QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

In mathematics, we almost always do everything the easiest way possible!

By O.P. GUPTA Math Mentor & Author

INDIRA AWARD WINNER
INTRODUCTION
As it has been discussed earlier in the chapter on Polynomials, a quadratic polynomial is of second
degree, do you remember? If not, you can always make a quick recap of the same from your notes! Now
let me tell you what you shall study in this chapter on Quadratic Equations. I’ll tell you about equations
corresponding to the quadratic polynomials. You will be told various methods of solving these quadratic
equations and a few aspects concerned with the nature of roots of quadratic equations. Along with this
you will also learn how to use these equations to solve various real life problems.
Let’s begin this journey!
01. Quadratic equation: If p  x  is a quadratic polynomial, then p  x   0 is called a quadratic equation.
The standard or general form of a quadratic equation is given as ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 , where a, b and c
are all real constants.
02. Roots of a quadratic equation: Two real numbers  and  are called the roots (solutions) of the
quadratic equation p  x   0 if p     0 i.e., a 2  b  c  0 and p     0 i.e., a2  b  c  0 .
If you know how to do factorization of a quadratic polynomial, you are going to enjoy a lot! And in case,
you are a bit shaky in this aspect, I assure to help you in this regard!
 The quadratic equations are Conditional equations as they have only two roots. Besides these two
roots, not any other value can satisfy the equation!
03. Sum and product of roots: If .. and  are the roots of quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0
then,
b c
S, Sum of roots  i.e.       and P, Product of roots  i.e.   
a a
coefficient of x constant
i.e.,    2
and   .
coefficient of x coefficient of x 2
04. To find a quadratic equation if its roots are given: If  and  are the roots of quadratic equation
say p  x   0 then the quadratic equation is given as,
x 2  Sx  P  0 or k  x 2  Sx  P   0 where S     , P   and k is any real no.
 Note that here S and P represent the sum of roots and product of roots of p  x   0 respectively.

 You must be wondering that so far whatever I have told you, you already know it from your knowledge
of quadratic polynomials which you studied in chapter on Polynomials. And to tell you the truth, you are
absolutely right! Just you need to remember is the difference between a quadratic polynomial and an
equation corresponding to it.
Now let’s study a few more aspects of quadratic equations!
05. Discriminant and nature of roots: We evaluate a quantity b 2  4ac corresponding to the quadratic
equation ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 and call it the discriminant and represent it by the upper case letter D .
Thus discriminant, D  b 2  4ac .
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The discriminant helps us in deciding the nature of roots of the quadratic equation without actually
solving it. Thus a quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0 has
 real solutions if D  0 .
 two distinct real roots if D  0 .
 two equal and real roots if D  0 .
 no real roots if D  0 .
 The equal roots are known as the Coincident roots as well.
06. Methods of solving quadratic equations:
a) Factorization method: Firstly factorize ax 2  bx  c  0 into a product of two linear factors say
 x    x     0 by splitting the middle term. Then equate each factor to zero and get the values of x as
x   and x   . These values of x are called roots of the given quadratic equation.
b) Completing the square method or Making the perfect square method: Follow the following
algorithm to make the perfect square of the given quadratic expression ax 2  bx  c corresponding to the
quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 -

STEP 1- Consider the quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 .

