QA – Basic

Quadratic Equation
Any equation of degree 2 is known as a quadratic equation.
An equation of the form
a +bx + c = 0
The numbers a, b, c are called the coefficients of this equation.

Roots
The possible values of x which satisfy the quadratic equation are called the roots of the
quadratic equation. Quadratic equation will have two roots either real or imaginary. We
normally denote them as α and β.
A root of the quadratic equation is a number such that pα 2 + qα + r = 0 or pβ 2 + qβ + r = 0.
If & β are roots of the quadratic equation a +bx + c = 0, then ( - ) and ( -β) are
factors of a +bx + c = 0
OR a +bx + c = ( - )( -β)

Graphical representation
For any quadratic equation f(x) = (x – 1) (x – 3), the graph of this equation (as can be seen
below) will intersect X-axis at two distinct points, namely x = 1 and x = 3.

So, the equation f(x) = x2 – 4x + 3 = 0 will have two roots, i.e., two values of x = 1 and x =3,
which will satisfy this equation.

Discriminant
Given is the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0.
Assuming that α and β are the roots of this equation.
√ √
Then and
(b2 – 4ac) is also known as Discriminant (D)
If D = 0, then √ = 0. So, the roots will be real and equal.

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If D > 0, then √ > 0. So, the roots will be real and distinct.
If D < 0, then √ is not real. So, the roots will not be real.
If D is a perfect square (including D = 0) and a, b and c are rational, then the roots will also
be rational.

 b  b 2  4ac  Imaginary b 2  4ac  0

 
2a 

 b  b 2  4ac 
  
2a Real b 2  4ac  0

b 2  4ac  0 b 2  4ac  0
Equal roots  Roots not equal 

Given is the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + 1 = 0, where a, b (1,2, 3,4). For how many set of
values of (a, b), the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + 1 = 0 will have real roots?
(CAT 2003)
For the roots to be real, D ≥ 0.
D = b2 - 4a ≥ 0.
Determine k for which the roots of the equation - 2kx + 4 = 0, are euqal.
In order that roots of a quadratic equation are equal, its discriminant must be zero.
i.e., - 4ac = 0
- 4x9x4 = 0
= ±6

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Forming the table for the above-written condition:

B a
1 Not possible
2 1
3 1
3 2
4 1
4 2
4 3
4 4
So, there are seven set of values for (a, b).

Also, Discriminant can be used to see if the equation can be factorized in linear roots:
Which of the following quadratic expression can be expressed as a product of real linear
factors?
(a) - 2x + 3 (b) -√ - √
(c) + 3x - 4 (d) √ -√

SOLUTION (a) D = cannot be expressed

(b) D = can be expressed
(c) D = can be expressed
(d) D = can’t be expressed
NOTE If D < 0, then the c cannot be expressed into two liner factors.

Find the set of values of p for which the quadratic equation has real linear factors:

- px + 4

SOLUTION For any quadratic polynomial to have real linear factors, we must have D ≥ 0

– 4ac ≥ 0
– 4x9x4 ≥ 0
–144 ≥ 0
≥144
≥ ±12.

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GRAPH OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION

f(x) = ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a & 0, and b and c are real coefficients.

As is obvious from the above graphs, when D > 0, there are two points at which this curve is
intersecting X-axis. And we also know that there are two distinct values of x which satisfy
f(x).
When D = 0, there is only one point at which this curve is intersecting X-axis, and there is
only one distinct value of x, which satisfies f(x)
When D < 0, there is no point at which this curve is intersecting X-axis. So, there are no real
values of x which can satisfy f(x).

Descartes' Rule of Signs of Roots

The maximum number of positive roots of any equation is equal to the change of signs from
positive (+ve) to negative (-ve) and from negative (-ve) to positive (+ve).
For example, let us see the roots of the quadratic equation 3x2 +5x-7=0
Signs of different terms: x2 has a positive sign, x has a '+' sign, the constant term (2) has a
negative sign.
Equation: 3x2 + 5x – 7,
Signs: + + -
As there is only one sign change, we can conclude that this equation will have one positive
real root.
To find out the negative roots, we apply the same procedure with f(-x).
Now, f(-x) = 3(-x)2 + 5(-x) – 7 = 3x2 –5 x - 7
There is one sign change, so there will be one negative root.

