QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Quadratic Polynomial
A polynomial, whose degree is 2, is called a quadratic polynomial. It is in the form of
p(x) = a𝑥 2 + bx + c, where 𝑎 ≠ 0.

Roots of a Quadratic Polynomial

Let x = α where α is a real number; such that P(α ) = 0 ; or aα2 + bα + c = 0, then 𝛼
is the root of the Quadratic polynomial.

Quadratic Equation
When we equate the quadratic polynomial to zero then it is called a Quadratic Equation i.e.
if p(x) = 0, then it is known as Quadratic Equation.

Standard form of Quadratic Equation

A quadratic equation is expressed as 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0;
where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are the real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0.
As quadratic polynomials have degree 2, therefore Quadratic Equations can have at most
two roots. So the zeros of Quadratic Polynomial 𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is same as the roots
of the Quadratic Equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
If 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = (𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞)(𝑟𝑥 + 𝑠) where 𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟, 𝑠 are real numbers and 𝑝 ≠ 0 , 𝑟 ≠ 0
−𝑞 −𝑠
Then the x = 𝑝 or x = 𝑟
A quadratic equation whose roots are α,β is
k(x − α)(x − β) = 0
k{ x 2 – ( α + β)x + αβ} = 0
k{ x 2 – ( sum of roots)x + product of roots} = 0
 Indian mathematician Shridharacharya derived quadratic formula for solving a quadratic
equation.
From the quadratic formula, two roots of the Quadratic Equation are
−b ± √(b 2 − 4ac)
x=
2a

Nature of Roots
D = b 2 – 4ac
The nature of the roots of the equation depends upon the value of D, it is called
the discriminant.
Ex:- 1 Check whether the given equation is a quadratic equation or not.
(x + 2)2 = x 2 + 2
Solution: x 2 + 4x + 4 = x 2 + 2
4x = −2 hence its not a quadratic equation.

Ex:- 2 Check whether 3 is a solution of quadratic equation x 2 − 6x + 9 = 0 or not.

Solution: Substituting x=3 in the given equation we get LHS = 32 − 6 × 3 + 9 = 0 = RHS
Hence 3 is a solution of the given equation.
Ex:- 3 Express 5𝑥 2 − 25 = 0 in the standard form and hence find out a, b, c .
Solution: 5x 2 + 0x + (−25) = 0
a = 5 ; b = 0; c = −25
1 1 1 1
Ex:- 4 Solve = + b + x ; [x ≠ 0 ; x ≠ −(a + b)]
a+b+x a

1 1 1 1
Solution: we have a+b+x =a + b + x
1 1 1 1
− =a+b
a+b+x x
−(a+b) a+b
⇒ = ab
x(a+b+x)
−1 1
⇒ = ab
x(a+b+x)
⇒ x(a + b + x) = − ab
⇒ (x + a)(x + b) = 0.
Hence x = −a or x = −b are the roots of the given equation.

Ex:- 5 Solve for 𝑥 ; 5𝑥+1 + 52−𝑥 = 53 + 1

Solution:-
5𝑥+1 + 52−𝑥 = 53+1
⇒ 5𝑥 . 51 + 52 . 5−𝑥 =126 ; let 5𝑥 = 𝑦
25
⇒ 5𝑦 + 𝑦 =126
⇒ 5𝑦 2 − 126𝑦 + 25 = 0
⇒ (𝑦 − 25)(5𝑦 − 1) = 0
1
⇒ 𝑦 = 25 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 5
1
⇒ 5𝑥 = 25 or 5𝑥 = 5
⇒ 𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = −1
Hence 2, −1 are the roots of the given equation .

Ex:- 6 Find the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation p2 x 2 + (p2 − q2 )x − q2 = 0
Solution:- the given equation is p2 x 2 + (p2 − q2 )x − q2 = 0
Discriminant = D= (p2 − q2 )2 − 4 × p2 × (−q2 )
= (p2 + q2 )2
Which is always greater than 0 hence it has two distinct real roots .

