6.

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
n Quadratic Equation

An equation of the form

ax2 + bx + c = 0 ........(i)

where a, b, c Î R and a ¹ 0 is called a quadratic equation. The numbers a, b, c are called the coefficients of
this quation.

l A root of the quadratic Equation

Discriminant D = b2 – 4ac

The roots of Eq (i) are given by the formula

-b ± D -b ± b2 - 4ac
x= or x=
2a 2a

l Properties of Quardratic Equations

} A quadratic equation has two and only two roots.

} A quadratic equation cannot have more than two different roots.

} If a be a root of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, then (x – a) is a factor of ax2 + bx + c = 0.

l Sum and Product of the roots of a Quadratic Equation

Leat a, b be the roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a ¹ 0, then

-b æ coefficient of x ö
a +b = = -ç 2 ÷
a è coefficient of x ø

c æ cons tan t term ö

and a.b = =ç ÷
a è coefficient of x2 ø

Therefore,

} If the two roots a and b be reciprocal to each other, then a = c.

} If the two roots a and b be equal in magnitude and opposite in sign b = 0.

l Sign of the Roots

Sign of (a + b) Sign of (ab) Sign of the a, b

+ve +ve a and b are positive

–ve +ve a and b are negative

+ve –ve a is positive and b is negative if a > b

–ve –ve a is negative and b is positive if a < b

n Nature of Roots
For a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b, c Î R and a ¹ 0 and D = b2– 4ac
(i) If D < 0, roots are imaginary (ii) If D ³ 0 roots are real.

} If a, b, c Î R and p + iq is one root of quadratic equation (where q ¹ 0) then the other root must be
conjugate p – iq and vice-versa. (p,q Î R and i = -1 )

} If a, b, c Î Q and p + q is one root of the quadratic equation, then the other root must be the

conjugate p - q and vice-versa (where p is a rational and q is a surd).

} If a = 1 and b, c Î I and the roots of quadratic equation are rational numbers, then these roots must be
integers.

l Condition for Common Roots

Consider two quadratic equations

ax2 + bx + c = 0 ..............(i) a ¹ 0

and a¢x2 + b¢x +c¢ = 0 ..............(ii) d ¹ 0

(i) If one root is common then,

(ab¢ – a¢b) (bc¢ – b¢c) = (ca¢ – c¢a)2

(ii) If two roots are common then,

a b c
= =
a ' b' c'
l Condition that ax2 + bx + c = 0, is Factorizable into two Linear Factors
When D ³ 0, then the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is factorizable into two linear factors.
i.e., ax2 + bx + c Þ (x – a) (x – b) = 0, where a and b are the roots of quadratic equation.

n Formation of a Quadratic Equation

Let a, b be the two roots then we can form a quadratic equation as folllows
2
x – (sum of roots) x + (product of roots) = 0
i.e., x2 – (a + b) x +(ab) = 0

or (x – a) (x – b) = 0
n Formation of a New Quadratic Equation by Changing the roots of a given
Quadratic Equation
Let a, b be the roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, then we can form a new quadratic equation as
per the following rules.
l A quadratic equation whose roots are p more than the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (i.e., the roots are
a + p and b + p).
The required equation is
a(x – p)2 + b(x – p) + c = 0
l A quadratic equation whose roots are less by p than the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, (i.e., the roots
are a – p and b – p)
The required equation is
a(x + p)2 + b(x + p) + c = 0
l A quadratic equation whose roots are p times the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0(i.e., the roots are

a b
and ) The required equation is a(px)2+b(px)+c=0
p p

l A quadratic equation whose roots are the reciprocal of the roots of equation ax2+bx+c=0 (i.e. the roots are

2
1 1 æ1ö æ1ö
and ). The required equation is aç ÷ + bç ÷ + c = 0
a b x
è ø èxø

Þ cx2 + bx + a = 0
l A quadratic equation whose roots are 1/p times the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (i.e., the roots are
1/a and 1/b).

2
æxö æxö
The required equation is a ç ÷ + n ç ÷ + c = 0
èpø èpø

l A quadratic equation whose roots are the negative of the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (i.e., the roots
are –a and –b)
The required equation is a(–x)2 + b(–x) + c = 0

Þ ax2 – bx + c = 0

l A quadratic equation whose roots are the square of the roots of the equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 (i.e., the roots are
a2 and b2)

The required equation is a( x )2 + b( x ) + c = 0

Þ ax + b x + c = 0

l A quadratic equation whose roots are the cubes of the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (i.e., the roots are
a3 and b3)
The required equation is a(x1/3)2 + b(x1/3) + c = 0
Þ ax2/3 + bx1/3 + c = 0
n Maximum or Minimum value of a Quadratic Equation
–b
At x = we get the maximum or minimum value of the quadratic expression.
2a

