

A
 Quadratic equation is of the form:
ax²+bx+c=0
where a, b and c are REAL
NUMBERS (constants) and a is not
equal to zero but b and c can be equal
to zero.
Every quadratic expression can be
factorized to obtain 2 linear equations
e.g
x²-2x+1=(x-1)(x-1)
x²=x(x)
x²-1=(x+1)(x-1)
x²+x=x(x+1)
Given roots of a quadratic equation,
inorder to create a quadratic
expression/equation we interchange
the signs the roots carry e.g
If the roots are x=a and x=b, then the
expression will be (x-a)(x-b).
If the roots are x=-a x=-b, then the
expression will be (x+a)(x+b).
If the roots are x=-a x=-b, then the
 expression will be (x+a)(x-b).
Given the equation ax²+bx+c=0;
We divide through by a to make it to
be in unity(i.e for the coefficient of x²
to be 1):
x²+(b/a)x+(c/a)=0
If @ and ß are the roots of the
equation we have that:
x=@ or x=ß
Forming a quadratic equation we
have;
x²+(b/a)x+(c/a)=(x-@)(x-ß)
x²+(b/a)x+(c/a)=x²-(@+ß)x+@ß
From this equation and using rule of
equality, we have that:
i)b/a=-(@+ß)→@+ß=-b/a
ii)@ß=c/a
Given In essence, we can write a
quadratic equation as:
x²-(sum of roots)x+(product of roots)=0
Question 1
If @ and ß are the roots of the equation
2x²-5x+3=0. Find the values of
i)@+ß (ii)@ß (iii)@²+ß² (iv)@²ß²
v)@²ß+@ß² (vi)@³+ß³ (vii)@⁴+ß⁴
viii)@-ß (ix)1/@ + 1/ß (x)@/ß + ß/@
SOLUTION
a=2, b=-5, c=3
i)@+ß = -b/a = -(-5)/2 = 5/2
ii)@ß = c/a = 3/2
iii)For @²+ß²
(@+ß)² = @²+2@ß+ß²
(@+ß)²-2@ß = @²+ß²
Rearranging
@²+ß² = (@+ß)²-2@ß
= (5/2)²-2(3/2)
=25/4 - 3 = 13/4
iv)@²ß² = (@ß)² {indices distributive power rule}
= (3/2)² = 9/4
v)@²ß+@ß² = @ß(@+ß) {factorizing}
=(3/2)(5/2) = 15/4
vi)For @³+ß³
 (@+ß)³ = @³+3@²ß+3@ß²+ß³
(@+ß)³ = @³+3(@²ß+@ß²)+ß³
@³+ß³ = (@+ß)³-3(@²ß+@ß²)
= (5/2)³-3(15/4)
= 125/8 - 45/4 = 35/8
vii)For @⁴+ß⁴
(@+ß)⁴=@⁴+4@³ß+6@²ß²+4@ß³+ß⁴
{Learn binomial theorem for easy expansion}

(@+ß)⁴=@⁴+ß⁴+4@³ß+4@ß³+6@²ß²
(@+ß)⁴=@⁴+ß⁴+4@ß(@²+ß²)+6(@ß)²
@⁴+ß⁴=(@+ß)⁴-4@ß(@²+ß²)-6(@ß)²
=(5/2)⁴-4(3/2)(13/4)-6(3/2)²
=625/16 - 39/2 - 27/2 = 97/16
viii)For @-ß
(@-ß)² = @²-2@ß+ß²
(@-ß)² = @²+ß²-2@ß
@-ß = √(@²+ß²-2@ß)
= √(13/4 - 2(3/2))
= √(13/4 - 3)
= √(1/4)
= 1/2
(ix)1/@ + 1/ß = (ß+@)/(@ß)
 = (@+ß)/(@ß)
= (5/2)/(3/2)
= 15/4
x)@/ß + ß/@ = (@²+ß²)/(@ß)
= (@²+ß²)/(@ß)
= (13/4)/(3/2) = 39/8

Question 2
If @ and ß are the roots of the equation
x²+2x-15=0. Form a quadratic equation
whose roots are:
i)@² and ß² ii)1/@ and 1/ß iii)4@ and
4ß iv)@ and ß v)@³ and ß³

SOLUTION
a=1, b=2, c=-15
@+ß = -b/a -2/1 = -2 &
@ß = c/a = -15/1 = -15
i)For @² and ß²
(x-@²)(x-ß²) = x²-ß²x-@²x+@²ß²
=x²-@²x-ß²x+(@ß)²
 =x²-(@²+ß²)x+(@ß)²
@²+ß²=(@+ß)²-2@ß=(-2)²-2(-15)=4+30=43
=x²-43x+(-15)²
=x²-43x+225
ii)For 1/@ and 1/ß
(x - 1/@)(x - 1/ß)
=x²-(1/ß)x-(1/@)x +(1 / @ß)
=x²-(1/@)x-(1/ß)x+(1 / @ß)
=x²-(1/@ + 1/ß)x+(1/ @ß)
=x²-[(@+ß)/(@ß)]x+(1/ @ß)
=x²-[(-2)/(-15)]x+(1/ -15)
=x²-(2/15)x-(1/15)
We now remove it from unity by multiplying
through by 15
=15x²-2x-1
iii)For 4@ and 4ß
(x-4@)(x-4ß) = x²-4ßx-4@x+16@ß
=x²-4@x-4ßx+16@ß
=x²-4(@+ß)x+16@ß
=x²-4(-2)x+16(-15)
=x²+8x-240
iv)For @ and ß
 (x-@)(x-ß) = x²-ßx-@x+@ß
= x²-@x-ßx+@ß
= x²-(@+ß)x+@ß
= x²-(-2)x+(-15)
= x²+2x-15
v)For @³ and ß³
(x-@³)(x-ß³) = x²-ß³x-@³x+@³ß³
= x²-@³x-ß³x+@³ß³
= x²-(@³+ß³)x+(@ß)³
@

Exercises
1)Solve question 1(i-x) using x²-9=0.
(Hint b=0)
2)Solve question 1(i-v) using x²+x=0.
(Hint c=0)