 – 1064 + 512 = 0.

(c) Now as seen above that ( + )2 = 2 + 2 + 2

and ( + )2 – 2 = 2 + 2

in which 2 + 2 =

= .

Now, ( – )2 = ( + ) ( + )
 = 2 –  –  + 2

= 2 – 2 + 2

so, ( – )2 = 2 + 2 – 2

= .

Thus,  –  = = .

There are ten (10) questions in your smaller Add Maths textbook by F. Ali and
S. Khan, and fifteen (15) questions on pp. 63 and 64 in R. Toolsie. Please
attempt them after carefully looking at the eight (8) examples above that I have
done for you.