1

Quadratic Equation
Quadratic Equation

1. Definition : An equation of the form ax2  bx  c  0 , a  0 ………(1), called quadratic

equation.

1.2 Solution of ax2  bx  c  0 :

After solving this equation we get two values of x, we can find out the values of x by using the

 b  b2  4ac
formula x  , called roots of the quadratic equation and those are generally
2a

denoted by ,  and a, b, c are called coefficients. b2  4ac is called discriminant, generally

denoted by D.
1.3 Relation between roots and coefficients :

Let ,  be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 , then

b
a)     
a
c
b)  .  
a
1.4 Formation of equation :

The quadratic equation whose roots are ,  can be written as x2    x    0.

1.5 Nature of roots :

Let ,  be the roots of a quadratic equation ax2  bx  c  0 . The roots are

a) real if b2  4ac  0

b) real and distinct if b2  4ac  0

c) real and equal if b2  4ac  0

d) imaginary if b2  4ac  0

1.6 Some Properties :

a) A quadratic expression ax2  bx  c will be perfect square if b2  4ac  0 .

b) If a, b, c are rational and one root of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 be    , then

the other root must be   .

c) If a, b, c are real and one root of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 be   i , then the

other root must be   i.

d) If  be a root of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0, then a2  b  c  0 .

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic
 2
Quadratic Equation
1.7 Questions at a glance (objective) :

1. If the sum of the roots of the equation 3x2  2mx  1  0 be 2, then the value of m is

2 2
a) b)  c) 2 d) -3
3 3

2. If the product of the roots of the equation 5x2  2x  m  0 be 7, then the value of m is

7 2
a) 35 b) c) 10 d)
5 5

3. If one root of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 is 0, then

a) a = 0 b) b = 0 c) c = 0 d) none of these.

4. If 5p2  7p  2  0 and 5q2  7q  2  0 p  q , then the value of pq is

5 2 7 7
a) b) c) d) 
2 5 5 5

5. The quadratic expression 2x2  mx  1 will be perfect square if

a) m = 2 2 b) m = -2 2 c) m =  2 2 d) none of these.

6. The value of k for which the roots of the equation 9x2  kx  16  0 are equal, are

a)  24 b)  16 c)  12 d) None of these.

7. If the roots of ax2  bx  c  0 are reciprocal s of those of px 2  qx  r  0 , then

a) a : b : c = r : p : q b) a : b : c = p : q : r
c) a : b : c = r : q : p d) none of these

8. If one root of the equation 5x2  13x  k  0 is reciprocals of the other, then k is

1
a) 0 b) 5 c) d) 6
6

9. If the roots of the equation x2  px  q  0 be 1 : 2 then the relation between p and q is

a) 2p2  9q b) p2  q2 c) 2p2  3q2 d) none of these.

10. If x is real, the least value of f x   4x2  4x  2 is

a) 0 b) -1 c) 1 d) none of these

 
11. If the product of the roots of the equation 3x2  5mx  m2  5  0 is 2 , then m is

a)  2 b)  i c)  1 d) none of these
2
12. If one root of the equation 2x  3x  c  0 is 1, then other root is

1
a) -1 b) 2 c) d) none of these.
2

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 3
Quadratic Equation
13. If 2 + i 3 is a root of the equation x2  px  q  0 ,( p, q are real ), then the values of p, q

are a) 4, 7 b) - 4, 7 c) - 4, - 7 d) none of these

Questions at a glance (Subjective)

14. If the ratio of the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 be 3 : 4, show that 12b2  49ac .

15. If the ratio of the roots of the equation lx2  nx  n = 0 be p : q, prove that

p q n
  0.
q p l

16. If a2  5a  3 and b2  5b  3 a  b , find the quadratic equation whose roots are

a b
and .
b a

2 2
17. If  and  are the roots of the equation 3x2  18x  2  0 , find the quadratic
 
equation whose roots are  and  and  are real .