Ex:- 7 Find the value of m so that the quadratic equation mx(x − 7) + 49 = 0 has two equal
roots.
Solution: The given equation is: mx 2 − 7mx + 49 = 0
For equal roots Discriminant = 0
(−7m)2 − 4m(49) = 0
49m2 − 4(49)m = 0
49 m (m − 4) = 0
m (m − 4) = 0
m = 0, m = 4
But m = 0 does not satisfy the given equation
Therefore m = 4.
Section (A) MCQ

1. If (p + √q) is a root of a quadratic equation then which of the following will be the other
root ? ( given that p, q are rational and q is not square of a rational number)
a) p
b) q
c) p − √q
d) √p + √q
2. Which of these is a quadratic equation?
a) (x − 2)(x + 1) = (x − 1)(x − 3)
b) (𝑥 + 2)3 = 2𝑥(𝑥 2 − 1)
c) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1 = (𝑥 − 2)2
d) 8(𝑥 − 2)3 = (2𝑥 − 1)3 + 3
3. The sum and product of the roots of the equation 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3 = 0 are respectively
5 −3
a) 2 and 2
−5 −3
b) and
2 2
−5 −3
c) and
2 2
5 3
d) and
2 2
−5
4. A quadratic equation whose sum and product of roots are 6 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 1 respectively is
a) 6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 6 = 0
b) 6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 6 = 0
c) 6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = 0
d) 6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0
5. The equation whose roots are 3 − √5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3 + √5 is
a) 𝑥 2 − 6x − 4 = 0
b) 𝑥 2 + 6x − 4 = 0
c) 𝑥 2 + 6x + 4 = 0
d) 𝑥 2 − 6x + 4 = 0
6. If  and 𝛽 are the roots of an equation 2x 2 + 3√3 x − 6 = 0, then the value of 2 + β2 is
3
a) 4
51
b) 4
33
c) 4
39
d) 4
1
7. If 2 is a root of the equation 4x 2 − 4kx + k + 5 = 0, what is the value of 𝑘?
a) −6
b) −3
c) 3
d) 6
8. If one root of a quadratic equation with rational coefficients is (3 − √5)/2, then the other
root is
−3−√5
a) 2
−3+√5
b) 2
3+√5
c) 2
3+5
d) 2
9. If −3 and 2 are the roots of the quadratic equation x 2 − (p + 2)x − q = 0, then the values
of 𝑝 and 𝑞 are
a) p = 3, q = −6
b) p = 3, q = 6
c) p = −3, q = −6
d) p = −3, q = 6
10. If the sum of the roots of the quadratic equation 2x 2 + (2k − 1)x − (k − 4) = 0 is equal
to the product of its roots, then k is
a) − 3
b) 3
c) 2
d) 0
11. If one root of the root of the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 is the reciprocal of the
other, then
a) b = c
b) a = b
c) ac = 1
d) a = c
12. If the equation 3x 2 − kx + 2k = 0 has equal roots, then the value(s) of k is/are
a) 6
b) 0 only
c) 24 only
d) 0 or 24
13. If the equation 2x 2 − 6x + p = 0 has real and different roots, then the values of p are given
by
9
a) p < 2
9
b) p  2
9
c) p > 2
9
d) p 2
14. If the equation px 2 + 4x − 3 = 0 has real roots, then the values of p are given by
−4
a) p < 3
−4
b) p  3
−1
c) p > 3
−4
d) p ≥ 3
15. If the equation x 2 − 2px + 1 = 0 has no real roots, then the values of p are given by
a) p < −1
b) p > 1
c) −1 < p < 1
d) −2 ≤ p  2
16. Which of the following has no real roots?
a) x 2 − 2√3 x + 5 = 0
b) x 2 − 2√3 x − 5 = 0
c) 2x 2 + 6√2 x + 9 = 0
d) 2x 2 − 6√2 x + 9 = 0
17. Assertion: (x – 2)2 + 1 = 2x – 3 is not quadratic equation.
Reason: It is not in the form of ax 2 + bx + c = 0
a.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion
b.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
c.) Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
d.) both Assertion and Reason are false.
18. Assertion: The discriminant of the quadratic equation 2x 2 – 4x + 3 = 0, is −8 and
hence its roots are not real .
Reason: If Discriminant is less than 0 ,then the quadratic equation does not have real roots.
a.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion
b.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
c.) Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
d.) both Assertion and Reason are false.
19. Assertion: P(x) = x 2 + x 3 + 2 is not a quadratic equation.
Reason: The degree of P(x) is 3
a.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion
b.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
c.) Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
d.) both Assertion and Reason are false.
 20. Assertion: The roots of the equation 7x² + x – 1 = 0 are real and distinct
Reason : In a quadratic equation, if the Discriminant D 0 then roots are real and distinct.
a.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for
Assertion
b.) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is not the correct explanation for
Assertion.
c.) Assertion is true but the Reason is false.
d.) both Assertion and Reason are false.

