Discriminant (b2 – 4ac) Nature of the roots

∆ = 0 Roots are real and equal

∆ > 0 (Positive) Roots are real and distinct
∆ < 0 (negative) Roots are imaginary
Example 1 : Determine the nature of the roots of the equation 2x2 – 5x – 1 = 0.
Consider the equation 2x2 – 5x – 1 = 0
This is in form of ax2 + bx + c = 0
The co-efficient are a = 2, b = –5, c = –1
∆ = b2 – 4ac
∆ = (–5)2 –4(2) (–1)
∆ = 25 + 8
∆ = 33
∴ ∆ > 0
Roots are real and distinct

Example 2 : Determine the nature of the roots of the equation 4x2 – 4x + 1 = 0

Consider the equation 4x2 – 4x + 1 = 0
This is in the form of ax2 + bx + c = 0
The co-efficient are a = 4, b = –4, c = 1
∆ = b2 – 4ac
∆ = (–4)2 –4 (4) (1)
∆ = 16 – 16
∴ ∆ = 0
Roots are real and equal

Example 3 : For what values of ‘m’ roots of the equation x2 + mx + 4 = 0 are

(i) equal (ii) distinct
Consider the equation x2 + mx + 4 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
the co-efficients are a = 1, b = m, c = 4
∆ = b2 – 4ac
∆ = m2 – 4(1) (4)
∆ = m2 – 16
1) If roots are equal ∆ = 0
∴ m2 – 16 = 0
m2 = 16
∴ m = 16 ∴ m = ±4

144
 2) If roots are distinct ∆ > 0
∴ m2 – 16 > 0
∴ m2 > 16
m2 > 16
m > ±4

Example 4 : Determine the value of ‘k’ for which the equation kx2 + 6x + 1 = 0 has
equal roots.
Consider the equation kx2 + 6x + 1 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
the co-efficients are a = k, b = 6, c = 1
∆ = b2 – 4ac
∴
since the roots are equal, b2 – 4ac = 0 ( ∆ = 0)
(6)2 – 4(k)(1) = 0
36 – 4k = 0
4k = 36
36
k = = 9
4
∴ k=9
Example 5 : Find the value of ‘p’ for which the equation x2 – (p + 2) x + 4 = 0 has
equal roots.
Consider the equation x2 – (p + 2) x + 4 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
Coefficients are a = 1, b = –(p + 2), c = 4
since the roots are equal ∆ =0
b2 – 4ac = 0
[–(p + 2)]2 – 4(1)(4) = 0
(p + 2)2 – 16 = 0
p + 2 = ± 16
p+2= ±4
p + 2 = + 4 or p + 2 = –4
∴ p = 4 – 2 or p = –4 – 2
∴ p=2 or p = –6

145
Exercise : 5.6
A. Discuss the nature of roots of the following equations
1) y2 – 7y + 2 = 0 2) x2 – 2x + 3 = 0 3) 2n2 + 5n – 1 = 0
4) a2 + 4a + 4 = 0 5) x2 + 3x – 4 = 0 6) 3d2 – 2d + 1 = 0
B. For what positive values of ‘m’ roots of the following equations are
1) equal 2) distinct 3) imaginary
1) a2 – ma + 1 = 0 2) x2 – mx + 9 = 0
3) r2 – (m + 1) r + 4 = 0 4) mk2 – 3k + 1 = 0
C. Find the value of ‘p’ for which the quadratic equations have equal roots.
1) x2 – px + 9 = 0 2) 2a2 + 3a + p = 0 3) pk2 – 12k + 9 = 0
4) 2y2 – py + 1 = 0 5) (p + 1) n2 + 2(p + 3) n + (p + 8) = 0
6) (3p + 1)c2 + 2 (p + 1) c + p = 0
7. Relationship between the roots and co-efficient of the terms of the quadratic
equation.
If ‘m’ and ‘n’ are the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 then