18. Prove that if the equations ax2  bx  c  0 and bx 2  cx  a  0 have a common root,

then either a  b  c  0 or a  b  c .

19. If the roots of the equation ax2  2bx  b  0 are imaginary, show that the roots of the

equation bx 2  b  c x  a  c  b  0 are real.

20. If the roots of the equation px 2  2qx  p  0 are real and unequal, show that the roots

of the equation qx 2  2px  q  0 are imaginary ( both p and q are real).

2
21. If x be real, find the least value of the expression 2 x  3x  5 and find the value of x
for which the expression is least.
x2
22. If x be real, find the greatest and least value of 2
.
2x  3x  6

23. If  and  are the roots of the equation ax2  2bx  c  0 and

  ,    be those of Ax 2  2Bx  C  0 , prove that

b2  ac B2  AC
 .
a2 A2

24. If the ratio of the roots of the equation x2  2px  q2  0 be equal to the ratio of the

roots of the equation x2  2rx  s2  0 , prove that p2s2  q2r2

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic
 4
Quadratic Equation
25. If one root of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 is square of the other, prove that

b3  ac2  a2c  3abc .

26. If  and  be the roots of the equation 3x2  6x  4  0 , find the value of

   1 1
    2    3 .
   

27. If  and  be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 , then prove that 2  3

where 3b3  ac2  9a2c  9abc

28. If  be a root of the equation 4x2  2x  1  0 , prove that 43  3 is the other root.

29. If  and  are roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 , find the quadratic equation whose

1 1
roots are and .
1 1

30. If  and  be the roots of the equation x2  3x  4  0 , find the equation whose roots

are   2 and   2 .

31. If  and  are roots of the equation 2x2  6x  3  0 , find the quadratic equation

whose roots are 2 and 2 .

   
32. Prove that if the roots of the equation a2  b2 x2  2 ac  bdx  c2  d2  0 are equal

then ad  b c .

33. If the roots of the equation ab  c x2  b c  ax  c a  b  0 are equal, then show

1 1 2
that  
a c b

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 5
Quadratic Equation
1.8 Solution of the given questions :

1. If the sum of the roots of the equation 3x2  2mx  1  0 be 2, then the value of m is

2 2
a) b)  c) 2 d) -3
3 3

Solution : Let ,  be the roots of 3x2  2mx  1  0 .

2m 2m
Then,    =  or, 2 = 
3 3
or, m = -3. Ans. : d) -3

2. If the product of the roots of the equation 5x2  2x  m  0 be 7, then the value of m is

7 2
a) 35 b) c) 10 d)
5 5

Solution : Let ,  be the roots of 5x2  2x  m  0 .

m m
Then,   = or, 7 = or, m = 35 Ans. : a) 35
5 5

3. If one root of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 is 0, then

a) a = 0 b) b = 0 c) c = 0 d) none of these.

Solution : Let  be the other root of ax2  bx  c  0 .

c c
Then,   0 = or, 0 = or, c = 0
a a
Ans. : c) 0

4. If 5p2  7p  2  0 and 5q2  7q  2  0 p  q , then the value of pq is

5 2 7 7
a) b) c) d) 
2 5 5 5

Solution : Clearly p, q are the roots of the equation 5x2  7x  2  0 .

2 2
 pq = Ans : b)
5 5

5. The quadratic expression 2x2  mx  1 will be perfect square if

a) m = 2 2 b) m = -2 2 c) m =  2 2 d) none of these.

Solution : Since the expression 2x2  mx  1 be perfect square,  m2  421  0 or,

m2  8 or , m   2 2 .

Ans. : c) m =  2 2

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 6
Quadratic Equation
6. The value of k for which the roots of the equation 9x 2  kx  16  0 are equal, are

a)  24 b)  16 c)  12 d) None of these.
Solution : Since the roots of the equation 9 x 2  kx  16  0 are equal,

 k 2  4  9  16 = 0
or, k 2  576 or, k =  24 Ans. : a)  24 .

