IOQM

NATURE OF ROOTS
The term b2 – 4ac is called discriminant of the equation.
It is denoted by  or D.
Case (i) : Suppose a, b, c  R and a  0 then
(i) If D > 0  roots are real and unequal
(ii) If D = 0  roots are real and equal and each equal to –b/2a
(iii) If D < 0  roots are imaginary and unequal or complex conjugate.
i.e. if one root is,  = x + iy then the other root will be  = x – iy
Case (ii) : Suppose a, b, c  Q, a  0 then
(i) If D > 0 & D is a perfect square
 roots are unequal & rational
(ii) If D > 0 & D is not a perfect square
 roots are irrational & unequal & occurs in
conjugate pairs i.e. if one root is,  = x + y then

the other root will be  = x – y where x, y  Q

(a) Roots under particular cases

For the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0
(i) If b = 0  roots are of equal magnitude but of opposite sign
(ii) If c = 0  one root is zero and the other root is – b/a
(iii) If b = c = 0  both roots are zero
(iv) If a = c  roots are reciprocal to each other
(v) If sign of a  sign of c  both roots are of opposite signs
(vi) If sign of a = sign of b = sign of c  both roots are negative
(vii) If sign of a = sign of c  sign of b  both roots are positive

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(viii) If sign of a = sign of b  sign of c  greater root in magnitude is negative
(ix) If sign of b = sign of c  sign of a  Greater root in magnitude is positive.
(x) If a + b + c = 0  one root is 1 and second root is c/a
(xi) If a = b = c = 0 then equation will become an identity and will be satisfied by every value of x.

(b) Condition for common roots

Let quadratic equations are a1x2 + b1x +c1 = 0 and a2x2 + b2x + c2 = 0
(i) If only one root is common:
2  1
= =
b1c2 − b2 c1 a 2 c1 − b1c2 a l b2 − a 2 b1
(ii) If both roots are common:
a1 b1 c1
= =
a 2 b 2 c2
 The condition for only one root common is
(c1a2 – c2a1)2 = (b1c2 – b2c1) (a1b2 – a2b1)

MIND IT: Two different quadratic equations with rational coefficients cannot have single common root which
is complex or irrational, as imaginary and surd roots always occur in conjugate pairs.

Solved Examples

Example : Show that the roots of x2 – 2ax + a2 – b2 – 2bc– c2 = 0 are rational.

Solution : When the roots of a quadratic equation are rational, then the discriminant is a perfect square.
The discriminant for
x2–2ax+ a2 –b2 –2bc – c2 = 0 is (–2a)2 – 4(1) (a2 –b2 – 2bc – c2)
= 4a2 – 4 (a2 – b2 – 2bc – c2)
= 4{a2 – a2 + b2 + 2bc + c2}
= 4 (b2 + 2bc + c2)
= 4 (b + c)2, which is a perfect square. Hence the roots are rational. Proved

Example : If a, b, c  R and equations ax2 + bx + c = 0 and x2 + 2x + 9 = 0 have a common root then show
that a : b : c = 1 : 2 : 9
Solution : x2 + 2x + 9 = 0 ……(i)
9x2 + bx + c = 0 ……(ii)
Clearly roots of equation (i) are imaginary (as D < 0).
Since equation (i) & (ii) have a common root, therefore common root must be imaginary and
hence both roots will be common (Since imaginary roots occur in conjugate pairs) therefore
eq. (i) & (ii) are identical.
a b c
 = = a:b:c=1:2:9
1 2 9

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MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUE OF QUADRATIC EXPRESSION
❖ Range of quadratic expression
ax2 + bx + c
(i) If a > 0, quadratic expression has least value at
b
x=– . This least value is given by
2a
4ac − b2 D
=−
4a 4a
b
(ii) If a < 0, quadratic expression has greatest value at x = – . This greatest value is given by
2a
4ac − b2 D
=−
4a 4a

❖ Range of an algebraic expression

ax 2 − bx + c
Let y = … (1)
px 2 + qx + r
To find the range of the given expression, we first solve it for x.
x2 (py – a) + x(qy – b) + (ry – c) = 0 … (2)
For real value of x, D of (2) should be greater than or equal to zero.
D = (qy – b)2 – 4(py – a) (ry – c)  0 … (3)
Those values of y which will satisfy (3) are called range of the function.

