Quadratic Equations and Polynomials:

Solving quadratic equations by completing the perfect squares:

Q.1 5𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 1 = 0

2
5 𝑥 − 𝑥 +1=0
5

2 1 1
5 𝑥 − 𝑥+ − +1= 0
5 5 5

1 1
5 𝑥− − +1= 0
5 5
 1 1
5 𝑥− − +1=0
5 5

1 4
5 𝑥− + =0
5 5

Q.2 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3 = 0

2
3 𝑥 − 𝑥 −3=0
3

2 1 1
3 𝑥 − 𝑥+ − −3= 0
3 3 3

1 1
3 𝑥− −3− =0
3 3

1 10
3 𝑥− − =0
3 3

Q. 2𝑥 + 7𝑥 − 2 = 0

7
2 𝑥 + 𝑥 −2=0
2
 7 49
2 𝑥+ −2− =0
4 8

7 65
2 𝑥+ − =0
4 8

Polynomials:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 . 𝑥 + 𝑎 .𝑥 +𝑎 𝑥 + ⋯……+ 𝑎 𝑥 +𝑎 𝑥 +𝑎

𝑎 = Leading Coefficient

Where

1) 𝑎 , 𝑎 , 𝑎 , … … … , 𝑎 are real numbers and independent of ′𝑥′.

2) All powers of 𝑥 must be whole numbers.

3) 𝑎 ≠0

Monomial:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 . 𝑥
Quadratic Polynomial:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 (𝑎 ≠ 0)

Linear Polynomial:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 (𝑎 ≠ 0)

Cubic Polynomial:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 (𝑎 ≠ 0)

Bi-Quadratic:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 (𝑎 ≠ 0)

Constant Polynomial:

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 (where k is any constant)

Zero Polynomial:

𝑓(𝑥) = 0
Q. Determine whether the following expressions are polynomials or not?

1) 𝑦=𝑥+

2) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + √𝑥

3) 𝑦 = (sin 2𝑥)𝑥 + (𝑒 )𝑥 + 2

4) 𝑦 = (sin 2)𝑥 + 𝑒𝑥 + 2

Quadratic Polynomial:

Polynomial of degree ‘2’ in one variable of the type

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 (where 𝑎 ≠ 0)

𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ Real Numbers

𝑎 = Leading Coefficient

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 (Quadratic Trinomial)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 (Quadratic Binomial)

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 (Quadratic Monomial)

Quadratic Equation:
A quadratic polynomial when equated to zero, gives quadratic equation.

𝑖. 𝑒. 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

Note:
Solving quadratic equation means finding those values of ′𝑥′ for which 𝑦 = 0, such values of
′𝑥′ are called roots of the quadratic equation.

Solution of the quadratic equation:

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

𝑏 𝑐
𝑥 + 𝑥+ =0
𝑎 𝑎

𝑏 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏
𝑥 + 𝑥+ + − =0
𝑎 2𝑎 𝑎 2𝑎

𝑏 𝑐 𝑏
𝑥+ + − =0
2𝑎 𝑎 4𝑎

𝑏 4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏
𝑥+ + =0
2𝑎 4𝑎

Discriminant of quadratic = 𝐷 = 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐

𝑏 𝐷
𝑥+ =
2𝑎 4𝑎

𝑏 √𝐷
𝑥+ =±
2𝑎 2𝑎
 𝑏 √𝐷 −𝑏 ± √𝐷
𝑥=− ± = ⟸ Quadratic Formula
2𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎

𝑥
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
𝑥

−𝑏 + √𝐷
𝑥 =
2𝑎

−𝑏 − √𝐷
𝑥 =
2𝑎

√𝐷
Difference of roots = |𝑥 − 𝑥 | =
𝑎

Nature of Roots:
If 𝐷>0 ⟹ Both roots real and distinct

If 𝐷=0 ⟹ Both roots real and identical

If 𝐷<0 ⟹ Both roots imaginary

Theory of Roots:

𝑥
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
𝑥
⟹ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥 )(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) ∀ 𝑥∈𝑅

⟹ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑥 )𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑥

Comparing Coefficients

−𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑏

𝑏
𝑥 +𝑥 =−
𝑎

𝑏
Sum of roots = −
𝑎

𝑎𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑐

𝑐
𝑥 𝑥 =
𝑎
𝑐
Product of roots =
𝑎

Formation of Quadratic Equation when its roots are given:

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

𝑏 𝑐
𝑥 + 𝑥+ =0
𝑎 𝑎

𝑥 − (Sum of roots)𝑥 + (Product of roots) = 0

General Cubic:

𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 = 0
Now consider a cubic equation whose roots are 𝑥 , 𝑥 , 𝑥

𝑥
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 = 0 𝑥
𝑥

⟹ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥 )(𝑥 − 𝑥 )(𝑥 − 𝑥 ) ∀ 𝑥∈𝑅

⟹ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑
= 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 )𝑥 + 𝑎(𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑥 𝑥 )𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

Comparing Coefficients both the sides

𝑏
𝑥 +𝑥 +𝑥 =−
𝑎

𝑏
Sum of roots = −
𝑎

𝑐
𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 =
𝑎
𝑐
Sum of roots taken two at a time =
𝑎

𝑑
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 =−
𝑎

𝑑
Product of roots = −
𝑎

Short cut to remember these formulas:

 𝑏 𝑐 𝑑
𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥+ =0
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎

+ − + −

Similarly:

𝑥
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒 = 0 𝑥
𝑥
𝑥

𝑏 𝑐 𝑑 𝑒
𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥+ =0
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 𝑎

+ − + − +

𝑏
𝑥 +𝑥 +𝑥 +𝑥 =−
𝑎
𝑐
𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 =+
𝑎

𝑑
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 +𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 =−
𝑎
𝑒
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 =
𝑎
Axis of Symmetry / Axis of Parabola:
Line about which the parabola is symmetric, is called axis of parabola.

