Theory of Equations

Test No: 3 Date: 30.4.2020

Marks: 15 Duration: 30mins.

Answer all the questions:

1. The value of 𝑘 for which the roots of the equation 2𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 are in

A.P.
a) -1
b) 0
c) 1
d) -2
Solution:
Let the roots be 𝛼 − 𝛽, 𝛼, 𝛼 + 𝛽.
Then 𝛼 − 𝛽 + 𝛼 + 𝛼 + 𝛽 = −3 ⟹ 𝛼 = −1
Substitute 𝑥 = −1 in the equation 2𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0
We get 𝑘 = 1
Ans: c
2. IF 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾 are the roots of the eqution 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3 = 0, then the equation
whose roots are 𝛼 + 𝛽 − 𝛾, 𝛼 + 𝛾 − 𝛽, 𝛽 + 𝛾 − 𝛼 is given by
a) 𝑦 3 + 4𝑦 2 + 7𝑦 − 17 = 0
b) 𝑦 3 + 3𝑦 2 + 7𝑦 − 17 = 0
c) 𝑦 3 + 2𝑦 2 + 7𝑦 − 17 = 0
d) 𝑦 3 + 𝑦 2 + 7𝑦 − 17 = 0
Solution:
The Sum of the roots of the given equation is 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 = −1
The sum of the roots of the new eqation is
𝛼 + 𝛽 − 𝛾 + 𝛼 + 𝛾 − 𝛽 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 − 𝛼 = 2(𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾) − (𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾) = −1
Ans: d
3. An equation with rational coefficients, one of whose roots is √5 + √2
a) x 4 − 14x 2 + 9 = 0
b) x 4 − 14x 2 − 9 = 0
c) x 4 + 14x 2 − 9 = 0
d) None of the above
Solution:

W.K.T. , 𝐼𝑓 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 0 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙

𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠
∴ The other 3 roots are √5 − √2,−√5 + √2,−√5 − √2
 Product the roots is
(√5 + √2)(√5 − √2)(−√5 + √2)(−√5 − √2) = (5 − 2)(5 − 2) = 9
Ans: a
4. If two of the roots of the equation 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 80 = 0 are equal in magnitude
but opposite in sign, then the third root will be
a) 1
b) 5
c) 16
d) 80
Solution:
Let 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾 be the roots of the given equation and
Given that 𝛼 = −𝛽
We know that 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 = 5 ⇒ 𝛾 = 5
Ans: b
5. The sum of the fourth power of the roots of the equation 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = 0 is
a) -2
b) 2
c) 5
d) 6
Solution:
Given Equation is 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = 0 − − − − − − − −→ (1)
By Newtons theorem of the sum of the powers of the roots

If α1 , α2 , … . , αn are the roots of the equation x n + a1 x n−1 + a2 x n−2 + ⋯ + an = 0, and

Sr = α1r + αr2 + ⋯ + αrn . Then Sr + Sr−1 a1 + Sr−2 a2 + ⋯ + S1 an−1 + nan = 0 if r ≤ n and
Sr + Sr−1 a1 + Sr−2 a2 + ⋯ + Sr−n an = 0 if r > 𝑛 − − − − − − − −→ (2)

From (1), 𝑎1 = −2, 𝑎2 = 1, 𝑎3 = −1

From (2), 𝑆1 + 𝑎1 = 0 ⇒ 𝑆1 = 2 − − − − − − − −→ (3)

𝑆2 + 𝑆1 𝑎1 + 2𝑎2 = 0 ⇒ 𝑆2 = 2 − − − −−→ (4)

𝑆3 + 𝑆2 𝑎1 + 𝑆1 𝑎2 + 3𝑎3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑆3 = 5 − − − −−→ (5)

𝑆4 + 𝑆3 𝑎1 + 𝑆2 𝑎2 + 𝑆1 𝑎3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑆4 = 6

Ans: d

6. The sum of the Cubes of the roots of the equation 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = 0 is

a) -2
b) 2
c) 5
d) 6
 Ans: 5
7. The sum of the fourth powers of the roots of 7𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 is
11
a)
7
7
b) 11
−11
c) 7
10
d) 7
Ans: a
8. IF 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾 are the roots of the eqution 𝑥 3 + 𝑝𝑥 2 + 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑟 = 0 then the values of
∑ 𝛼 3 and ∑ 𝛼 2 are
a) 𝑝2 − 2𝑞, 3𝑝𝑞 − 𝑝3 − 3𝑟
b) 3𝑝𝑞 − 𝑝3 − 3𝑟, 𝑝2 − 2𝑞
c) 𝑝2 − 2𝑞, 3𝑝𝑞 2 − 𝑝3 − 3𝑟
d) 3𝑝𝑞 − 𝑝3 − 3𝑟, 𝑝2 − 2𝑞 2

