Algebra - 2

Contents
 Quadratic Equations
 Higher Degree Equations
QA - 18
CEX-Q-0219/22

Number of questions : 29

1. If both a and b belong to the set {1, 2, 3, 4}, 6 4 3 2

then the number of equations of the form (1) or (2) or
13 13 2 3
ax2 + bx + 1 = 0 having real roots is
(1) 10 (2) 7 5 2 9 4
(3) or (4) or
2 3 13 13
(3) 6 (4) 12

2. The value of a for which the equation 6. Find the value of 6  6  6 ...  
ax2 + (a + 1)x + 1 = 0 has equal root is
(1) 1 (2) 2 6
(1) (2) 3
(3) –1 (4) None of these 2
(3) 2 (4) 2.5
3. If the sum of the roots of the equation x2 + ax
+ 1 = 0 is equal to the sum of the squares of
their reciprocals, then which of the following 1
is a possible value of a? 7. If, x 
1
(1) –1 (2) 2 2
1
(3) 1 (4) 4 2
1
2
1
4. If the sum of the roots of (a + 1)x2 + (2a + 3)x 2
+ (3a + 4) = 0 is –1, then the product of the 2  ........
roots is
then find the value of x
(1) –2 (2) 2
(3) 1 (4) 6 (1) 2  1

(2) 2  1
x 1 x 1 (3) 1
5. If    2 , then the value of
1 x x 6 (4) Cannot be determined uniquely
x is

QA - 18 Page 1
8. Ujakar and Keshab attempted to solve a 13. Find the sum of all possible real values of p
quadratic equation. Ujakar made a mistake for which the equations 2x 2  x  3p  0 and
in writing down the constant term. He ended
up with the roots (4, 3). Keshab made a x 2  x  p  0 have a common root.
mistake in writing down the coefficient of x.
He got the root as (3, 2). What will be the 4 21
(1)  (2) 
exact roots of the original quadratic equation? 25 4
(CAT)
(1) (6, 1) (2) (–3, –4) 29
(3)  (4) 0
(3) (4, 3) (4) (–4, –3) 4

Directions for questions 9 and 10: Let f(x) = ax2 14. How many real values of x are there which
+ bx + c, where a, b and c are certain constants satisfy the equation
and a  0. It is known that f (5) = –3f (2) and that 3
2  4x  60
is a root of f(x) = 0. (CAT) (x 2  5x  5) x  1?
(1) –4 (2) 6
9. What is the other root of f(x) = 0?
(3) 5 (4) 3
(1) –7 (2) –4
(3) 2 (4) 6
(5) Cannot be determined 15. If     3 and 3  3  9, find the quadratic

10. What is the value of a + b + c? equation whose roots are  and 

(1) 9 (2) 14
(3) 13 (4) 37 2
(1) x(x – 2) = 3 (2) x  3  0
(5) Cannot be determined x

2
11. If one root is the square of the other root in (3) x2 – 2x + 3 = 0 (4) x  3
the equation x2 + px + q = 0, mark the correct x
relationship in the following options.
(1) p3 – q (3p + 1) + q2 = 0 16. For which value of k does the following pair of
(2) p3 – q (3p – 1) + q2 = 0 equations yield a unique solution of x such
(3) p3 + q (3p – 1) + q2 = 0 that the solution is positive?
(4) p3 – q (3p – 1) – q2 = 0 x 2 – y2 = 0
(x – k)2 + y2 = 1
12. Which of the following statements is correct (1) 2 (2) 0
about the root (s) of the equation
(3) 2 (4)  2
2
x – x – 1 1 0 ?
(1) One of the roots lies between –1 and 0 17. Given that f(x) = Ax2 + Bx + C (A > 0). If f(x)
and other lie between 0 and 2. = 0 has integral roots  and  such that
(2) One of the roots lies between –2 and 0 –4    2 and –3   3, then for how many
and other one lies between 0 and 1. distinct pairs (, ), f(0) < 0?
(3) Exactly one root lies between –2 and 1. (1) 18 (2) 12
(4) Exactly two roots lie between –3 and 3. (3) 21 (4) 49

Page 2 QA - 18
18. The following curve represents a quadratic If f(0) = –10, then find the value of f(–2).
function y = ax2 + bx + c. Determine the sign (1) – 40 (2) – 80
of the coefficient of x2 and x. Also find the (3) – 60 (4) Data Inconsistent
sign of the constrant term.
(Figure drawn on scale) 23. Find the maximum and the minimum possible
values of the function f(x) = 2x2 + 7x – 5,
+ve y-axis
where x is a real number.
(1) ,  22 (2) 89,  23