7. If the roots of ax2  bx  c  0 are reciprocal s of those of px 2  qx  r  0 , then

a) a : b : c = r : p : q b) a : b : c = p : q : r
c) a : b : c = r : q : p d) none of these
1 1 1
Solution : Replacing x by in px 2  qx  r  0 we get p 2  q  r  0
x x x

or, rx 2  qx  p  0 .

Now, the roots of ax 2  bx  c  0 are equal to the roots of rx 2  qx  p  0 .

a b c
Therefore,  
r q p
or, a : b : c = r : q : p Ans. : c) a : b : c = r : q : p

8. If one root of the equation 5x 2  13x  k  0 is reciprocals of the other, then k is

1
a) 0 b) 5 c) d) 6
6
1
Solution : Let  , be the roots of 5x2  13x  k  0 .

1 k
Now,   = or, k  5 Ans. : b) 5
 5

9. If the roots of the equation x2  px  q  0 be 1 : 2 then the relation between p and q is

a) 2p2  9q b) p2  q2 c) 2p2  3q2 d) none of these.

Solution : Let  , 2  be the roots of x2  px  q  0 .

  + 2  = p or, 3  = p

p
or,  = . Again,  .2  = q or, 2  2 = q
3
2
p
or, 2   q or, 2p2  9q .
3

Ans. : a) 2p2  9q

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 7
Quadratic Equation
10. If x is real, the least value of f x   4x2  4x  2 is

a) 0 b) -1 c) 1 d) none of these

Solution : 4x2  4x  2  2x  12  1 = least if 2x  1 = 0.

 least value of f x  is 1. Ans : c) 1

 
11. If the product of the roots of the equation 3x2  5mx  m2  5  0 is 2 , then m is

a)  2 b)  i c)  1 d) none of these

Solution :  
 3x2  5mx  m2  5  0 is 2 ,
m2  5
3
2

or, m2  5  6 or , m2  1 or , m   1 Ans. c)  1

12. If one root of the equation 2x2  3x  c  0 is 1, then other root is

1
a) -1 b) 2 c) d) none of these.
2

13. If 2 + i 3 is a root of the equation x2  px  q  0 ,( p, q are real ), then the values of p, q

are a) 4, 7 b) - 4, 7 c) - 4, - 7 d) none of these

Solution :  one root is 2  i 3 , other root will be 2  i 3 .

2 + i 3   2 - i 3  =  p
and 2 + i 3   2 - i 3   q .
p   4 , q  7

14. If the ratio of the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 be 3 : 4, show that 12b2  49ac

Solution : Let 3  , 4  be the roots of ax2  bx  c = 0.

b b b
3  4   or, 7  =  or,  =  .
a a 7a
2
c 2 c  b c
Also, 3  4  or, 12  = or, 12    
a a  7a  a

or, 12b2  49ac .

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 8
Quadratic Equation
15. If the ratio of the roots of the equation lx2  nx  n = 0 be p : q, prove that

p q n
   0.
q p l

Solution : Let  and  be the roots of the equation lx2  nx  n  0

n n  p
Then,      ,   . Also,  (given)
l l  q

p q n
L.H.S. =  
q p l

  n
=  
  l

 n
= 
 l

n
 n n
l  n
= =  = 0 = R.H.S
n l l l
l

16. If a2  5a  3 and b2  5b  3 a  b , find the quadratic equation whose roots are

a b
and
b a

Solution : Since, a2  5a  3 and b2  5b  3 a  b

i. e. a2  5a  3  0 and b2  5b  3  0 a  b

Clearly a, b are roots of x2  5a  3  0

 a  b  5, ab  3

a b a2  b2 a  b2  2ab 52  2  3 19

Now,     
b a ab ab 3 3
a b
Also,  =1
b a
a b a b
Therefore, the required equation is x 2     x      0
b a b a
19
or, x 2  x  10
3

or, 3x 2  19x  3  0

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 9
Quadratic Equation
2 2
 
17. If  and  are the roots of the equation 3x 2  18x  2  0 , find the quadratic
 
equation whose roots are  and   and  are real .