Vertex:

The point where the parabola and the axis intersect.

Types of parabola:

1) Horizontal Parabola:

Parabola whose axis is parallel to x-axis.

2) Vertical parabola:

Parabola whose axis is parallel to y-axis

Graphs of Quadratic Polynomials:

Graph of quadratic polynomial is a vertical parabola. (𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐)

Vertical Parabola is a parabola whose axis of symmetry is parallel to 𝑦 − axis

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

𝑎>0 𝑎<0

Upwards Parabola Downwards Parabola

Note:
1) When 𝑎 > 0 and 𝐷 < 0, quadratic expression 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is always positive
for all values of ′𝑥′. Example: 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1

2) When 𝑎 < 0 and 𝐷 < 0, quadratic expression 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is always negative

for all values of ′𝑥′. Example: 𝑦 = −𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 3

Vertex of the Parabola:

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

𝑏 𝑐
𝑦=𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑥+
𝑎 𝑎

𝑏 𝑐 𝑏
𝑦=𝑎 𝑥+ + −
2𝑎 𝑎 4𝑎

𝑏 4𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏
𝑦=𝑎 𝑥+ +
2𝑎 4𝑎

𝐷 𝑏
𝑦+ =𝑎 𝑥+
4𝑎 2𝑎

𝑏 𝐷
⟹ Vertex of the parabola is − ,−
2𝑎 4𝑎

Upwards Parabola Downwards Parabola

𝑏 𝐷
− ,−
2𝑎 4𝑎

𝑏 𝐷
− ,−
2𝑎 4𝑎
𝐷 𝐷
𝑦 =− 𝑦 =−
4𝑎 4𝑎

𝑦 =𝑥 +𝑥+1

1 1 1 3
𝑥+ +1− = 𝑥+ +
2 4 2 4
Note:
Consider 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

Where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ Rational numbers

−𝑏 ± √𝐷
𝑥=
2𝑎

1) If roots are rational ⟺ D is a perfect square

Therefore if it is required to prove that the roots of the quadratic are rational, it is
sufficient to prove that ′𝐷′ is a perfect square.

2) If 𝐷 is not a perfect square and 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ Rational numbers, then roots of the

quadratic will be irrational and they will be in conjugate pair i.e. if one root is 𝑝 + 𝑞
then other will be 𝑝 − 𝑞

Now consider a quadratic equation

𝑥 +𝑥+2=0

−1 ± √−7
𝑥=
2

if √−1 = 𝑖 = 𝑖𝑜𝑡𝑎

1 √7𝑖 1 √7𝑖
𝑥 =− + ,𝑥 = − −
2 2 2 2

⟹ 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 are conjugates of each other.

Note:
∴ Imaginary roots always occurs in conjugate pair i.e. if one root of the quadratic equation
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 is 𝑝 + 𝑖𝑞 then, another root will be 𝑝 − 𝑖𝑞
Where (𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ Real numbers)

Note:

𝑖 = √−1

𝑖 = −1

𝑖 = −𝑖

𝑖 = −𝑖 = 1

𝑖 =𝑖

𝑖 = −1

𝑖 = −𝑖

𝑖 =1

Note:

A quadratic cannot have three distinct roots, but if it has three distinct roots, then it
becomes as identity i.e. it will have infinite solutions.

Let

𝛼
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 𝛽
𝛾
Where 𝛼 ≠ 𝛽 ≠ 𝛾

Then 𝑎 = 0 and 𝑏 = 0 and 𝑐 = 0

Condition of Common Roots:

1) Condition for which both the roots of the quadratic equations

are common:

𝛼
𝑎 𝑥 +𝑏 𝑥+𝑐 =0
𝛽
and
𝛼
𝑎 𝑥 +𝑏 𝑥+𝑐 =0
𝛽

have both roots in common.

𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
⟹ = =
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

For example:

𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0 and 2𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 12 = 0 have both roots in common.

2) Condition for which the quadratic equations have exactly one

root in common:
 𝛼
𝑎 𝑥 +𝑏 𝑥+𝑐 =0
𝛽

and

𝛼
𝑎 𝑥 +𝑏 𝑥+𝑐 =0
𝛾

Let these two equations have a common root ′𝛼′

𝑎 𝛼 +𝑏 𝛼+𝑐 =0 …….. (1)

𝑎 𝛼 +𝑏 𝛼+𝑐 =0 …….. (2)

Now we have to eliminate ′𝛼′

𝛼 𝛼 1
= =
𝑏 𝑐 −𝑏 𝑐 −(𝑎 𝑐 − 𝑎 𝑐 ) 𝑎 𝑏 − 𝑎 𝑏

𝑏 𝑐 −𝑏 𝑐
⟹𝛼 = … … … … (3)
𝑎 𝑏 −𝑎 𝑏

Also

𝑎 𝑐 −𝑎 𝑐
⟹𝛼= … … … … (4)
𝑎 𝑏 −𝑎 𝑏

From equations (3) and (4)

𝑎 𝑐 −𝑎 𝑐 𝑏 𝑐 −𝑏 𝑐
=
𝑎 𝑏 −𝑎 𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 −𝑎 𝑏

⟹ (𝑎 𝑐 − 𝑎 𝑐 ) = (𝑎 𝑏 − 𝑎 𝑏 )(𝑏 𝑐 − 𝑏 𝑐 )

This is called condition of common root (when exactly one root is common)