87 –89
(3) , (4) ,
4 8

24. If 0 < p < 1, then roots of the equation

+ve x-axis (1 – p) x2 + 4x + p = 0 are
(1) Both 0
(2) Real and both negative
(3) Imaginary
19. Let f(x) be a quadratic expression with a (4) Real and both positive
positive number coefficient of x2. If the roots
of f(x) = 0 lie in the interval (–1, 1) , then which 25. f(x) = ax2 + bx + c (a  0), is a function whose
of the following is necessarily true? roots do not lie in the interval (–1, 1). Which
(1) f(1) > 0 and f(–1) > 0 of the following holds true?
(2) f(1) > 0 and f(–1) < 0 (1) a + c > 0 (2) a2/(b + c) > 1
(3) f(1) < 0 and f(–1) < 0 (3) (a + c) /b > 1 (4) b2/(a + c) > 1
2 2

(4) f(1) < 0 and f(–1) > 0

26. A quadratic polynomial f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
20. The equation ax2
+ bx + c = 0, where a, b, c and x  0 satisfies the following conditions
are real numbers, has one root greater than 2 1. f(– 5) = 0
and the other root less than zero. Which of 2. f(14) = f(56)
the following is necessarily true?
(1) a(a + b + c) > 0 Find, f(0)/(f(10).
(2) a(a + b + c) < 0 (1) –5/13 (2) 5/13
(3) a + b + c > 0 (3) 15/17 (4) Cannot be determined
(4) a + b + c < 0
27. The cubic equation x3 – Ax2 + Bx – C = 0 has
21. A quadratic function f(x) attains a maximum three positive integral roots two of which are
of 3 at x = 1. The value of the function at equal. Which of the following statement(s) is
x = 0 is 1. What is the value of f(x) at x = 10? necessarily true?
(CAT) (1) If C is an even number then B must also
(1) – 159 (2) – 110 be an even number.
(3) – 180 (4) – 105 (2) If B is an even number then A must also
(5) – 119 be an even number.
(3) If A is an even number then C must also
22. The value of a quadratic function f(x) is negative be an even number.
for all real values of x, except for x = 2. (4) None of these

QA - 18 Page 3
28. If all the roots of the equation x4 – 4x3 + ax2 + 29. The number of real roots of the equation
bx + 1 = 0 are positive, then find the values of x6 + 4x2 – 30 = 0 is
a and b, where x, a and b are real numbers. (1) 0 (2) 2
(1) 4 and 6 (2) 6 and –4 (3) 4 (4) 6

1 7 7 1
(3) and (4) and 
2 2 2 2

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Page 4 QA - 18
 QA - 18 : Algebra - 2 CEX-Q-0219/22
Answers and Explanations

1 2 2 1 3 3 4 2 5 4 6 3 7 1 8 1 9 2 10 5
11 2 12 4 13 1 14 3 15 4 16 3 17 1 18 – 19 1 20 2
21 1 22 1 23 4 24 2 25 3 26 2 27 3 28 2 29 2

1. 2 ax2 + bx + 1 = 0
x 1 13 3
For real roots 5. 4 Put  y and solving y   we get y 
1 x y 6 2
b2  4ac  0
2
 b2  4a(1)  0 or
3

 b2  4a x 9 4
Subsequently,  or
For a = 1, 4a = 4,  b = 2, 3, 4 1 x 4 9
a = 2, 4a = 8,  b = 3, 4 9 4
a = 3, 4a = 12,  b = 4 or x = or
13 13
a = 4, 4a = 16,  b = 4
 Number of equations possible = 7.
6. 3 N= 6  N, where N = 6  6  6...
2. 1 For equation ax2 + (a + 1)x + 1 = 0 to have equal roots,
 N2 = 6 – N N = –3 or 2  N = 2
we have
 (a + 1)2 – 4a = 0  a = 1. N < 0 cannot be the answer, since anynumber is by
definition positive.
3. 3 Let roots are ,.
1 1 (   )2  2 Alternative method:
(  )  2
 2

  ()2 6  2.4 approximately..
2
( a)  2  (1) The answer will be slightly less than that.
 a So, with this logic all the options got eliminated except
(1)2
option (3).
 a2  a  2  0
 a  2 or 1. 1 2x
7. 1 x 
1 3  2x
 (3) is correct. 2
2x

2a  3  3x  2x 2  2  x  2x 2  4x  2  0
4. 2 Sum of the roots =       1
a 1
 2a + 3 = a + 1  x 2  2 2x  1  0
or a = –2
2 2 84 2
3a  4 x   2   2 1
Product of the roots =  = 2 2
a 1
The value of x is less than 1, hence 2  1 is the valid
3  2  4  2
=  2 answer.
 21 1