2 2
Solution : Since,  and  are the roots of the equation 3x 2  18x  2  0 , 
 

    18 
 2   2    2   2  2
    &     
      3       3
       
  3  3 
or,     6 &   2
   3
 

or,  3  3   6

or,   3  3     6

2 2
or,   3  3        6 
3 3

or,   3  2    4  0

or, p3  2p  4  0 , where p     say

or, p2 p  2  2p p  2  2p  2  0  
or, p  2 p2  2p  2  0

or, p  2  0

or, p   2 i. e.      2

 The required equation is x2    x    0

2
or, x 2  2x   0
3

or, 3x2  6x  2  0

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 10
Quadratic Equation
18. Prove that if the equations ax  bx  c  0 and bx 2  cx  a  0 have a common root,
2

then either a  b  c  0 or a  b  c .

Solution : Let  be the common root of the equations ax2  bx  c  0 &

bx 2  cx  a  0 .

Then, a2  b  c  0 and

b2  c  a  0

2  1
 2
 2

ab  c bc  a ca  b2

2  2 ab  c2
Taking,  we get 
ab  c2 bc  a2  bc  a2

ab  c2
or,   ……… (1)
bc  a2

 1
Again taking, 2

bc  a ca  b2

bc  a2
we get   ……………..(2)
ca  b2

ab  c2 bc  a2
From (1) & (2) we can write =
bc  a2 ca  b2

 
or, ab  c2 ca  b2  bc  a2   2
or, a2bc  ab3  c3a  b2c2  b2c2  2a2bc  a4

or, 3a2bc  ab3  c3a  a4  0  

or,  a a3  b3  c3  3abc  0

or, a3  b3  c3  3abc  0


or, a  b  c  a2  b2  c2  ab  bc  ca  0 
 a  b  c  0 or a2  b2  c2  ab  bc  ca  0


 a  b  c  0 or 2 a2  b2  c2  ab  bc  ca  0 
 a  b  c  0 or a  b2  b  c 2  c  a2  0

 a  b  c  0 or a  b  b  c  c  a  0

i.e. a  b  c  0 or a  b  c

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 11
Quadratic Equation
2
19. If the roots of the equation ax  2bx  b  0 are imaginary, show that the roots of the

equation bx 2  b  cx  a  c  b  0 are real.

Solution : Since the roots of ax2  2bx  b  0 are imaginary,

2b2  4ab  0 i. e. b2  ab  0 or, ab  b2  0 ……(1)

Now, discriminant of bx 2  b  cx  a  c  b  0 is

b  c 2  4ba  c  b


= b2  c2  4bc  4ab  4bc  4b2 = b2  c2  2bc  4 ab  b2 
 
= b  c 2  4 ab  b2  0 [ from (1) ]

Therefore, the roots of the equation bx 2  b  cx  a  c  b  0 are real.

20. If the roots of the equation px 2  2qx  p  0 are real and unequal, show that the roots of

the equation qx 2  2px  q  0 are imaginary ( both p and q are real).

Solution : Since the roots of px 2  2qx  p  0 are real and unequal,  2q2  4  p  p  0

 
or, 4 q2  p2  0 ………(1)


Now, discriminant of qx 2  2px  q  0 is  2p2  4  q  q = 4 p2  q2 
 
=  4 q2  p2  0 from (1)

Therefore, the roots of the equation qx 2  2px  q  0 are imaginary.

21. If x be real, find the least value of the expression 2x2  3x  5 and find the value of x for

which the expression is least.