Section (B) Solve as per instructions:-

1
1. Solve for x : 2x2-x+ 8 = 0

2. Solve for x : a2x 2 + (a2+b2)x + b2 = 0

a b
3. Solve for x : x−b + = 2, x ≠ a, b
x−a

a b 1 1
4. Solve for x : + = a + b, x ≠ a , b , a + b ≠ 0, ab ≠ 0
ax−1 bx−1

5. Solve using quadratic formula: 4x 2 − 4a2 x + (a4 − b4 ) = 0

6. Solve using quadratic formula: x 2 + x − (a + 2)(a + 1) = 0

5
7. One root of the quadratic equation 2x 2 − 8x − m = 0 is . Find the value of m and the
2
other root.
8. Find the value of k for which each of the following quadratic equation has equal roots:

(i) 2x 2 + kx + 3 = 0

(ii) (k + 4)x 2 + (k + 1)x + 1 = 0

(iii) (k − 4)x 2 + 2(k − 4)x + 4 = 0

(iv) kx(x − 2) + 6 = 0
9. Find the value of k for which the quadratic equation has equal roots:

x 2 − 2(1 + 3k)x + 7(3 + 2k) = 0

4x−3 2x+1 −1 3
10. Solve for x: (2x+1) − 10 (4x−3) = 3, x ≠ ,4
2

11. A two digit number is such that the product of its digits are 35. When 18 is added to the
number, the digits interchange their places. Find the number.

12. A motor boat whose speed is 18km/hr in still water takes 1 hour more to go 24km upstream
than to return to the same spot. Find the speed of the stream.
 13. A rectangular park is to be designed whose length is 3m more than its breadth. Its area is 4
square metres more than the area of a park that has already been made in the shape of an
isosceles triangle with its base as the breadth of the rectangular park and of altitude 12m.
Find the dimensions of the rectangular park.

14. The area of a rectangular plot is 528m2. The length of the plot (in metres) is one more than
twice the breadth. Find the length and breadth of the plot.

15. Find the value(s) of p for which 2𝑥 2 + 3x + p = 0 has real roots .

16. If the equation (1 + m2 )x 2 + 2mcx + (c 2 − a2 ) = 0 has equal roots,

prove that c 2 = a2 (1 + m2 )

17. If the roots of the equation (a − b)x 2 + (b − c)x + (c − a) = 0 are equal,

prove that 2a = b + c

18. A cottage industry produces a certain number of toys in a day. The cost of production of
each toy (in rupees) was found to be 55 minus the number of toys produced in a day. On a
particular day, the total cost of production was Rs. 750. Find the number of toys produced
on that day.

19. For what value of m will the equation 2mx 2 − 2(1 + 2m)x + (3 + 2m) = 0 have real
and distinct roots? When will the roots be equal?