Some results to remember :

(i) ax – b > 0  x > b /a if a > 0 and x< b/a if a < 0
(ii) x2 – a2 > 0  x < – a or x > a
(iii) x2 – a2  0  x  – a or x  a
(iv) x2 – a2 < 0  – a < x < a
(v) (x – a) (x – b) > 0, a < b  x < a or x > b
(vi) (x – a) (x – b) < 0, a < b  a < x < b

Solved Examples

Example : Find the minimum value of 3x2 – 2x + 1.

Solution : If a > 0, the minimum value of ax2 + bx + c is
4ac − b 2 −b
at x =
4a 2a
Here a = 3 , b = – 2, c = 1
4(3)(1) − (−2)2 12 − 4 2
Minimum value = = =
4(3) 12 3

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EXERCISE # 1

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
SOLUTION OF QUADRATIC EQUATION
34
1. Find the roots of the following equation (x – 3) (x – 4) =
332
51 82 98 133 122 53 89 67
(A) , (B) , (C) , (D) ,
33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33

x −1 x − 2 x − 5 x − 6
2. Solve the equation for x : − = −
x −2 x −3 x −6 x −7
9 3 7 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
2 2 2 2
x −a x −b a b
3. Solve the equation for x : + = +
x −b x −a b a
(A) 0, a – b (B) 0, a + b (C) 0 , 1 (D) a + b , 2

4. How many values of x are there which satisfy the equation :

x2 + x − 6 – x + 2 = x2 − 7x + 10 , x  R
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5

5. Solve for x : 3x + 2 + 3–x = 10

(A) 2, 0 (B) 0, 3 (C) –2, – 1 (D) –2, 0

6. How many real solutions are there for equation (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)(x + 4) = 24
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5

( )
x2 −2x +1 2
−2x −1
If 2 + 3 + (2 − 3)x =
2
7. , then x is equal to :
2− 3
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) both (A) and (C)

8. ( )
Find the harmonic mean of the roots of 3 + 2 x 2 − 2 + 3 x + 2 2 + 6 = 0 ( ) ( )
(A) 2 (B) 2 2 (C) 2 (D) 1

1 1 1 3
9. Solve the equation for x : + + =
(x − 1)(x − 2) (x − 2)(x − 3) (x − 3)(x − 4) 40
(A) 9, 4 (B) – 9, – 4 (C) – 4, 9 (D) 4, – 9

RELATION BETWEEN ROOTS AND COFFICIENTS

1. If ,  are the roots of x2 +ax + 1 = 0 and ,  are roots of x2 + bx + 1 = 0, find the value of
( − )( − )( − )( − ) .
(A) (a + b)2 (B) (a – b)2 (C) (a2 + b2) (D) (a2 – b2)
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( − )( − )
2. If   be the roots of x2 + px – q = 0 and   be the roots of x2 + px + r = 0 then =
( − )( − )
(A) 1 (B) q (C) r (D) q + r

3. Given that ,  are the roots of x2 + bx + c= 0, find the value of ( + b)–2 + ( + b)–2.
b2 + 2c b2 − 2c b2 − 2c
(A) (B) (C) (D) None of these
c2 c2 c

4. If ,  are the roots of x2 + x + 1 = 0 and ,  are the roots of x2 + 3x + 1 = 0, then

( – ) ( + ) ( + ) ( – ) =
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8

5. If the roots of the equation px2 + qx + r = 0 are in the ratio  : m then :

(A) ( + m)2 pq =  mr2 (B) ( + m)2 pr =  mq
(C) ( + m)2 pr =  mq2 (D) None of these

2 + 2 + 1 2 + 2 + 1
6. If   are the roots of x2 – p(x + 1) – c = 0 then + is equal to
2 + 2 + c 2 + 2 + c
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) None of these

7. If r1 and r2 are the roots of x2 + bx + c = 0 and S0 = r1 0 + r20, S1 = r1 + r2 and , S1 = r12 + r22, then the
value of S2 + bS1 + cS0 is :
(A) depends on b only (B) depends on c only
(C) depends on both b and c. (D) does not dependent on b and c.