QA - 18 Page 1
8. 1 Quadratic equation having roots (4, 3) is 13. 1 Let ‘a’ be the common root for both the equations.
(x – 4) (x – 3) = 0
 x2 – 7x + 12 = 0 ... (i) Then a must satisfy both the equations,
Quadratic equation having roots (3, 2) is i.e., 2a2 – a + 3p = 0 and a2 – a – p = 0
(x – 3) (x – 2) = 0
 2a2 – a + 3p = a2 – a – p
 x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 ... (ii)
Picking the coefficient of x from (i) and the constant  a2 + 4p = 0
term from (ii), we get the required equation  p = –a2/4
x2 – 7x + 6 = 0
 (x – 6) (x – 1) = 0 2 3a2
So, 2a  a  0
 x = 1, 6 4
Hence, actual roots are (6,1).
5a 2 4
  a  0  a  0,
4 5
Alternative method:
Since constant = [3 × 2] and coefficient of 4
 p  0,
x = [–4x – 3x] = –7 25
Since quadratic equation is  4 4
x2 – (Sum of roots)x + Product of roots = 0 Sum of all possible real values of p  0      
 25  25
or x2 – 7x + 6 = 0
Solving the equation,
(x – 6)(x – 1) = 0 or x = (6, 1). 2  4x  60
14. 3 (x 2  5x  5)x 1
9. 2 Given that f(x) = ax2 + bx + c Case – I:
Also, f(5) = –3f(2)  f(5) + 3f(2) = 0 When (x2 – 5x + 5)0 = 1
 (25a + 5b + c) + 3(4a + 2b + c) = 0 So, x2 + 4x – 60 = 0
 37a + 11b + 4c = 0 …(i) x = – 10, 6
Also, as 3 is a root of f(x) = 0, thus, f(3) = 0. i.e. two values
Therefore, 9a + 3b + c = 0 …(ii) Case – II:
Using equation (i) and (ii), we get that a = b 2
Therefore, c = –12a When (1)x  4x  60  1
f(x) = a(x2 + x –12) = a(x + 4) (x – 3) So, x2 – 5x + 5 = 1
Therefore, the other root of f(x) = 0 is –4. x2 – 5x + 4 = 0
x = 1, 4
10. 5 f(x) = a(x2 + x –12) i.e. two values
Therefore, the value of a + b + c cannot be uniquely
Case – III:
determined.
(–1)even = 1
So, x2 – 5x + 5 = –1 and x2 + 4x – 60 must be even.
11. 2 Let roots be  and 2 . Now, x2 – 5x + 5 = –1
x2 – 5x + 6 = 0
2
Given,     p and      2   q x = 2 or 3
or   2  p and  3  q For x = 2
x2 + 4x – 60 is even
3

 
2
  (p)3 For x = 3
x2 + 4x – 60 is odd
or ( )3  (2 )3  3()2  (2 )  3()(2 )2  p3 we cannot take x = 3
i.e. only 1 value
or p3  q(3p  1)  q2  0 Hence, total 5 values of x are possible.

12. 4 Case I: For x <1, the equation is: 15. 4 If  +  = 3 and 3 + 3 = 9

x2 + x = 0. The roots are x = 0 & x = –1. then  = 1 and  = 2, or  = 2 and  = 1 are possible.
Case II: x  1, the equation is:  a quadratic equation with roots  and  is given by
x2 – x + 2 = 0. There are no real roots. x2 – ( + ) x +  = 0
So the equation has exactly two roots: x = 0 &  x2 – 3x + 2 = 0
x = –1.
Hence, only option (4) is correct. 2
x+ = 3.
x

Page 2 QA - 18
16. 3 y2 = x2 OR
2x2 – 2kx + k2 – 1 = 0
D=0
 4k2 = 8k2 – 8
 4k2 = 8

k2 = 2  k =  2 with k =  2 gives the equation

b 1
= 2x2 – 2 2x  1  0; root is: 
2a 2

but with k =  2, the equation is
–1 +1
1
= 2x2 + 2 2x  1  0 root is: 
2
as this root is –ve, will reject k =  2.
Only answer is:  k =  2 only..