4ac - b2
} When a > 0 (in the equation ax2 + bx + c) the expression gives minimum value, y =
4a

4ac - b2
} When a < 0 (in the equation ax2 +bx +c) the expression gives maximum value, y = .
4a

n Sign of Quadratic Expression ax2 + bx + c

l If a, b are the roots of the corresponding quadratic equation, then for x = a and x = b, the value of the
expression is equal to zero. i.e., f(x) = ax2 + bx + c = 0.
l But for other real values of x (i.e., except a and b) the expression is either less than zero or greater than zero,
i.e., f(x) < 0 or f(x) > 0.
l But for other real values of x (i.e., except a and b) the expression is either less than zero or greater than zero,
i.e., f (x) < 0 or f (x) < 0.
l Thus the sign of ax2 + bx + c, x Î R, is determined by the following rules:
} If D < 0 i.e., a and b are imaginary, then
ax2 + bx + c > 0, if a > 0
and ax2 + bx + c < 0, if a < 0
} If D = 0 i.e., a and b are real and equal, then

ax2 + bx + c ³ 0, if a > 0

and ax2 + bx + c £ 0, if a < 0

} If D > 0 i.e., a and b are real unequal (a < b), then the sign of the expression ax2 + bx + c, x Î R is
determined as follows :

Sign is same as Sign is opposite Sign is same

that of a to that of a as that of a
a b

n Relation between roots and coefficients

l For quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, having the roots a and b, then

-b c
a +b = and ab =
a a
l For cubic equation ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0, having roots a, b and g, then

–b c c
a+b+g= , ab + bg + ga = (–1)2 =
a a a

d -d
and abg = ( -1)3 =
a a
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS EXERCISE
1. If the roots, x1 and x2, of the quadratic equation
9. Solve : 2x + 9 + x = 13 :
x2 –2x + c = 0 also satisfy the equation 7x2 – 4x1
= 47, then which of the following is true ? (1) 4, 16 (2) 8, 20

(1) c = –15 (2) x1 = 5, x2 = 3 (3) 2, 8 (4) None of these

(3) x1 = 4.5, x2 = – 2.5 (4) None of these 10. Solve : 2x + 9 – x–4 = 3

2. The integral values of k for which the equation
(1) 4, 16 (2) 8, 20 (3) 2, 8 (4) None
(k – 2) x2 + 8x + k + 4 = 0 has both the roots real,
distinct and negative is : é 1ù é 1ù
11. Solve for x : 2 ê x2 + 2 ú – 9 ê x + ú + 14 = 0 :
(1) 0 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) – 4 ë x û ë xû
x - bx m - 12

3. If the roots of the equation = are 1 1 1

ax - c m + 1
(1) , 1, 2 (2) 2, 4, (3) , 4, 1 (4) None
equal and of opposite sign, then the value of m will 2 3 3
be :
12. Solve for x : x2 + x – 6 – x + 2 = x2 – 7x + 10,
a-b b-a a+b b+a
(1) (2) (3) (4) xÎR:
a+b a+b a–b b–a

4. If a, b are the roots of the equation x2 + 2x + 4 = 0, 10

(1) 2, 6, – (2) 2, 6
3
1 1
then 3
+ 3 is equal to : (3) –2, –6 (4) None of these
a b
13. The number of real solutions of
1 1
1 1 1 x– 2 =2– 2 is :
(1) – (2) (3) 32 (4) x -4 x -4
2 4 32
(1) 0 (2) 1 (3) 2 (4) Infinite
5. If a, b are the root s of th e equation
x2 + 7x + 12 = 0, then the equation whose roots 14. The equation x + 1 – x - 1 = 4x - 1 has :
are (a + b)2 and (a – b)2 is : (1) No solution
(1) x2 + 50x + 49 = 0 (2) x2 – 50x + 49 = 0 (2) One solution
(3) x2 – 50x – 49 = 0 (4) x2 + 12x + 7 = 0 (3) Two solutions
6. The value of k (k > 0) for which the equations (4) More than two solutions
x2 + kx + 64 = 0 and x2 – 8x + k = 0 both will
15. The number of real roots of the equation
have real roots is : (x – 1)2 + (x – 2)2 + (x – 3)2 = 0 :
(1) 8 (2) 16 (3) – 64 (4) None
(1) 0 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 6
7. If a, b are roots of the quadratic equation
16. If the equation (3x)2 + (27 ×31/k – 15) x + 4 = 0 has
x2 + bx – c = 0, then the equation whose roots are equal roots, then k =
b and c is
(1) x2 + ax – b = 0 1 1
(1) – 2 (2) – (3) (4) 0
2 2
(2) x2 – [(a + b) + ab] x – ab (a + b) = 0
(3) x2 + (ab + a + b) x + ab (a + b) = 0 17. Equation ax2 + 2x + 1 has one double root if :
(4) x2 + (ab + a + b) x – ab (a + b) = 0 (1) a = 0 (2) a = – 1 (3) a = 1 (4) a = 2
8. Solve for x : x6 – 26x3 – 27 = 0 18. Solve for x : (x + 2) (x – 5) (x – 6) (x + 1) = 144
(1) – 1, 3 (2) 1, 3 (1) –1, –2, –3 (2) 7, – 3, 2
(3) 1, – 3 (4) –1, –3 (3) 2, – 3, 5 (4) None of these
19. What does the following graph represent? 26. If the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c
= 0 are imaginary then for all values of a, b, c and
y x Î R, the expression a2x2 + abx + ac is
(1) Positive
(2) Non-negative
x
O (3) Negative
(4) May be positive, zero or negative