Solution:

∑ 𝛼 2 = 𝛼 2 + 𝛽 2 + 𝛾 2 = (𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾)2 − 2(𝛼𝛽 + 𝛽𝛾 + 𝛾𝛼 ) = 𝑝2 − 2𝑞

Ans: b
9. The equation 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1 = 0 has ___ real and ___complex roots.
a) 1,3
b) 0,4
c) 2,2
d) 3,1
Solution:
Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1 = 0.
We know that, In a polynomial equation with real coefficients imaginary roots
accurs in conjugate pairs only.
⇒ option a and d are wrong.
Now, 𝑓(0) < 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(1) > 0 so, there is a real root between 0 and 1.
⇒ option b is wrong
Ans: c
33
10. The roots of the equation 𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 1 = 0 are
4
1 −1
a) 2, 2 , 2, 2
1 1 1
b) 4, 3 , 3 , 3
1 1
c) 2, 2 , 2, 2
1 −1
d) 3, 3 , 3, 3
 Solution:
We know that , IF 𝛼, 𝛽, 𝛾, 𝛿 are the roots of the equation
𝑥 4 + 𝑝𝑥 3 + 𝑞𝑥 2 + 𝑟𝑥 + 𝑠 = 0 then 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝛿 = −𝑝 and 𝛼𝛽𝛾𝛿 = 𝑠
From the given equation 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝛿 = 5 and 𝛼𝛽𝛾𝛿 = 1
4
⇒ option a (𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝛿 = 4), d (𝛼 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝛿 = 6) and b (𝛼𝛽𝛾𝛿 = 27) are
wrong.
Ans: c
11. The equation 𝑥 9 + 𝑥 5 + 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 1 = 0 has
a) At most 1 negative real root
b) At most 3 positive real root
c) At most 3 negative real root
d) At most 1 positive real root
Solution:
There is no sign change in the given equation, therefore it cannot have a positive
real root.
There is only one sign change in 𝑓(−𝑥 ) = 0,(𝑖. 𝑒, − − + + +) therefore it has
one negative real root and all other roots are imaginary.
Ans: a
12. If 𝑓(𝑥 ) is a real valued continuous function and it has a real root. Then which one of
the following is true?
a) 𝑓(𝑎)𝑓(𝑏) > 1 ∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ
b) 𝑓(𝑎)𝑓(𝑏) > 0 ∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ
c) 𝑓(𝑎)𝑓(𝑏) < −1 ∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ
d) 𝑓(𝑎) > 0, 𝑓 (𝑏) > 1 ∀𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ
Solution:
Given that, 𝑓 (𝑥) is a real valued continuous function. Therefore 𝑓(𝑎) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(𝑏)
are two real numbers.
We know that , 𝑓(𝑎) < 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 (𝑏) > 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑓(𝑎)𝑓(𝑏) < 0 then there is a
root between 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏.

Ans: c
13. The roots of the equation 𝑥 3 − 19𝑥 2 + 114𝑥 − 216 = 0 are in G.P. Then which one
of the following will be a root
a) -6
b) 6
c) -4
d) 24
Solution:
𝛼
The possible roots are , 𝛼, 𝛼𝛽
𝛽
𝛼
We know that 𝛽 . 𝛼. 𝛼𝛽 = 216 ⇒ 𝛼 3 = 216 ⇒ 𝛼 = 6
All others are wrong option (𝑓(−4) ≠ 0, 𝑓(−6) ≠ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 (24) ≠ 0)
Ans: b
14. If 𝑓(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − 𝛼)2𝑘 . (𝑥 − 𝛽)(2𝑘+1) , (𝑘 ∈ ℕ) is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ degree polynomial. Then the
possible value of 𝑛 is
a) 3
b) 5
c) 4
d) 7
Solution:
𝑛−1
We know that 2𝑘 + (2𝑘 + 1) = 𝑛 ⇒ 𝑛 = 4𝑘 + 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑘 = 4
Only possible is option b. (5 = 4(1)+1)
Ans: b
15. If 𝑓(𝑥 ) = (𝑥 − 𝛼)2𝑘 . (𝑥 − 𝛽)(2𝑘+1) , (𝑘 ∈ ℕ) is the 𝑛𝑡ℎ degree polynomial. If
𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 𝑎𝑟𝑒 prime numbers ,then the possible value of 𝑘 is
a) 5
b) 11
c) 3
d) 4
Solution:
We know that 2𝑘 + (2𝑘 + 1) = 𝑛 ⇒ 𝑛 = 4𝑘 + 1
Only possible is option c. 4(3) + 1 = 13 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟.
Option a and b are wrong (4(5) + 1 = 21𝑎𝑛𝑑4(11) + 1 = 45 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒)
Option d is wrong ,since 4 is not a prime.
Ans: b