8. If , ,  are the roots of the equation x3 + a0x2 + a1x + a2 = 0, then (1– 2)(1– 2)(1– 2) is equal to :
(A) (1 – a1)2 + (a0–a2)2 (B) (1 + a1)2 – (a0+ a2)2
(C) (1 + a1)2 + (a0 + a2)2 (D) None of these

9. If ,  are the roots of the equation 8x2 – 3x + 27 = 0, then the value of [(2 /)1/3 + (2 /)1/3] is :
(A) 1/3 (B) 1/4 (C) 1/5 (D) 1/6

1 1
10. If ,  be the roots of the equation x2 – 2x + 3 = 0, then the equation whose roots are and 2 is
 2

(A) x2 + 2x + 1 = 0 (B) 9x2 + 2x + 1 = 0 (C) 9x2 – 2x + 1 = 0 (D) 9x + 2x – 1 = 0
2

11. Given that ,  are the roots of  x2 + mx + n = 0, find the equation with roots ( – )2 and ( + )2
(A) 4x2 – 2 2 (m2 – 2n )x + m2(m2 + 4n ) = 0
(B) 4x2 – 2 2 (m2 – 2n )x + m2(m2 – 4n ) = 0
(C) 4x2 + 2 2 (m2 – 2n )x + m2(m2 + 4n ) = 0
(D) 4x2 – 2 2 (m2 + 2n )x + m2(m2 + 4n ) = 0

12. A quadratic equation the product of whose roots x1 and x2 is equal to 4 and satisfying the relation
x1 x
+ 2 = 2, is
x1 − 1 x 2 − 1
(A) x2 – 2x + 4 = 0 (B) x2 – 4x + 4 = 0 (C) x2 + 2x + 4 = 0 (D) x2 + 4x + 4 = 0

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NATURE OF ROOTS
1. The roots of x2 – x + k2 = 0 are not real. Find k.
1 1 1 1 3 1
(A) k < – , k > (B) k > – , k < (C) k < – , k > (D) None of these
2 2 2 2 2 2
2. For how many positive integers n between 1 to 100 expression x2 + x – n can be factorize into two
linear factors with integer coefficient -
(A) 7 (B) 8 (C) 9 (D) None of these

3. The roots of a2x2 + abx = b2, a,b  0 are :

(A) equal (B) non real (C) unequal (D) none of these

4. The number of integral values of ‘m’ less than 50, so that the roots of the quadratic equation
mx2 + (2m– 1) x + (m – 2) = 0 are rational, are
(A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) None of these

5. If  and  are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, then (1 +  + 2)(1 +  + 2) where (a  b  c)
(A) 0 (B) positive (C) negative (D) none of these

6. If the roots of the equation (a2 + b2)x2 – 2(ac + bd)x + (c2 + d2) = 0 are equal, then :
a c a b
(A) = (B) = = 0 (C) ab = cd (D) a2 + b2 = c2 + d2
b d c d

7. Which of the following quadratic expression can be expressed as a product of real factors ?
(A) x2 – 2x + 3 (B) 3x2 – 2 x + 3 (C) 2x2 + 3x – 4 (D) 2x2 – 5 x + 3

8. The quadratic in t, such that A.M. of its roots is A and G.M. is G, is

(A) t2 – 2At + G2 = 0 (B) t2 – 2At – G2 = 0 (C) t2 + 2At + G2 = 0 (D) None of these

9. For what values of 'a', the equations 1998x2 + ax + 8991 = 0, and 8991x2 + ax +1998 = 0 have a
common root
(A) ± 10989 (B) ± 1 (C) 0 (D) None of these

10. If a(b – c)x2 + b(c – a)x + c(a – b) = 0 has equal roots, find the relation among a, b and c.
(A) A.P. (B) G.P. (C) H.P. (D) None of these

MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUE

1. Find the maximum value of – 5x2 + 7x – 4. For what value of x expression has this maximum value ?
31 7 31 7 31 7 31 7
(A) − , (B) , (C) ,− (D) − , −
20 10 20 10 20 10 20 10

x2 + x + 1
2. Given that x is real, find the maximum value of
x2 − x + 1
1 1
(A) 3 (B) (C) – 3 (D) –
3 3