(1) Quadratic polynomial has just one root. 27. The value of k, so that the equations 2x2 + kx – 5 = 0
and x2 – 3x – 4 = 0 have one root in common is :
(2) Quadratic polynomial has equal roots.
(3) Quadratic polynomial has no root. 27
(1) – 2, – 3 (2) – 3, –
(4) Quadratic polynomial has equal roots and con- 4
stant term is non-zero. (3) – 5, – 6 (4) None of these
20. Consider a polynomial ax2 + bx + c such that zero 28. If the expression x2
– 11x + a and x2 – 14x + 2a
is one of it's roots then must have a common factor and a ¹ 0, then the
–b common factor is :
(1) c = 0, x = satisfies the polynomial equation
a (1) (x – 3) (2) (x – 6) (3) (x – 8) (4) None
–a
(2) c ¹ 0, x = satisfies the polynomial equation 29. The value of m for which one of the roots of
b
x 2 – 3x + 2m = 0 is double of one of the roots
–b
(3) x = satisfies the polynomial equation. of x2 – x + m = 0 is :
a
(4) Polynomial has equal roots. (1) 0, 2 (2) 0, – 2 (3) 2, – 2 (4) None
21. Consider a quadratic polynomial f(x) =ax2 –x +c such 30. If the equations x2 + bx + c = 0 and x2 + cx + b = 0,
that ac > 1 and it's graph lies below x-axis then: (b ¹ c) have a common root then :

(1) a < 0, c > 0 (2) a < 0, c < 0 (1) b + c = 0 (2) b + c = 1

(3) a > 0, c > 0 (4) a > 0, c < 0 (3) b + c + 1 = 0 (4) None of these
22. If a,b are the roots of a quadratic equation 31. If both the roots of the equations
x2 – 3x + 5 = 0 then the equation whose roots are k(6x2 + 3) + rx + 2x2 – 1 = 0 and
(a2 – 3a + 7) and (b2 – 3b + 7) is : 6k (2x2 + 1) + px + 4x2 – 2 = 0 are common,
(1) x2 + 4x + 1 = 0 (2) x2 – 4x + 4 = 0 then 2r – p is equal to :
(3) x2 – 4x – 1 = 0 (4) x2 + 2x + 3 = 0 (1) 1 (2) – 1
23. The expression a2x2 + bx + 1 will be positive for (3) 2 (4) 0
all x Î R if : 32. Ifx2– ax – 21 = 0 and x2
– 3ax + 35 = 0 ; a > 0
(1) b2 > 4a2 (2) b2 < 4a2 have a common root, then a is equal to :
(3) 4b2 > a2 (4) 4b2 < a2 (1) 1 (2) 2
24. For what value of a the curve y = x2 + ax + 25 (3) 4 (4) 5
touches the x-axis : 33. The values of a for which the quadratic equation
(1) 0 (2) ± 5 (1 – 2a) x2 – 6ax – 1 = 0 and ax2 – x + 1 = 0 have
(3) ± 10 (4) None at least one root in common are :