 3 5
Solution : 2x2  3x  5 = 2  x 2  x  
 2 2

 2 3 3
2
9 5

= 2 x 2 x      
 4 4 16 2 


 3
2
31   3
2
31

= 2 x    = 2 x   
 4 16   4 8


 3 31
= least if  x    0 and least value is , when x is real.
 4 8
31 3
Therefore, the least value of the given expression is when x  .
8 4

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 12
Quadratic Equation
x2
22. If x be real, find the greatest and least value of 2
.
2 x  3x  6
x2
Solution : Let y 
2
2x  3x  6

 
or, y 2x2  3x  6  x  2 or, 2y x2  3y  1x  6y  2  0

Since x is real, 3y  12  4  2y  6y  2  0

or, 9y2  6y  1  48y2  16y  0 or,  39y2  10y  1  0

or, 39y2  10y  1  0 or, 39y2  13y  3y  1  0

or, 13y3y  1  3y  1  0 or, 3y  113y  1  0

 1  1
or,  y   y    0
 3  13 

1 1  1  1
Now, in   y  ,  y    0 and  y  0
13 3  3  13 
1 1
i.e.  y
13 3
1 1
 the greatest and least value of the given expression are and  respectively.
3 13

23. If  and  are the roots of the equation ax2  2bx  c  0 and   ,    be

b2  ac B2  AC
those of Ax2  2Bx  C  0 , prove that  .
a2 A2

Solution :   and  are the roots of the equation ax2  2bx  c  0,

2b c
    &    . Again,   ,    be the roots of the equation
a a
2B C
Ax 2  2Bx  C  0 .             &           .
A A

Now,   2        2

or,   2  4        2  4        

2 2
 2b  c  2B  C
or,     4       4 
 a a  A A

 b2 c   B2 C  b2  ac B2  AC
or, 4  2    4  2   or, 
a a  A A  a2 A2
 

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 13
Quadratic Equation
24. If the ratio of the roots of the equation x2  2px  q2  0 be equal to the ratio of the

roots of the equation x2  2rx  s2  0 , prove that p2s2  q2r2

2p  4p2  4q2
Solution : x2  2px  q2  0 or, x 
2

or, x  p  p2  q2

Similarly, from x2  2rx  s2  0 , x  r  r2  s2

p  p2  q2 r  r 2  s2
By the given problem, 
p  p2  q2 r  r 2  s2

2p 2r
or,  ( by componendo & dividendo )
2 2 2 2
2 p q 2 r s

p2 r2
or, 
p2  q2 r2  s2

  
or, p2 r2  s2  r2 p2  q2 
or, p2s2  q2r2

25. If one root of the equation ax2  bx  c = 0 is square of the other, prove that

b3  ac2  a2c  3abc .

Solution : Let  , 2 be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 .

b c c
Then,   2   &   2  or,  3 
a a a

 3
Now,   2   3   2  3  3  2   2 
3 2
 b c c  c  b 
or,         3   
 a a a  a  a 

b3 ca  c2  3bc
or,  3 
a a2

b3
or,   ca  c2  3bc
a

or, b3  ac2  a2c  3abc

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 14
Quadratic Equation
26. If  and  be the roots of the equation 3x2  6x  4  0 , find the value of

   1 1
    2    3 .
   

Solution:   and  be the roots of the equation 3x2  6x  4  0 ,

 6 4
       2 &  
 3 3

   1 1  2  2      
Now,     2    3 =    2   3 
         
 

=
  2  2  2       3 
   
 