3
3. If the expression ax2 – 6x + 5 has its minimum value at x = , find its minimum value.
2
3 2 1
(A) (B) (C) 1 (D)
2 3 2

4. If p and q(  0) are the roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, then the least value of x2 + px + q (x  R) is :
1 1 −9 9
(A) – (B) (C) (D)
4 4 4 4

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EXERCISE # 2

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. If p and q are the roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, then :
(A) p = 1 (B) p = 1 or 0 (C) p = –2 (D) p = –2 or 0

a b
2. If the equation + = 1 has roots equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, then the value of
x −a x −b
a + b is
(A) –1 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) none of these

3. The roots of the quadratic equation (a + b − 2c) x2 − (2a − b − c) x + (a − 2b + c) = 0 are

(A) a + b + c & a − b + c (B) 1/2 & a − 2b + c
(C) a − 2b + c & 1/(a + b − 2c) (D) none of these

4. The least integral value of 'm' for which the expression m x2 – 4 x + 3m + 1 is positive for every x  R
is :
(A) 1 (B) −2 (C) −1 (D) 2
5. If the quadratic equations, ax + 2cx + b = 0 & ax + 2bx + c = 0 (b  c) have a common root, then
2 2

a + 4b + 4c is equal to :
(A) –2 (B) –2 (C) 0 (D) 1

1
6. If x = , then the value of x will be
1
1+
1
x+
x + −−−−

2 1 3 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 2 2 2

7. The solution of the equation 4x + 2x = 6 is/are :

(A) 0, 1 (B) 2, 1 (C) 1, 0 (D) 1

8. The equation x + 1 + x − 1 = 0 has :

(A) one real solution (B) two real solutions (C) No solution (D) None of these

9. The roots of the equation 3x + 1 – 1 = x are :

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 0, 1 (D) None

10. The roots of the equation x2 + ax – 4 = 0 are, where a  R :

(A) real and distinct (B) equal (C) imaginary (D) real
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11. A shopkeeper buys a number of books for Rs. 80. If he had bought 4 more for the same amount, each
book would have cost Rs. 1 less. How many books did he buy ?
(A) 8 (B) 16 (C) 24 (D) 28
1/ x + 1/ y = 3 / 2,
12. Solve the system of equations : 
1/ x + 1/ y = 5 / 4
2 2

(A) (1,2) (B) (1,3) (C) (2, 3) (D) (2, 2)

13. If one root of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c= 0 is double the other then which one of the following
is correct :
(A) b2 = 3ac (B) 2b2 = 5ac (C) 2b2 = 9ac (D) 2b2 > 9ac

Comprehension (For Q.No. 14. to 16)

The coordinates of the vertex of the parabola f(x) = 2x2 + px + q are (–3, 1), then
14. The value of p is
(A) 12 (B) –12 (C) 19 (D) –19

15. The value of q is

(A) –19 (B) 19 (C) –12 (D) none of these

16. The parabola

(A) touches the x-axis
(B) intersect the x-axis in two real and distinct points
(C) lies completely above the x-axis
(D) lies completely below the x-axis

+ x +6
Solution set of the equation 32x − 2.3x + 32(x +6) = 0 is
2 2
17.
(A) {–3, 2} (B) {6, –1} (C) {–2, 3} (D) {1, –6}

18. If graph of y = (x – a)(x – b) is b , then graph of y = (x – a) (x – b) – 2 is

(A) (B)

(C) (D) None of these

19. If y = ax2 + bx + c represents the curve given in the figure and b2 = 2(b + 2ac), where a  0 and AP = 3
units, then OP =

(A) 3/2 (B) 3/4 (C) 3 (D) 6

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20. If b > 0, b  1, then the equation 2logxb + logbxb + 3 log b2 x b = 0 has

(A) Exactly one real root (B) Two real roots

(C) No real roots (D) Infinite number of real roots

a
21. If one root of the quadratic equation px2 + qx + r = 0 (p  0) is a surd , where p, q, r, a, b
a + a−b
are all rationals then the other root is -

b a(a − b) a + a(a − b) a − a(a − b)