25. The value of the expression x2 + 2bx + c will be 1 2 1

positive for all real x if : (1) , (2) 0,
2 9 2
(1) b2 – 4c > 0 (2) b2 – 4c < 0
2 1 2
(3) c2 < b (4) b2 < c (3) (4) 0, ,
9 2 9
34. If the quadratic equation 2x2 + ax + b = 0 and 42. Graph of y = ax2 + bx + c is given adjacently. What
2x2 + bx + a = 0 (a ¹ b) have a common root, the conclusions can be drawn from the graph?
value of a + b is : (i) a > 0 (ii) b < 0
(1) – 3 (2) – 2 (3) – 1 (4) 0 (iii) c < 0 (iv) b2 – 4ac > 0
35. If the equation x 2 + bx + ca = 0 and y
x2 + cx + ab = 0 have a common root and b ¹ c,
then their other roots will satisfy the equation :
(1) x2 – (b + c) x + bc = 0 x
(2) x2 – ax + bc = 0
(1) (i) and (iv) (2) (ii) and (iii)
(3) x2 + ax + bc = 0
(3) (i), (ii) & (iv (4) (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
(4) None of these
43. The adjoin ing figure shows th e graph of
36. If both the roots of the equations x2 + mx + 1 = 0
y = ax2 + bx + c. Then which of the following is
and (b – c) x2 + (c – a) x + (a – b) = 0 are common,
correct :
then :
(i) a > 0 (ii) b > 0
(1) m = – 2 (2) m = – 1 (3) m = 0 (4) m = 1
(iii) c > 0 (iv) b2 < 4ac
37. For the equation 3x2 + px + 3 = 0, p > 0, if one of y
the roots is square of the other, then p = x
a b
1
(1) (2) 1
3

(1) (i) and (iv) (2) (ii) and (iii)

2
(3) 3 (4) (3) (iii) & (iv) (4) None of these
3
44. If x2 – (a + b) x + ab = 0, then the value of
38. The roots of the equation |x2 – x – 6| = x + 2 are
(x – a)2 + (x – b)2 is
(1) – 2, 1, 4 (2) 0, 2, 4
(1) a2+b2 (2) (a+b)2 (3) (a–b)2 (4) a2–b2
(3) 0, 1, 4 (4) –2, 2, 4
2 2 1 1 1
39. The equation x – =1– has 45. The sum of the roots of + = is zero.
x -1 x -1 x+a x+b c
(1) Two roots The product of the roots is
(2) Infinitely many roots
1
(1) 0 (2) (a + b)
(3) Only one root 2
(4) No root
1 2 2
40. The value of x which satisfy the expression : (3) - (a + b ) (4) 2(a2 + b2)
2
2 -3 2 -3
(5 + 2 6 )x + (5 – 2 6) x = 10 46. If the roots of the equations
(c2–ab)x2–2(a2–bc)x+(b2–ac)=0
(1) ± 2, ± 3 (2) ± 2 , ± 4
for a ¹ 0 are real and equal, then the value of
(3) ± 2, ± 2 (4) 2, 2, 3 a3+b3+c3 is
(1) abc (2) 3abc
41. Find all the integral values of a for which the quad-
ratic equation (x – a) (x – 10) + 1 = 0 has integral (3) zero (4) None of these
roots : 47. If, a, b are the roots of X 2 – 8X+P=0 and
(1) 12, 8 (2) 4, 6 a2+b2 =40. then the value of P is

(3) 2, 0 (4) None (1) 8 (2) 10 (3) 12 (4) 14

48. If, l, m, n are real and l=m, then the roots of the 52. Find the root of t he quadratic equation
equations bx2–2ax+a=0
(l–m)x2–5(l+m)x–2(l–m)=0 are b a
(1) (2)
(1) Real and Equal b± a–b b± a–b
(2) Complex
a a
(3) Real and Unequal (3) (4)
a± a–b a ± a+b
(4) None of these
53. If 4 is a solution of the equation x2+3x+k=10,
49. In a family, eleven times the number of children is
where k is a constant, what is the other solution ?
greater than twice the square of the number of
(1) –18 (2) –7
children by 12. How many children are there ?
(3) –28 (4) None of these
(1) 3 (2) 4 54. The coefficient of x in the equation x2+px+p=0 was
(3) 2 (4) 5 wrongly written as 17 in place of 13 and the roots
50. The sum of all the real roots of the equation thus found were –2 and –15. The roots of the
correct equation would be
2
x – 2 + x – 2 – 2 = 0 is (1) –4, –9 (2) –3, –10
(3) –3, –9 (4) –4, –10
(1) 2 (2) 3
55. If a and b are the roots of the quadratic equation
(3) 4 (4) None of these
a 2 b2
51. If the ratio between the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, then the value of + is
b a
lx 2 +mx + n= 0 is p:q, then the value of
2bc - a 3 3abc - b 3
p q n (1) (2)
+ + is b2 c a2c
q p l
(1) 4 (2) 3 3abc - b2 ab - b2 c
(3) (4)
(3) 0 (4) –1 a3c 2b2 c

ANSWER KEY
Que. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1
Ans. 1 3 1 2 2 2 3 1 2 2 1 2 1 1
Que. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ans. 2 3 2 4 1 2 2 2 3 4 1 2 3 2
Que. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
Ans. 4 3 3 2 1 1 3 4 4 3 1 4 2 3
Que. 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
Ans. 2 3 3 2 3 1 3 2 2 2