CHAPTER 4: QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Topics to be covered-
➢ Standard form of a quadratic equation ax²+bx+c= 0, (a = 0).
➢ Solutions of quadratic equations (only real roots) by factorisation,
and by using quadratic formula.
➢ Relationship between discriminant and nature of roots.
➢ Situational problems based on quadratic equations related to day to
day activities

Key Points and Concepts:

2
➔ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑎 ≠ 0 is called the standard form of a quadratic equation.
➔ In general, a real number α is called a root of the quadratic
2 2
equation 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑎 ≠ 0 if a α + 𝑏α + 𝑐 = 0. We also say that 𝑥 = α
is a solution of the quadratic equation, or that α satisfies the quadratic equation.
2
➔ The zeroes of the quadratic polynomial 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 and the roots of the
2
quadratic equation α + 𝑏α + 𝑐 = 0 are same.
➔ Solution of a Quadratic Equation by Factorisation
To find the solution of a quadratic equation by factorisation method, we use the
following steps.
❖ Step I - Write the given equation in standard form i.e. ax² +bx+c = 0 (if not
given in standard form) and find the value of a, b and c.
❖ Step II - Find the product of a and c and write it as a sum of its two factor such
that sum is equal to b. i.e. write ac pxq and p+q=b where, p and q are factors
of ac. equation and write it LHS as product of two linear
❖ Step III - Put the value of b obtained from step II in given factors
❖ Step IV - Now, equate each factor equal to zero and get desired roots of given
quadratic equation.
 2
★ What will be the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑥 − 0. 04 = 0?
[CBSE Standard 2020]
2
★ Solve for x: 4 3𝑥 + 5𝑥 − 2 3 = 0. [Delhi 2013]

2
Solution : Consider 4 3𝑥 + 5𝑥 − 2 3 = 0
2
⇒4 3𝑥 + 8𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 2 3 = 0
⇒4𝑥( 3𝑥 + 2) − 3( 3𝑥 + 2) = 0
⇒( 3𝑥 + 2)(4𝑥 - 3) = 0
3 2
⇒𝑥 = 4
, 𝑥 =−
3

➔ The formula for finding the roots of a quadratic equation is known as the quadratic
formula.
2 2
➔ If 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 ≥ 0, then the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 are
2
−𝑏 ± 𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐
given by
2𝑎
2 2
➔ Since 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 determines whether the quadratic equation 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 has
2
real roots or not, 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 is called the discriminant of this quadratic equation.

2 2 2 4 4 2 2
★ Using the quadratic formula, solve the equation 𝑎 𝑏 𝑥 − (4𝑏 − 3𝑎 )𝑥 − 12𝑎 𝑏 = 0.
[CBSE 2006]
1 1 11
★ 𝑥+4
− 𝑥−7
= 30
, 𝑥 ≠− 4, 7 [CBSE Standard 2020]

2
2 𝑏 𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐
➔ If 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 > 0, we get two distinct real roots − + and
2𝑎 2𝑎
2
𝑏 𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐
− 2𝑎
− 2𝑎
𝑏 𝑏
and −
2
➔ If 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 0, we get two distinct real roots − 2𝑎 2𝑎
2
➔ If 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0, we will get no real roots
 2
★ Find the value(s) of k for which the equation 𝑥 + 5𝑘𝑥 + 16 = 0 has real and
equal roots. [CBSE SP 2018-19]
2 2 2 2
★ If the equation (1 + 𝑚 )𝑥 + 2𝑚𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐 − 𝑎 = 0, has equal roots, show that
2 2 2
𝑐 = 𝑎 (1 + 𝑚 ). [Delhi 2017]

➔ Some Important Situation based questions are as follows

★ A rectangular field is 20 m long and 14 m wide. There is a path of equal width all around
it, having an area of 111 sq m. Find the width of the path. [CBSE 2013, 2012]
★ Two water taps together can fill a tank in 9 hours 36 minutes. The tap of large
diameter takes 8 hours less than the smaller one to fill the tank separately. Find the
time in which each tap can separately fill the tank. [Foreign 2016]
★ In a flight of 600 km, an aircraft was slowed down due to bad weather. The average
speed of the trip was reduced by 200 km/hr and the time of flight increased by 30
minutes. Find the duration of flight. [CBSE Standard 2020]
★ Speed of a boat in still water is 15 km/h. It goes 30 km upstream and returns back at
the same point in 4 hours 30 minutes. Find the speed of the stream. [Delhi 2017]

Solution: Let the speed of the stream be x km/hr.

Therefore, Speed of boat upstream = (15 – x) km/hr.
Speed of boat in downstream = (15 + x) km/hr.
30 30 9
⇒ 15−𝑥 + 15+𝑥
= 2
30(15 + 𝑥 −15 + 𝑥 ) 9
⇒ ( 15 + 𝑥 ) ( 15 − 𝑥 )
= 2
2
⇒ 200 = 225 − 𝑥
⇒𝑥 = 5 (𝑅𝑒𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 5)
Therefore, Speed of stream = 5 km/hr
 Important Formulae:

2
1. 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑎 ≠ 0
2
−𝑏 ± 𝑏 −4𝑎𝑐
2. 2𝑎

*** Evaluate your level of knowledge by solving this Quiz ***

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