− b + b2 − 4ac − b − b2 − 4ac
m = , n =
2a 2a

− b + b2 − 4ac − b − b2 − 4ac
∴ m+n = +
2a 2a

− b + b 2 − 4ac − b − b 2 − 4ac
m + n =
2a
− 2b
∴ m + n = If m and n are the roots of the
2a
quadratic equation
-b
m + n = ax2 + bx + c = 0
a
−b
 − b + b2 − 4ac   − b − b2 − 4ac  Sum of the roots =
    a
mn =  2a   2a 
    +c
Product of roots =
( b − 4ac )
2 a
( − b) 2 − 2
mn =
4a 2
146
 mn =
(
b 2 − b 2 − 4ac )
4a 2
b 2 − b 2 + 4ac
mn =
4a 2
4ac c c
∴ mn = 2 = ∴ mn =
4a a a

Example 1 : Find the sum and product of the roots of equation x2 + 2x + 1 = 0

x2 + 2x + 1 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
The coefficients are a = 1, b = 2, c = 1
Let the roots be m and n

−b −2
i) Sum of the roots m + n = =
a 1
∴ m + n = –2

c 1
ii) Product of the roots mn = =
a 1
∴ mn = 1

Example 2 : Find the sum and product of the roots of equation 3x2 + 5 = 0
3x2 + 0x + 5 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
The coefficients are a = 3, b = 0, c = 5
Let the roots are p and q

−b 0
i) Sum of the roots p + q = =
a 3
∴ p+q = 0

c 5 5
ii) Product of the roots pq = = ∴ pq =
a 3 3

147
Exercise : 5.8
A. Form the equation whose roots are
3 2 3
1) 3 and 5 2) 6 and –5 3) –2 and 4) and
2 3 2
5) 2 + 3 and 2 – 3 6) –3 + 2 5 and –3 – 2 5

B.
1) If ‘m’ and ‘n’ are the roots of the equation x2 – 6x + 2 = 0 find the value of
1 1
i) (m + n) mn ii) +
m n

2) If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are the roots of the equation 3m2 = 6m + 5 find the value of
a b
i) + ii) (a + 2b) (2a + b)
b a

3) If ‘p’ and ‘q’ are the roots of the equation 2a2 – 4a + 1 = 0 Find the value of
i) (p + q)2 + 4pq ii) p3 + q3
p q
4) Form a quadratic equation whose roots are and
q p
5) Find the value of ‘k’ so that the equation x2 + 4x + (k + 2) = 0 has one root equal
to zero.
6) Find the value of ‘q’ so that the equation 2x2 – 3qx + 5q = 0 has one root which
is twice the other.
7) Find the value of ‘p’ so that the equation 4x2 – 8px + 9 = 0 has roots whose
difference is 4.
8) If one root of the equation x2 + px + q = 0 is 3 times the other prove that 3p2 = 16q

Graphical method of solving a Quadratic Equation

Let us solve the equation x2 – 4 = 0 graphically,
x2 – 4 = 0
∴ x2 = 4
let y = x2 = 4
∴ y = x2
and y = 4

153
Step 1: Form table of
corresponding values y = x2
of x and y x=0 y = 02 y=0
Satisfying the equation x=1 y = 12 y=1
y = x2 x=2 y = 22 y=4
Step 2: Choose the scale on x = –1 y = (–1)2 y=1
x axis, 1 cm = 1 unit x = –2 y = (–2)2 y=4
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 3: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on graph
sheet.
Step 4: Join the points by a
smooth curve.
Step 5: Draw the straight line
y = 4 Parallel to x-axis
Step 6: From the intersecting
points of the curve and
the line y = 4, draw
perpendiculars to the
x axis
Step 7: Roots of the equations are x = +2 or x = –2

The graph of a quadratic polynomial is a curve called ‘parabola’

Example 1 : Draw a graph of y = 2x2 and find the value of 3 , using the graph.
Step 1: Form the table of
corresponding values of
x and y satisfying the
equation y = 2x2
Step 2: Choose the scale on x x 0 1 –1 2 –2 3
y 0 2 2 8 8 6
axis, 1 cm = 1 unit and
(x, y) (0, 0) (1, 2) (–1, 2) (2, 8) (–2, 8) ( 3 ,6)
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
Step 3: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 2) (–1, 2); (2, 8) and
(–2, 8) on graph sheet.