20. Find the value(s) of p for which each of the following quadratic equation has real roots:

(i) px 2 + 4x + 1 = 0

(ii) 4x 2 + 8x − p = 0

Section (C) CASE STUDY

(1). Soham and Sagnik went to a nearby pizza shop for lunch. The shop had a unique method
for the price allotment of pizza every day. The price of each pizza they prepare on a specific day
is equal to 4 more than twice the total number of pizzas they produced on that day. The total cost
of production on that day was 448 rupees.
i). The quadratic equation for the given situation is:
a) 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 448 = 0
b) 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 448 = 0
c) 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 448 = 0
d) 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 448 = 0
ii). Find the number of pizzas produced.
a) 15
b) 17
c) 14
d) 12
iii). Find the cost of each pizza.
a) 32
b) 31
c)27
d)35
iv). The general form of the quadratic equation:
a) 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
b) 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 = 𝑐
c) 𝑎𝑥 2 − 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
d) 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
v). If the nature of roots are real and equal, then:
a) b2 − 4ac < 0
b) b2 − 4ac ≤ 0
c) b2 − 4ac > 0
d) b2 − 4ac = 0
 (2) Ramesh lives in a village where a lot of plants and trees are there. One day, it rained
heavily in his village. As a result, several trees were broken and fell to the ground, as shown in
the figure. The next day his friends measured the broken trees before transportation.
Ramesh helped his friends to measure the broken tree in his house.

The unbroken part of the tree is 3 m more than the distance between the foot of the tree to the
point where the top touches the ground. The length of the broken part is 3 m more than the
unbroken part.

i). Which of the following is the equation which describes the given situation?
a) 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 27 = 0
b) 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 27 = 0
c) 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 27 = 0
d) 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 27 = 0
ii).Which of the following is the length of the base ?
a) 10m
b) 20m
c) 3m
d) 9m
iii). Which of these is the length of the unbroken part ?
a) 22m
b) 12m
c) 15m
d) 3m
iv). Which of these is the length of the broken part ?
a) 12m
b) 9m
c) 17m
d) 15m
v). Which of these is the total height of the tree?
a) 21m
b) 27m
c) 24m
d) 29m
 ANSWERS KEY

Section (A) :-

1. c; 2. d ; 3. b; 4. b; 5. d;
6. b; 7. d; 8. c; 9. d; 10. a;
11. d; 12. d; 13. a; 14. d; 15. c;
16. a; 17. d; 18.a; 19.b; 20. c.

Section (B) :-
𝟏𝟏 −𝐛𝟐 (𝒂+𝒃)
1. ,; 2. , −𝟏 ; 3. (𝒂 + 𝒃), ;
𝟒𝟒 𝐚𝟐 𝟐

(𝒂+𝒃) 𝟐 𝐚𝟐 +𝐛𝟐 𝐚𝟐 −𝐛𝟐

4. 𝒂𝒃
, (𝒂+𝒃) ; 5. , ; 6. −(𝒂 + 𝟐), (𝒂 + 𝟏) ;
𝟐 𝟐

−𝟏𝟓 𝟑
7. ,𝟐 ; 8. i. ±𝟐√𝟔; ii. 𝟓, −𝟑 ; iii. 𝒌 = 𝟖 ; iv. 𝒌 = 𝟔 ;
𝟐

−𝟏𝟎 𝟏 −𝟐
9. ,𝟐 10. , ; 11. 𝟓𝟕 ;
𝟗 𝟖 𝟑

12. 6 Km/hr ; 13. 7m,4m ; 14. 33m,16m;

𝟗 𝟏 𝟏
15. 𝒑 ≤ 𝟖 ; 18. 25,30 19.𝒎 > 𝟖 ; 𝒎 = 𝟖 ;

20.i. 𝒑 ≤ 𝟒 ; ii. 𝒌 ≥ −𝟒.

Section (C) :-
1. i. d; ii. c; iii. a; iv.d; v.d
2. i. c; ii. d; iii. b; iv.d; v.b