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FORMATION OF QUADRATIC EQUATION FROM ITS ROOTS

a) p and q are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, and the quadratic equation
with (-p) and (-q) as the roots is to be found:
a(-p)2 + b(-p) + c = 0
Or, ap2-bp + c = 0
Equation with (-p) and (-q) as roots: ax2 - bx + c = 0
b) A quadratic equation whose roots are p more than the roots of the equation i.e. the
roots are
Original equation: +bx+c=0
New equation: a
c) A quadratic equation whose roots are less by p then the roots of the equation,(i.e.,
the roots are
Original equation: +bx+c=0
New equation: a
d) A quadratic equation whose roots are p times the roots of the equation i.e., the
roots are
Original equation: +bx+c=0

New equation: a ( ) +b( )+c=0

e) A quadratic equation whose roots are 1/p times the roots of the equation i.e., the
roots are
Original equation: +bx+c=0
New equation: a
f) p and q are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, and the quadratic equation with
(1/p) and (1/q) as the roots is to be found:
Original equation: +bx+c=0
New equation:
Put x = 1/p
a (1/p)2 + b(1/p) + c = 0
or, cp2 + bp + a – 0
So, the quadratic equation is: cx2 + bx + a = 0
g) p and q are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c =• 0, and the quadratic equation
with (p)2 and (q)2 as the roots is to be found:
Let x be a root of the original equation and y be a root of the transformed equation.
y = x2, so we will put x = √y

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a (√y)2 + b(√y) + c = 0,
Solving this will give us the desired equation.
h) A quadratic equation whose roots are the cubes of the roots of the equation
+bx+c=0 (i.e., the roots are
The required equation is a +c=0
+ =0
What will be the quadratic equation having the roots opposite in sign as that of the
quadratic equation x2 + 5x + 6 = 0?
Putting (-x) at the place of x will give us the solution.
Desired equation is (-x)2 + 5 (-x) + 6 = 0
So, equation is: x2 - 5x + 6 = 0
Alternatively, the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + 5x + 6 = 0 are -2 and -3.
So, the roots of the desired equation should be 2 and 3.
So, the quadratic equation is (x – 2) (x – 3) = 0, or, x2 – 5x + 6 = 0

If α,β are the roots of the equation - 3x + 2 = 0, form the equation whose roots are α
β
- 3x + 2 = 0, and α,β are the roots
α + β = , αβ = 1
For the new equation, roots are α β
Sum of the roots
α β =α β -2 ( ) - 2(1)
= –2=
and products of the roots = α β αβ = =1
The required equation is
- (sum of roots) x + products of roots = 0
x+1=0
-x+4=0

Condition for Common Roots

Consider two quardratic equations

ax2+bx+c=0 ……(i) a ≠ 0

And +qx+r=0 ……..(ii) p ≠ 0

a) If one root is common then,

(aq-pb) (br–qc) = (cp – ra)

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b) If two roots are common then,

For which value of k will the equations and

have one common root.
SOLUTION Let the common root be a, then
- ka - 21 = 0 …..(i)
- 3ka - 35 = 0 …..(ii)
Solving by the rules of cross multiplication,
= =
a= =
and = = 28 x 4 = k = ±4