154
Step 4: Join the points by a
smooth curve

Step 5: Draw the straight line

y = 6 Parallel to x-axis.

Step 6: From the intersecting

points of the curve and
the line y = 6, draw
perpendiculars to the
x-axis.

Step 7: Value of 3 = ± 1.7

x = –1.7 or x = + 1.7

Example 2 : Draw a graph of y = x2 and y = 2-x and hence solve the equation
x2 + x – 2 = 0
Step 1: Form the table of x 0 1 –1 2 –2
corresponding values of y 0 1 1 4 4
x and y satisfying the (x, y) (0, 0) (1, 1) (–1, 1) (2, 4) (–2, 4)
equation y = x2
x 0 1 –1 2 –2
Step 2: Form the table of
corresponding values of y 2 1 3 0 4
x and y satisfying the (x, y) (0, 2) (1, 1) (–1, 3) (2, 0) (–2, 4)
equation y = 2 – x.
Step 3: Choose the scale on x
axis 1 cm = 1 unit and
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 4: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 5: Join the points by a
smooth curve.
Step 6: Plot the points (0, 2) ;
(1, 1); (–1, 3); (2, 0)
and (–2, 4) on graph
sheet
155
Step 7: Join the points to get a line.
Step 8: From the intersecting
Curve and the line, draw
perpendiculars to the
x-axis
Step 9: Roots of the equation are ∴ x = 1 or x = –2

Example 3 : Solve the equation

Method I : x2 – x – 2 = 0 x 0 1 –1 2 –2

Split the equation y 2 1 1 4 4

y = x2 and y = 2 + x (x, y) (0, 0) (1, 1) (–1, 1) (2, 4) (–2, 4)

Step 1: Form the table of

corresponding values x
and y satisfying the x 0 1 2 –1 –2
equation y = x2 y 2 3 4 1 0
Step 2: Form the table of (x, y) (0, 2) (1, 3) (2, 4) (–1, 1) (–2, 0)
corresponding values x
and y satisfying the
equation y = 2 + x
Step 3: Choose the scale on
x axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
Step 4: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 5: Join the points by a
smooth curve
Step 6: Plot the points (0, 2);
(1, 3) (2, 4); (–1, 1) and
(–2, 0) on the graph
sheet.
Step 7: Join the points to get a
straight line
Step 8: From the intersecting
points of Curve and the
line, draw the perpendi-
culars to the x-axis.
Step 9: Roots of the equation are x = –1 or x = 2

156
Method II : x 0 1 –1 2 –2
Step 1: Form the table of y –2 –2 0 0 4
corresponding values of (x, y) (0, –2) (1, –2) (–1, 0) (2, 0) (–2, 4)
x and y satisfying
equation y = x2 – x – 2.
Step 2: Choose the scale on x
axis 1 cm = 1 unit and
y axis 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 3: Plot the points (0, –2);
(1 –2); (–1, 0); (2, 0)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 4: Join the points to form
a smooth curve
Step 5: Mark the intersecting
points of the curve and
the x – axis.
Step 6: Roots of the equations are x = –1 or x = 2

Exercise : 5.9
A. 1) Draw the graph of y = x2 and find the value of 7
2) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and find the value of 3
1 2
3) Draw the graph of y = x and find the value of 10
2
B. 1) Draw the graph of y = x2 and y = 2x + 3 and hence solve the equation
x2 – 2x – 3 = 0
2) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and y = 3 – x and hence solve the equation
2x2 + x – 3 = 0
3) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and y = 3 + x and hence solve the equation
2x2 – x – 3 = 0

C. Solve graphically
1) x2 + x – 12 = 0 2) x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 3) x2 + 2x – 8 = 0
4) x2 + x – 6 = 0 5) 2x2 – 3x – 5 = 0 6) 2x2 + 3x – 5 = 0

157