THEORY OF QUADRATIC EQUATION

Learning objectives:
At the end of the topic, the students should be able to

• Determine the nature of the roots of quadratic equations;

• Obtain the sum and product of roots of quadratic equations using

from the coefficients;

• Derive quadratic equations from given roots.

A quadratic equation in x is an equation of the form

ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 6= 0

Solution

i Factorization

ii Completing the squares

iii Formula method

Solution of a quadratic equation is called a root of the equation

NATURE OF ROOTS

Consider the equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0

whose discriminant is D = b2 − 4ac.

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TYPES OF ROOTS

i If the discriminant is greater than 0. i.e. positive then, there are two
different real roots

ii If the discriminant is equal to zero, then there are two equal roots

iii If the discriminant is less than zero, i.e. there are no real roots (com-
plex roots)

Examples

1. Find the discriminant and hence determine the nature of root of (a)
x2 + 8x + 6 = 0 (b) −4x2 + 2x − 5 = 0 (c) 2x2 − 8x + 8 = 0

Solution

(a)
x2 + 8x + 6 = 0

a = 1, b = 8, c = 6

82 − 4 × 1 × 6 = 64 − 24 = 40 > 0 two different real roots

(b)
−4x2 + 2x − 5

a = −4, b = 2, c = −5

22 − 4 × 20 = 4 − 80 = −76 < 0 Complex root

2
(c)
2x2 − 8x + 8

a = 2, b = −8, c = 8

−82 − 4 × 2 × 8 = 64 − 64 = 0 two equal roots

2. Find the values of k for which the equation x2 + (k + 9)x + k 2 + 15 = 0

has equal roots.

Solution

For equal root b2 − 4ac = 0, a = 1, b = k + 9, c = k 2 + 15

D = (k + 9)2 − 4(1)(k 2 + 15)

= k 2 + 18k + 81 − 4k 2 − 60 = 0

= −3k 2 + 18k + 21 = 0

Divide all through by -3 Using factorization

k 2 − 6k − 7 = 0

k 2 − 7k + k − 7 = 0

k(k − 7) + 1(k − 7) = 0

(k − 7)(k + 1) = 0

k − 7 = 0, k + 1 = 0 =⇒ k = 7, k = −1

SUM AND PRODUCT OF ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC

FUNCTION

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Let α and β be the roots of a quadratic equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0 (1)
√ √ √
−b ± b2 − 4ac −b + b2 − 4ac −b − b2 − 4ac
x= , i.e. α = , β=
2a 2a 2a
Sum of roots α + β
√ √
b2 − 4ac −b − b2 − 4ac
−b +
α+β = +
2a 2a
√ √
−b + b2 − 4ac − b − b2 − 4ac
2a
−2b −b
α+β = =
2a a

Product of roots αβ
√ √
−b + b2 − 4ac −b − b2 − 4ac
αβ =
2a 2a
√
b2 − ( b2 − 4ac)2
4a2
b2 − (b2 − 4ac )
=
4a2
b2 − b2 + 4ac
=
4a2
4ac c
2
=
4a a
c
∴ αβ =
a
If α and β are the roots of equation (1), it implies that x = α or x = β

x − α = 0 or x − β = 0

(x − β)(x − α) = 0

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x2 − (α + β)x + αβ = 0

Any quadratic equation in x is always in the form

x2 − (sum of roots)x + product of roots = 0

Example

1. If α and β are roots of 3x2 +6x−2 = 0. Find the value of α2 +β 2 , (αβ)2

and hence find the quadratic equation whose roots are α2 and β 2 .
Solution
3x2 + 6x − 2 = 0

a = 3, b = 6, c = −2
−b −6
α+β = = = −2
a 3
(α + β)2 = (α + β)(α + β) = α2 + 2αβ + β 2

(α + β)2 − 2αβ = α2 + β 2

α2 + β 2 = (α + β)2 − 2αβ

2 −2 8
= (−2) − 2 =
3 3
2
−2 4
(αβ)2 = =
3 9
x2 − (sum of roots)x + product of roots = 0

If the roots are α2 and β 2 , then the equation is

x2 − (α2 + β 2 )x + α2 β 2 = 0

The new equation is

16 4
x2 − x+ =0
3 9
5
multiply through by 9

9x2 − 48x + 4 = 0

2. Given that α and β are the roots of the equation 2x2 + x − 5 = 0.

1 1
Find the equation whose roots are α2
and β2

Solution

a = 2, b = 1, c = −15
−b −1
α+β = =
a 2
c −5
αβ = =
a 2

1 1 1
x2 − + x + =0
α2 β 2 αβ 2
1 1 β 2 + α2
+ =
α2 β 2 α2 β 2
(β + α)2 − 2αβ
=
(αβ)2
2
− 12 − 2 − 25 1
+ 10

4 2
= =
− 52 25
4
21 25 21 4 21
= ÷ = × =
4 4 4 25 25
1 1 4
2
= 2 =
(αβ) −5 25

2
21 4
x2 − x+ =0
25 25
multiplying through by 25, we have 25x2 − 21x + 4 = 0

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1 1
3. Find the equation whose roots are α2
and β2
if α and β are the roots
of the equation 4t2 − 3t − 2 = 0.
Solution

a = 4, b = −3, c = −2
−b 3 c −2 −1
α+β = = , αβ = = =
a 4 a 4 2
we have
t2 − (sum of roots)t + product of roots = 0
3 2
− 2 −1

1 1 (α + β)2 − 2αβ 4 2 25
sum of roots = 2 + 2 = = 2 =
α β α2 β 2 −1 4

2
1 1 1 1
Product of roots = · 2 = = =4
2
α β (αβ)2 −1 2 1

2
= 1
4

From (1) above,

2 25
t − t + 4 = 0 =⇒ 4t2 − 25t + 16 = 0
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