STEP 2- Make the coefficient of x 2 as unity i.e., 1 by taking a common. After doing so the
 b c  b c
quadratic equation will look like, a  x 2  x    0   x 2  x    0 .
 a a  a a
2
 b 
STEP 3- After this, add and subtract   to the quadratic equation obtained in STEP 2 as
 2a 
2 2
 2 b c  b   b  
depicted here i.e.,  x  x          0 .
 a a  2a   2a  
2 2
 b   c  b   
STEP 4- The perfect square of ax 2  bx  c  0 will be  x           0 .
 2a   a  2a   
Then the solution of the quadratic equation can be obtained as,
2
 b  b 2  4ac b b 2  4ac b b2  4ac
 x     x     x    .
 2a  4a 2 2a 4a 2 2a 2a
Hence, if  and  are the roots of quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 then the
values of  and  can be written as,
b  b 2  4ac  b  b 2  4ac
 ,  .
2a 2a
c) Quadratic formula method or Discriminant method: Obtain the discriminant of quadratic equation
b  D
ax 2  bx  c  0, a  0 that is, D  b 2  4ac . Then the roots of the given quadratic equation are
2a
b  D
and .
2a
WORKED OUT ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
Ex01. Example for the factorization method:
Consider a quadratic equation x 2  5x  6  0 . Now, proceeding as it has been described in 6(a) above.
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We have x 2  5x  6  0
 x 2  3x  2x  6  0 Splitting the middle term 
 x  x  3  2  x  3  0  Taking common the terms concerned 
  x  3 x  2   0  Taking common the factor concerned 
  x  3  0,  x  2   0  Equating each of the factor to zero 
 x  3, x  2
 x  3,  2 .
So, the roots of the quadratic equation x 2  5x  6  0 are 2,  3 .
Ex02. Example for completing the perfect square method:
Consider a quadratic equation 3x  1  2x 2  0 . Now following the steps mentioned in 6(b) above.
We have 3x  1  2x 2  0
 3 1
 2  x 2  x    0  Taking  2 common to make the coefficient of x 2 unity 
 2 2 
2 2
3
2  3 1  3
 x  x       0  Adding & subtracting the half of coefficient of x 
2  4 2  4
2
 3 1 9
x     0
 4  2 16
2
 3 1
x  
 4  16
3 1
x 
4 4
3 1
x 
4 4
3  1 3 1
x ,
4 4
1
 x  1, .
2
1
So, the roots of 3x  1  2x 2  0 are ,1 .
2
Ex03. Example for quadratic formula method:
Consider a quadratic equation x 2  7x  12  0 . Now proceeding as it is explained in 6(c) above.
We have x 2  7x  12  0
By comparing to ax 2  bx  c  0 we observe, a  1, b  7, c  12 .
2
So the Discriminant, D  b 2  4ac  D   7   4 112   D  49  48  D  1 .
b  D 7  1
Now using x  we get, x 
2a 2 1
7  1
x
2
7  1 7  1
x ,
2 2
 x  3,  4 .
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So, the roots of x 2  7x  12  0 are 3, 4 .

Ex04. Deciding the nature of roots of quadratic equations without solving:
a) No real roots–
Consider a quadratic equation x 2  x  1  0 .
By comparing to ax 2  bx  c  0 we observe, a  1, b  1, c  1 .
2
So the Discriminant, D  b 2  4ac  D  1  4 11  D  1  4  D  3 .
Since 3  0  D  0 .
So, the roots of the given quadratic equation x 2  x  1  0 are not real. Therefore, the real roots for the
given quadratic equation does not exist.
b) Equal and real roots–
Consider a quadratic equation x 2  4x  4  0 .
By comparing to ax 2  bx  c  0 we observe, a  1, b  4, c  4 .
2
So the Discriminant, D  b 2  4ac  D   4   4 1 4   D  16  16  D  0 .
Since, D  0 .
So, the roots of the given quadratic equation x 2  4x  4  0 are equal and real.
c) Distinct real roots–
Consider a quadratic equation x 2  4x  3  0 .
By comparing to ax 2  bx  c  0 we observe, a  1, b  4, c  3
So the Discriminant, D  b 2  4ac
2
 D   4   4 1 3  D  16  12  D  4 .
Since 4  0  D  0 .
So, the roots of the given quadratic equation x 2  4x  3  0 are distinct and real.

EXERCISE FOR PRACTICE

Q01. What do you understand by root or solution of a quadratic equation?
Q02. Which of the following is not a quadratic equation?
5 1
(a) 3x   x 2 (b) 3  x 2  8x  0 (c) x   8 (d) x 2  3  4x 2  4x
x x
 Ans.a
Q03. Write the following quadratic equations in the standard form:
1
(a)  x  5  x  4   5 (b) x 2  8x  3  6 (c) x   8 (d) x 2  4x  0
x
 Ans.(a) x 2  x  25  0 (b) x 2  8x  9  0 (c) x 2  8x  1  0 (d) x 2  4x  0  0
Q04. Solve the following equations using factorization, completing the perfect square and quadratic
formula method:
20
(a) 2x 2  9x  56  0 (b) 5x  3x 2  0 (c) x   9  0 (d) x 2  56  8
x
 7 5
 Ans. (a) 2 , 8 (b) 0, 3 (c)  4, 5 (d) 8, 8
1
Q05. If x 2  5x  1  0 , find the value of x  .  Ans.  5
x