22  2  4
= 3 + 2  2  3  4 =
4 3 3
  4   4 = 1 + 3 + 4 = 8.
4 4 3 3 4 4
3 3

27. If  and  be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 , then prove that 2  3

where 3b3  ac2  9a2c  9abc

Solution:  and  be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 ,

b c
 ,  
a a

Given, 3b3  ac2  9a2c  9abc

3b3  ac2  9a2c 9abc

or, 
3
a a3
3 2
b c c  b  c 
or, 3      9    9    
a  a  a  a  a 

or, 3   3   2  9    9   

 
or,  3 3  3  3      22  9     9    

 
or,  3 3  3  22  9    0

or, 33  33  22  9    0

or, 33  22  33  9    0   

or, 2 3  2  3 3  2  0 

or, 3  2 2  3  0   3  2   0 or , 2  3  0
i.e. 2  3 or , 2  3

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 15
Quadratic Equation
2
28. If  be a root of the equation 4x  2x  1  0 , prove that 43  3 is the other root.

Solution : Let  be the other root.

2 1
Then,      
4 2
1
or,    
2

Also, since  be a root of the equation 4x2  2x  1  0 , 42  2  1  0

Now, 43  3

1 1
= 4 3  22    22     
2 2


=  42  2  1   12 42  2  1   12  
1
=   =
2

29. If  and  are roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 , find the quadratic equation whose

1 1
roots are and .
1 1

Solution : Since,  and  are roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 ,

b c
 &  
a a
1 1   1   1    2
Now,  = =
1 1   1  1       1
b
 2
a  b  2a
= =
 1 cba
c b
a a
 1  1  1 1 a
Again,     = = =
   1    1        1 c
 1 cba
b
a a
Therefore, required equation is
 1 1   1  1 
x 2     x      =0
   1   1    1    1
 2a  b  a
or, x2    x  =0
c  b  a cba

or, c  b  ax2  2a  bx  a  0

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 16
Quadratic Equation
30. If  and  be the roots of the equation x 2  3x  4  0 , find the equation whose roots

are   2 and   2 .

Solution : Since,  and  be roots of the equation x2  3x  4  0 ,

     3 &   4

The equation whose roots are   2 and   2 will be

 
x2    2    2 x    2    2  0

or, x2  2 2  2 x  9   2  4   0

or, x2  2   2  2 x  9   2  4   0

or, x2  2 32  2  4x  9  3 2  4  4   0

or, x2  2 x  63  0

31. If  and  are roots of the equation 2x2  6x  3  0 , find the quadratic equation

whose roots are 2 and 2 .

Solution : Since,  and  be the roots of the equation ax2  bx  c  0 ,

6 3
    3 &   .
2 2

 
The equation whose roots are 2 and 2 will be x2  2  2 x  2 2  0

 
2
 3 3
or, x2    2  2 x  2  0 or, x2   32  2   x     0
 2 2
9
or, x 2  6 x   0 or, 4x2  24 x  9  0
4

  
32. Prove that if the roots of the equation a2  b2 x2  2 ac  bdx  c2  d2  0 are 
equal then ad  b c .

   
Solution : Since, the roots of the equation a2  b2 x2  2 ac  bdx  c2  d2  0 are

 
equal,  2ac  bd2  4 a2  b2 c2  d2 = 0 
or, a2c2  2acbd  b2d2  a2c2  a2d2  b2c2  b2d2  0

or, a2d2  2adbc  b2c2  0

or, ad  bc 2  0

or, ad  bc  0 or, ad  b c

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic

 17
Quadratic Equation

33. If the roots of the equation a b  c x2  b c  ax  c a  b  0 are equal, then show

1 1 2
that  
a c b

Solution: Since, the roots of the equation ab  c x2  b c  ax  c a  b  0 are

equal, b c  a2  4ac a  bb  c  0

  
or, b2 c  a2  4ca  4ac ab  ac  b2  bc  0 
or, bc  a2  4cab2  4acab  bc   4a2c2  4cab2  0

or, bc  a2  2  2ac  bc  a  2ac2  0

or, b c  a  2ac 2  0

or, b c  a  2ac  0

or, bc  ab  2ac

bc  ab 2ac
or, 
abc abc
1 1 2
or,  
a c b

GH(Mathematics), APC Ray Polytechnic