ROOTS AND

COEFFICIENTS OF
QUADRATIC
EQUATIONS
DISCRIMINANT
The radicand (b2 − 4ac) in the quadratic
formula
USING THE
DISCRIMINANT
Given a quadratic equation in the form of
ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are real
numbers and a≠0. We can determine the
number and type of solutions of a
quadratic equation, by evaluating the
discriminant
USING THE
DISCRIMINANT
1. If b2 − 4ac > 0, the equation has two
real solutions. Both will be rational if
the discriminant is a perfect square or
irrational, otherwise
USING THE
DISCRIMINANT
2. If b2 − 4ac = 0, the equation has only
one solution which will be a rational
number
USING THE
DISCRIMINANT
3. If b2 − 4ac < 0, the equation has no
real number solution
USING THE
DISCRIMINANT
Example: 16x2 - 8x + 1 = 0
b2 − 4ac = (-8)2 – 4(16)(1)
= 64 – 64
=0
Because the discriminant is 0, the equation has
only solution
RELATION OF ROOTS
1. The sum of the roots is the additive
inverse of the quotient of b and a
b
r1 + r 2 = -
a
RELATION OF ROOTS
2. The product of the roots is the
quotient of c and a
c
r1 - r2 =
a
RELATION OF ROOTS
The relations that exist between the
roots of a quadratic equation which can
be used in checking the validity of the
roots can be of best use in deriving the
quadratic equation
General Form: ax2 + bx + c = 0
Expressed in the form of Multiplication
Property of Equality:
b c
x2 + x+ =0
a a
RULE
To derive the quadratic equation when
the two roots are given, subtract each
root from x to get the corresponding
linear factors and equate the product of
the linear factors to zero
Example: x2 – 3x – 28 = 0
Solution:
(x-7) (x+4) = 0
x-7 = 0 or x+4=0
x=7 (root 1) x=-4 (root 2)
Example: x2 – 3x – 28 = 0
Check whether the roots are correct:
b c
r1 + r2 = - and r1 - r2 =
a a
(−3) 28
(7) + (-4) = (7) (-4) = -
1 1

3 = 3 True -28 = -28 True