Pointers about Roots

1) If a, b, c R and p+iq is one root of quardratic equation (where q ≠ 0) then the other
root must be conjugate p- iq and vice-versa. (p,q R and i =√
2) Complex roots or surds always occur in pair. For example, if 2 + √5 is a root of any
equation, then 2 - √5 will also be a root of that equation.
3) If a = 1 and b and c are Integers and the roots of quardratic equation are rational
numbers, then these roots must be integers.
4) If the coefficient of the x2 is positive and the constant term negative equation will
have one positive and one negative root.
5) Any equation with the sum of all of its coefficients equal to zero will have 1 as one of
its roots. For example, x2 - 5x + 4 = 0 will have 1 as one of its roots.
6) If we say that the two roots 'p' and 'q' of the quadratic equation f(x) = ax2 + bx + c = 0
are such that f(2) x f(-2) > 0, then either both the roots 'p' and 'q' of this equation
will lie inside – 2 and 2 or both the roots 'p' and 'q' will lie outside the range of – 2
and 2. Similarly, if we say that the two roots 'p' and 'q' of the quadratic equation f(x)
= ax2 + bx + c = 0 are such that f(2) x f(-2) < 0, then one of the two roots of this
equation will lie inside this range and another will lie outside the range of – 2 and 2.

Solved Examples
1) If the roots of the quadratic equation x2 -4x- log3N = 0 are real, then find the
minimum value of N?
Since the roots of the given equation are real, so D > 0
Or, 16 + 4 log3 N ≥ 0, or, log3 N ≥ - 4

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Or, N ≥ 3-4
So, the least value of N = 1/81

2) Find the real values of N for which the quadratic equation 2x2 - (N3 + 8N -1) x + N2 -
4N = 0 will have the roots of an opposite sign.
The roots of the given equation will be of opposite signs only if they are real and the
product of the roots is negative.
Or, D ≥ 0, and the product of the roots < 0

Or,
Or, N2 – 4N < 0. Hence 0 < N < 4
If p and q are the roots of the quadratic equation 2x2 + 6x + N = 0 (N < 0), then what is the
maximum value of

p + q = -3, and pq = N/2

Now, N < 0, hence D = 36 – 4N > 0. So, p and q are real.

Again,

So, the maximum value of

3) For which value of k does the following pair of equators yield a unique of x such that
the is positive? (CAT 2005)
x2 – y2 = 0
(x – k)2 + y2 = 1
(a) 2 (b) 0 (c) √2 (d) -√2
y2 = x2
2x2 – 2kx + k2 – 1 = 0
D=0
→ 4k2 = 8k2 – 8
→ 4k2 = 8
→ k = √2

4) Let

√ √ √ √ The x equals

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a) 3
√
b) ( )
√
c) ( )

d) √ (CAT 2005)

√ √ √
√
Now, put the values from the options.
Only the 3rd option satisfies the condition.
Alternatively, the value of x will be more than 2, which is given only in option 1 and
option 3. Since it is only slightly more than 3, option 2 will be the answer.

5) In a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a, b and c are positive. Graph of this

equation cuts X-axis at two distinct points. If both the roots of this equation are real,
what can be said about the signs of both the roots?
Method 1
Let us assume p and q are the roots of the equation.
Product of the roots = p q = c/a = + ve [Both c and a are positive]
Hence, p and q are both positive, or both are negative.
Sum of the roots = p + q = - b/a = -ve
Hence, p and q are both negative.

Method 2
Since the roots are real and distinct, D > 0
[ √ ]
Obviously p is negative.
[ √ ]
In this case, we need to compare b and [√ ]
[√ ] so q will also be negative.
Method 3
Using Descartes' Theorem, sign of f(x) = + + +,- so there will be no positive roots and x
= 0 is not a of this equation.

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So, it can be concluded that both the roots will be negative.

6) How many real roots will be there of the quadratic equation f(x) = x2 + 5 |x| + 6 = 0?
Answer: If x > 0, then f(x) = x2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Or, x2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2) (x + 3) = 0
So, x = -2 and x = -3
But as we have taken x > 0, the negative values of x are not admissible.
Now, if x < 0, then f(x) = x2 – 5x + 6 = 0
Or, x2 – 5x + 6 = (x – 2) (x – 3) = 0,
So, x = 2 and x = 3
Now as we have taken x < 0, so the positive values of x are not admissible.
And x = 0 is not possible.
So, no real value of x can be obtained.
Alternatively, it is worth observing that all the terms of f(x), viz., x2and 5|x| and 6 are
positive. So, the sum of these three terms cannot be equal to zero for any real value. Hence,
no real value of x can be obtained.

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