(A) (B) a + (C) (D)
a − a−b b b b

22. ax2 + bx + c = 0 has real and distinct roots a and ( > ). Further a > 0, b < 0 and c < 0, then-
b
(A) 0 <  < |  | (B) 0 < |  | <  (C)  +  < 0 (D) |  | + |  | =
a
23. Let p, q  {1, 2, 3, 4}. Then number of equation of the form px2 + qx + 1 = 0, having real roots, is
(A) 15 (B) 9 (C) 7 (D) 8

24. If the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are imaginary then for all values of a, b, c and
xR, the expression a2x2 + abx + ac is -
(A) positive (B) non-negative
(C) negative (D) may be positive, zero or negative

25. If x, y are rational number such that x + y + (x – 2y) 2 = 2x – y + (x – y – 1) 6 , then

(A) x and y con not be determined (B) x = 2,y = l
(C) x = 5, y = 1 (D) none of these

26. The equation whose roots are the squares of the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is -
(A) a2x2 + b2x + c2 = 0 (B) a2x2 – (b2 – 4ac)x + c2 = 0
(C) a2x2 – (b2 – 2ac)x + c2 = 0 (D) a2x2 + (b2 – ac)x + c2 = 0

27. If   , 2 =5 – 3, 2 = 5 – 3, then the equation whose roots are / & /, is
(A) x2 + 5x – 3 = 0 (2) 3x2 + 12x + 3 = 0 (C*) 3x2 – 19x + 3 = 0 (D) none of these

28. If x2 -11x + a and x2 – 14x + 2a have a common factor then 'a' is equal to
(A) 24 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 12

29. If the roots of the equation, x3 + Px2 + Qx – 19 = 0 are each one more than the roots of the equation,
x3 – Ax2 + Bx – C = 0, where A, B, C, P & Q are constants then the value of A + B + C =
(A) 18 (B) 19 (C) 20 (D) none

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1 1 1 1
30. If , , ,  are roots of x4 – 100x3 + 2x2 + 4x + 10 = 0, then + + + is equal to -
   
2 1 2
(A) (B) (C) 4 (D) –
5 10 5

31. Number of real solutions of the equation x4 + 8x2 + 16 = 4x2 – 12x + 9 is equal to -
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4

32. For every x  R, the polynomial x8 – x5 + x2 – x + 1 is -

(A) positive (B) never positive
(C) positive as well as negative (D) negative

33. The roots of the equation

(p – 2)x2 + 2(p – 2)x + 2 = 0 are not real when-
(A) p  [l, 2] (B) p  [2, 3] (C) p  (2, 4) (D) p  [3, 4]

34. The real roots of the equation x2 + 5| x | + 4 = 0 are-

(A) (–1, –4) (B) (1, 4) (C) (–4, 4) (D) No real root
 
2 2

35. A quadratic equation whose roots are   and   , where ,  , are the roots of x3 + 27 = 0, is:-
 
(A) x2 – x + 1 = 0 (B) x2 + 3x + 9 = 0 (C) x2 + x + 1 = 0 (D) x2 – 3x + 9 = 0

( )
x 2 −3
−3
The number of real solutions of the equation 5 + 2 6 + (5 − 2 6) x
2
36. = 10 is –

(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) none of these.

37. If roots of the equation 12x2 + mx + 5 = 0 are in 3 : 2 them m =

(A) 5 10 (B) 3 10 (C) 2 10 (D) None of these

38. If a > 0, b > 0 then the roots of the equation a – bx – x2 = 0 are

(A) both positive
(B) both negative
(C) of opposite sign and numerically greater root is positive
(D) of opposite sign and numerically greater root is negative

39. If the quadratic equations 3x2 + ax + 1 = 0 and 2x2 + bx + 1 = 0 have a common root, then the value of
the expression 5ab – 2a2 – 3b2 is-
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) –1 (D) none of these

1 1 1
40. If the roots of the equation + = are negatives of each other, then r =
x+p x+q r
p+q p−q
(A) p + q (B) p – q (C) (D)
2 2
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EXERCISE # 3

(PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS)

MIND IT: More than one correct option may be possible.

