Relationship Between Roots and Coefficients of Quadratic Equations

b c
 The general equation ax 2  bx  c  0 may also be written as x 2  x   0 after dividing
a a
each of the terms involved by a . The sum of its roots and product of its roots expressed in
b c b c Page | 1
terms of its coefficients equals and respectively. That is, sum  and product 
a a a a
.
b c
 Let the roots of the equation x 2  x   0 be  and  . We have;
a a
x   or x    take  and  to the LHS in their respective equations 
x    0 or x    0  then 
 x    x     0 expand the double brackets on the LHS
x 2   x   x    0  reorder the middle terms 
x 2   x   x    0 factorize the middle terms, notice that  x is common 
x 2  x        0  reorder the middle term 
x 2      x    0 sum and product in terms of roots can now be seen clearly

 sum       and product  

 Equating the sum in terms of coefficients to the sum in terms of roots, gives us;
b
      divide both sides by  1
a
b
    
a
 Equating the product in terms of coefficients to the product in terms of roots, gives us;
c
 
a
Note:
b
i. sum      
a
c
ii. product   
a
iii. x   sum of roots  x   product of roots   0
2

By Emmanuel Mwaba, Northern Technical College. Chela Campus, Ndola.

Examples:
Questions

If  and  are the roots of the quadratic equation 4 x 2  8 x  20  0

a) Evaluate Page | 2
1 1
i. 
 
ii.  2    2
iii. 2  2
   
2
iv.
1 1
v. 
 2
2
 1  1
b) Form the quadratic equation whose roots are and
 

Solution (ai)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8   2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
1 1
  write the given expression in terms of    and  . combine the fractions 
 
 
  know that        

 
  remember that     2 and   5

2

5
Solution (aii)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8  2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
   
2 2
 write the given expression in terms of    and  . factorize the terms
       remember that     2 and   5
 2  5
 10

By Emmanuel Mwaba, Northern Technical College. Chela Campus, Ndola.

Solution (aiii)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8  2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
Page | 3
2  2  write the given expression in terms of    and  . factorize the terms 
To achive that, use     , expand it and make  2   2 subject of formula;
2

      2  2   2  take 2 to the LHS

2

     2   2   2
2

 2   2       2  remember that     2 and   5

2

2  2
      2
2

  2    2   5 
2

 4  10
 14

Solution (aiv)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8  2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
     write the given expression in terms of    and  . expand the expression 
2

   2  
2 2
 reorder the terms 
  2   2  2  remember that  2   2      2  2 
 
      2  2
2

      remember that     2
2

  2
2

4

By Emmanuel Mwaba, Northern Technical College. Chela Campus, Ndola.

Solution (av)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8  2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
Page | 4
1 1
  write the given expression in terms of    and  . combine the terms 
2 2
 2  2  know that  2   2   2   2 and  2  2   2 

 2 2  
2  2  know that  2   2     2  2 

( ) 2  

     2
2

  remember that     2 and   5

 
2

 2   2  5 
2


 5
2

4  10

25
14
=
25
Solution (b)

4 x 2  8 x  20  0 from the equation, calculate    and  

  
b

 8   2 and   c  20  5
a 4 a 4
 1  1
and are the roots of the new equation, so add them to obtain sum and multiply to obtain product 
 
  1   1              2       2   2  5   2
2 2 2 2
12
sum      
    5 5
  1   1       1        1 5   2   1 6
product      
    5 5
equation is;
x 2   sum of roots  x   product of roots   0
 12   6
x2     x      0
 5  5
12 6
x2  x   0 or 5x 2  12 x  6  0
5 5

By Emmanuel Mwaba, Northern Technical College. Chela Campus, Ndola.

Exercise
Question One

If  and  are the roots of the quadratic equation 4 x 2  8 x  5  0

a) Evaluate Page | 5
2 2
i. 
 
ii. 2  2
iii.  2    2
iv.  3 2   2  3
b) Form the quadratic equation whose roots are
 1  1
i. and
 
ii.  2 and  2

Question Two

If  and  are the roots of the quadratic equation x 2  3x  5  0 , find the equation with roots
 2 and  2 .

By Emmanuel Mwaba, Northern Technical College. Chela Campus, Ndola.