The graph of the quadratic equation, (in both the above

17. 1 Since, A > 0, f(0) will be less than zero when the
cases) when the coefficient of x2 is positive, is given
product of the roots  and  (i.e. ) is negative. above. So, f(1) > 0 and f(–1) > 0
For,   4,  3,  2 or  1,  can be any of 1, 2 or 3.
20. 2 Let f(x) = ax2 + bx + c.
Total number of pairs (, )  4  3  12 If a > 0, then f(x) will be an upward parabola and f(1)
For   3,  2 or  1 ,  can be either 1 or 2. must be less than zero, since x = 1 is between the
roots of the quadratic.
Total number of pairs (, )  3  2  6 If a < 0, then f(x) will be an downward parabola and
Hence, total number of distinct pairs = 12 + 6 = 18. f(1) must be greater than zero, since x = 1 is between
the roots of the quadratic.
18. Since figure is drawn to scale, and it shows that co- Hence, a(a + b + c) is definitely less than zero.
efficient of x2 is –ve (curve opens downward), the
21. 1 Let f(x) = ax 2  bx  c
sum of the roots is positive.
At x = 1, f(1) = a + b + c = 3
b At x = 0, f(0) = c = 1
i.e. ( + ) =   ve [where  &  are roots]
a The maximum of the function f(x) is attained at

 b  –ve [  a is –ve] b a–2

x= – =1=
Now, if x = 0, then y = c. 2a 2a
From graph, at x = 0, y is +ve.
 a = –2 and b = 4
 c is +ve.
2
 f(x) = –2x + 4x + 1
19. 1 Therefore, f(10) = –159

22. 1 The maximum value of f(x) must be 0 and this maximum

value occurs for x = 2.

5
  Let, f(x) = –a(x – 2)2, f(0) = –10, a 
2
–1 1 Hence,

5
f(x)   (x  2)2
2

5
 f(–2)   (–2 – 2)2  –40.
2

QA - 18 Page 3
23. 4 f(x) = 2x2 + 7x – 5 27. 3 Let the three roots of this cubic equation be ,  and
 7  . We can write:
 f(x)  2  x 2  x   5
 2  (x –)(x – )(x – ) = x3 – A.x2 + Bx – C = 0
2 2 or x3 – (2 + )x2 + (2 + 2)x – .2 = x3 – Ax2 +
 7 7   7
 f(x)  2  x 2  2  x      5  2    Bx – C
 4  4    4
  A = 2 + 

 7
2
89 B = 2 + 2
 f(x)  2  x    C = 2.
 4 8
Option (1): If at least one of  and  is an even
2
 7 number, then C will be an even number. If only  is
As  x    0 ,
 4 even, then B will be an odd number. Hence, (1) is
89 incorrect.
Minimum value of f(x) 
8 Option (2): If  is an even number and  is an odd
Maximum value of f(x)   number, then B will be an even number but A will be an
odd number. Hence (2) is incorrect.
24. 2 The given equation is (1 – p) x2 + 4x + p = 0 Option (3): If A is an even number then must be an
It’s discriminant 16 – 4 (1 – p) p or 16 – 4p (1 – p)
even number. Hence, C must be an even number. Hence
is positive as 0 < p < 1.
(3) is correct.
 –4 
Also, sum of roots   and product of roots
 1 – p   28. 2 Let us say the roots are   and given that sum
 p  of the roots        = 4 and product of roots
  are negative and positive in sign respectively..
1– p   = 1.
Therefore, roots of the given equation are real and Since    and  are positive, the only possible
negative.
values of and is = == = 1because the
Hence, (2) is the correct choice.
product of these four roots is maximum.
25. 3 Take an example of f(x) where one of the roots is less   = 1.
than –1 and the other is more than 1 and cross check.  a = = 6
If a > 0, f(1)and f(–1) both are negative. –b =   
If a < 0, f(1) and f(–1) both are positive.  –b = 4  b = –4
So, in either case f(1) x f(–1) > 0.
(a + b + c)(a – b + c) > 0 29. 2 The given equation is x6 + 4x2 = 30.
(a + c)2 – b2 > 0 Now, consider the function f(x) = x6 + 4x2.
(a + c)2 > b2 This is a symmetric function about the Y axis as well
(a + c)2/b2 > 1
as an increasing function as we go from 0 to  or if
26. 2 f(–5) = 0  25a – 5b + c = 0 … (i) we go from 0 to  .
f(14) = f(56)  (14)2a + 14b + c = (56)2a + 56b + c Since this is an increasing function, there will only one
 b = –70a value of x between 1 and 2 for which the value of the
Putting this value in equation (i), we get function is 30. Similarly, there will be only value of x
c = –375a. between – 1 and – 2 for which the value of the function
So, f(x) = a(x2 – 70x – 375) is 30.
Hence, the number of real roots of the equation
f(0) a( 375) 5
   . x6 + 4x2 = 30 is 2.
f(10) a(10 2  70(10)  375) 13

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