1. The quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 has real roots a and b. If a, b, are real and of the same sign,
then: [IJSO-2008]
(A) a and b are both positive
(B) a and b are both negative
(C) a and b are of opposite sign
(D) Nothing can be said about the signs of a and b as the information is insufficient.

2. (2x2 + 3x + 5)1/2 + (2x2 + 3x + 20)1/2 = 15, therefore x is : [IJSO-2009]

(A) (–8 / 3) (B) (14/5) (C) (–11/2) (D) 4

3. The sum of all roots of the equations |x – 1|2 – 5| x – 1| + 6 = 0 is : [IJSO-2009]

(A) 5 (B) 4 (C) 2 (D) 6

4. Solve for x, given y = x2 – 1 and x = 2y + 1. [NSTSE 2009]

 −1 −3   −1   −3 
(A) x  {0, 1} (B) x   ,  (C) x   , 1 (D) x  0, 
2 4 2   4

5. Find the sum of all values of "x", so that 16

( x +3x−1) = 8( x +3x+2).
2 2

[NSTSE 2009]
(A) 0 (B) 3 (C) – 3 (D) – 5

1 1
6. If a and b are the roots of x2 + p = 0 where p is a prime, then which equation has the roots & ?
 
[NSTSE 2010]
1 1 1 1
(A) + =0 (B) px2 + 1 = 0 (C) px2 – 1 = 0 (D) + =0
x2 p x2 p

7. Two students Ragini and Gourav were asked to solve a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0.
1
Ragini made some mistake in writing b and found the roots as 3 and – . Gourav, too made mistake in
2
1
writing 'c' and found the roots – 1and – . The correct roots of the given equation should be :
4
[NSTSE 2010]
3 1 1
(A) – 2, (B) 3, – 1 (C) – ,–1 (D) 3, –
4 2 4

8. The product of the roots of the equation 3

8 + x + 3 8 − x = 1 is : [IJSO-2010]
(A) – 21 (B) – 189 (C) 9 (D) – 5

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9. If a, b, g are the roots of the equation (x – 2) (x2 + 6x – 11) = 0, therefore, (a + b + g) equals :
[IJSO-2010]
(A) – 4 (B) 23/6 (C) 13 (D) – 8

10. The graph of the equation y = 2x2 + 4x + 3 has its lowest point at : [IJSO-2010]
(A) (–1, 9) (B) (1, 9) (C) (– 1, 1) (D) (0, 3)

11. If one of the roots of the equation x2 – px + q = 0 is m times the other root then m/(1 + m2) is equal to :
[IJSO-2012]
q p q p
(A) (B) (C) (D)
p − 2q
2
q − 2p
2
q − 2p
2
p − 2q
2

7+4 3
12. If , then x2(x – 14)2 = [NSO]
7−4 3
(A) 1 (B) –1 (C) 12 (D) –12

A2 B2
13. The number of real roots of the equation + = 1 , where A and B are real numbers not equal to
x x −1
zero simultaneously is [NSO]
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) Can't say

14. If 3x + 3y – 1, 4x2 + y – 5, 4x + 2y are the sides of an equilateral triangle, its area is closest to the
interger [IJSO-2013]
(A) 84 (B) 85 (C) 86 (D) 87

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Determine the set of integer n for which ‘n² + 19n + 92’ is a square of an integer. [PRMO-1992]

2. Solve for integers x, y, z : [INMO-2000]

x + y =1− z
x3 + y3 = 1 − z3

3. Solve the following equation for real [RMO-2002]

( ) ( ) ( )
3 3 3
x : x 2 + x − 2 + 2x 2 − x − 1 = 27 x 2 − 1

4. Show that there do not exist any distinct natural numbers a, b, c, d such that a3 + b3 = c3 + d3 and a + b = c + d.
[JMO-2007]

5. Show that there is no integer ‘a’ such that ‘a²–319’ is divisible by 289. [RMO-2009]

6. A natural number n is chosen strictly between two consecutive perfect squares. The smaller of these two
squares is obtained by subtracting k from n and the larger one is obtained by adding l to n. Prove that n –
kl is a perfect square. [RMO-2011]
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7. What is the sum of the roots of the equation x 2 − 7  x  + 5 = 0 ? (Here [x] denotes the greatest integer less
than or equal to x) [RMO-2012]