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Q06. Solve the followings:

(a) 3x 2  2 2x  2 3  0
(b) 36x 2  12ax  a 2  b 2  0
(c) 16.4x  2  16.2 x 1  1  0
x 1 x  2
(d)   3; x  1, 2
x 1 x  2
1 1 1 1
(e)    ; x  1, 2, 4,5
x 1 x  5 x  2 x  4
 2x  1   x  3  1
(f) 2    3   5; x  , 3
 x  3   2x  1  2
 2 ab ab 13  3 21 1
 Ans. (a) 6,  (b) , (c)  4 (d) 2, 5 (e) (f )  , 10
 3 6 6 10 5
Q07. If the equation 1  m 2  x 2  2mcx  c 2  a 2  0 has equal roots, prove that c 2  a 2 1  m 2  .
Q08. If sinQ and cosQ are roots of the equation ax 2  bx  c  0 , then prove that a 2  b 2  2ac  0 .
23
Q09. The sum of the reciprocals of two consecutive natural nos. is . Find the numbers.
132
 Ans.11,12
Q10. If a train travels 15 km/hr faster, it would take 1 hour less to travel 180 km. Find the original
speed of the train.  Ans.45km / hr
Q11. The sum of digits of a two digits number is 8. The number obtained by interchanging the two digit
exceeds the given number by 36. Find the number.  Ans.26
Q12. Seven times a two digit number is the same as four times the number obtained on interchanging
the digits of given number. Also, one digit of the given number exceeds the other digit of the
number by 3. Find the number.  Ans.36
Q13. Sami takes 6 days less than the time taken by Tani to finish a work. If both of them can finish the
same work together in 4 days, then find the time taken by Tani alone to finish the work.
 Ans.12 days
Q14. Form a quadratic equation whose one root is 3  2 .  Ans.x 2  6x  7  0
Q15. Determine the positive value(s) of p, for which the equation x 2  px  64  0 and x 2  8x  p  0
will both have real roots.  Ans.16
Q16. If the roots of x 2  dx  m  0 differ by 1, then prove that d 2  4m  1 .
Q17. For what value of a, the roots ,  of the quadratic equation x 2  6x  a  0 satisfy the relation
3  2  20 ?  Ans.  16
Q18. If ratio of the roots of equation dx 2  mx  m  0 is equal to p : q then, prove that
p q m
  0.
q p d
1 1 1
Q19. If sum of the roots of equation   is zero then, prove that the product of the roots is
xa xb c
1 2
given as 
2
 a  b2  .

Q20. If the roots of  b  c  x 2   c  a  x   a  b   0 are equal, then prove that 2b  a  c .

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2 1 1
Q21. Show that   , if roots of the equation a  b  c  x 2  b  c  a  x  c  a  b   0 are equal.
b a c
1  Ans. (a) 3 (b) 1  2
Q22. Evaluate: a) 6  6  6  ... b) 2  .
1 
2
2  ...
Q23. Solve the followings:
a) x  5  x  21  6x  40 b) 5x 2  6x  8  5x 2  6x  7  1
x 2 3 x 2 3
c) 2 2
x  4x  21  x  x  6  6x  5x  39 2

d) 5  2 6  
 52 6   10
2
e)  x 2  5x   30  x 2  5x   216  0 f) 4x  5.2 x  4  0
2 1
g) x  x  2   x 2  1  1  0 h) 5x  3x

25
2 2
i) 3x x
 4x x
 25 j) 2 2x  3
 65  2x  1  57  0
 14
 Ans. (a) 4 (b) 4,  (c) 2,3 (d)  2,  2 (e) 2,3,9, 4 (f ) 0, 2
5

 1  5
 (g) 2
(repeated) (h)  1, 2 (i)  1, 2 ( j)  3

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