8. Let f (x) = x3 − 3x + b and g(x) = x 2 + bx − 3 , where b is a real number. What is the sum of all possible
values of b for which the equations f (x) = 0 and g(x) = 0 have a common root? [PRMO-2013]

9. It is given that the equation x² + ax + 20 = 0 has integer roots. What is the sum of all possible values of a?
[PRMO-2013]

10. For a natural number b, let N(b) denote the number of natural numbers ‘a’ for which the equation
x2 + ax + b = 0 has integers roots. What is the smallest value of b for which N(b) = 20? [PRMO-2014]

1 1
11. Natural numbers k, l, p and q are such that if a and b are roots of x2 − kx + l = 0 then a + and b + are
b a
the roots of x2 − px + q = 0 . What is the sum of all possible values of q? [PRMO-2014]

12. What is the smallest possible natural number n for which the equation x 2 − nx + 2014 = 0 has integer
roots? [PRMO-2014]

13. Let x1,x2 ,x3......x2014 be real numbers different from 1 such that x1 + x2 + x3.......x2014 = 1 and
x1 x x x12 x2 x2
+ 2 + ........ + 2014 = 1 . What is the value of + 2 + ....... + 2014 ?
1 − x1 1 − x 2 1 − x 2014 1 − x1 1 − x 2 1 − x 2014
[PRMO-2014]
2 2 2
a b c
14. Let a, b, c be such that a + b + c = 0 and P = + 2 + 2 is defined. What is the value
2a + bc 2b + ac 2c + ab
2

of P? [PRMO-2015]

a b
15. Positive integers a and b are such that a + b = + . What is the value of a² + b²? [PRMO-2015]
b a

16. The equation x² – 4x + k = 0 and x² + kx – 4 = 0, where ‘k’ is a real number, have exactly on common
root. What is the value of k? [PRMO-2015]

17. Suppose that a and b are real number such that ab ≠ 1 and the equation 120a²–120a + 1=0 and b²–120b +
1 + b + ab
120 = 0 hold. Find the value of . [PRMO-2016]
a

18. Suppose 1,2,3 are zeroes of the polynomial x4 + ax² + bx – c. find the value of c. [PRMO-2017]

19. Let P(x) = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + ….+ anxn be a polynomial in which ai is non-negative integer for each
i  0,1,2,3,...,n. If P(1) = 4 and P(5) = 136, what is the value of P(3)? [PRMO-2018]

20. Suppose that P is the polynomial of least degree with integer coefficients such that
P( 7 + 5) = 2( 7 − 5). Find P(2). [IOQM-2021]

21. Find the sum of all positive integers n for which | 2n + 5n – 65 | is a perfect square. [IOQM-2021]

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Answer Key

EXERCISE # 1

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
SOLUTION OF QUADRATIC EQUATION
1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (C)
6. (A) 7. (D) 8. (B) 9. (C)

RELATION BETWEEN ROOTS AND COFFICIENTS

1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (B) 4. (D) 5. (C)
6. (B) 7. (D) 8. (B) 9. (B) 10. (B)
11. (B) 12. (A)

NATURE OF ROOTS
1. (A) 2. (C) 3. (C) 4. (A) 5. (B)
6. (A) 7. (D) C–8. (A) 9. (A) 10. (C)

MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUE

1. (A) 2. (A) 3. (D) 4. (C)

EXERCISE # 2

Ques. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ans. B B D D C D D C C A B A C A B C C A C B
Ques. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Ans. C B C A B C C A A D A A A D C B A D B C

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EXERCISE # 3

Ques. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Ans. B C,D B C C B A B A C A A B B

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. n = –8 or n = –11
2. x = k, y = –k, z = 1 3. x = –1, –2, 1, –1/2
x = 1, y = k, z = –k
x = k, y = 1, z = –k
7. 92 8. 0 9. 0 10. 19 11. 4
12. 91 13. 0 14. 1 15. 2 16. 3
17. 240 18. 36 19. 34 20. 40 21. 06

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