QuadraticEquationsFormula

Quadratic Equations: Solutions by Formulae

Formula for solving a quadratic equation

Sometimes factorization of ax2 + b x + c is difficult.

Then, how do we solve ax2 + b x + c = 0?

We can derive a formula for solving a x + b x + c = 0

where a ≠ 0, b,c ε R

ax2 + b x + c = 0

ax2 + b x = - c

a(x2 + b/a x) = - c

x2 + (b/a) x = - c /a ______(1)

The left-hand side of (1) is x2 + (b/a) x = x2 + 2 * x * b/2a

To make it a perfect square, add ( b/2a )2 = b2/ 4a2 on either side of (1)

x2 + 2 * x * b/2a + ( b/2a )2 = b 2 /4a2 - c/a = ( b2 - 4ac ) /4a2

(x + b/2a)2 = ( b2 - 4ac )/ 4a2

x + b/(2a) = (±       ) / (2a)

x = (-b/(2a) ±        ) /(2a)

x = (-b ±       ) /(2a)

Thus, the roots of ax2 + b x + c = 0 are

x = (-b +        ) / (2a) or x = (-b -         ) / (2a)

We observe that the equation ax2 + b x + c = 0 has two roots and

they are (-b ±        ) / (2a).


Relation between roots and coefficients of a quadratic equation

If the roots of ax2 + b x + c = 0 are p, q then

p = (-b +        ) / (2a) and q = (-b -        ) / (2a)

The sum of the roots

         = - 2b/ 2a

         = - b/a

The sum of the roots p + q = -b/a = -(coefficient of x / coefficient of x2)

The product of the roots =

p * q =       *       

         = { + b2 - ( b2 - 4ac) } / 2a * 2a

         = 4ac / 4a2 = c/a = constant term / coefficient of x2


Nature of the roots of a quadratic equation

The roots of a x2 + b x + c = 0 are

p =   


q =           , where a ≠ 0, b, c ε R

Δ= b2 - 4ac is called the discriminant of ax2+ b x + c = 0.

( Δ is read as "delta" )


The nature of the roots, namely a, b, depend on Δ.

Since b2 - 4ac = 0 is a real number, we have the following possibilities.

b2 - 4ac = 0 or b2 - 4ac > 0 or b2 - 4ac < 0.


In each of these cases, we observe the nature of the roots:

  1.     If b2 - 4ac = 0, i.e., Δ = 0 then

        p = -b/2a q = -b/2a, i.e., the two roots are real and equal.

        Thus, ax2 + b x + c = 0 has real and equal roots if Δ = 0.

  2.     If Δ > 0, then the roots are real and distinct.

  3.     If Δ < 0, the square root Δ is not real but is an imaginary number. Therefore, a, b are imaginary when Δ is negative.

We will learn later that the set containing all real and imaginary numbers is called the set of complex numbers. Hence, roots are complex when Δ < 0.


Example 1

Solve x2 - 6x + 5 = 0 using the formula.

Solution:

Comparing the given equation with ax2 + bx + c = 0, we get a = 1, b = - 6, c = 5

Therefore, roots are          


                                                 =


                                                   =


                                                   =( 6 ± 4 )/2 = 5 or 1


Example 2

Find the sum and product of the roots of

9x2 + 4x - 11 = 0.

Solution:

Suppose a, b are the roots of the given equation. Then

a + b = -Coefficient of x / Coefficient of x2 = -4/9

a * b = Constant term / Coefficient of x2 = -11/9


Example 3

If a, b are the roots of x2 - px + q = 0 then find the value of

a / b + b /a.

Solution:

a, b being roots of x2 - p x + q = 0

we have a + b = p, ab = q

Therefore, a / b + b / a = ( a2 + b2 ) / ab

                                        = { (a + b)2 - 2ab } / ab = (p2 - 2q) /q


Example 4

If one root of x2 - ( p - 1 ) x + 10 = 0 is 5, then find the value of p and second root.

Solution:

Let the roots be 5, b

Then 5 + b = p - 1; 5b = 10

Therefore, b = 2

Therefore, 5 + 2 = p - 1 i.e., p = 8

Therefore, p = 8 and the second root is 2.


Example 5

Find the quadratic equation whose roots are 1/2, 3/2

Solution:

a + b = ½ + 3/2 = 2, a b = 1/2 3/2 = ¾

A quadratic equation with roots a b is x2 - ( a + b ) x + ab = 0

Therefore, the required equation is x2 - 2x + ¾ = 0 or 4x2 - 8x + 3 = 0


Example 6

Find the nature of the roots of the equations given below.

  1. x2 - 5x + 6 = 0

  2. x2+ 4x + 5 = 0

  3. x2+ 2x - 1 = 0

Solution:

  1.     Comparing x2 - 5x + 6 = 0 with ax2+ b x + c = 0, we get a = 1, b = - 5, c = 6

        Δ = b2 - 4ac = 25 - 24 = 1

        Therefore, the roots are   

        = ( 5 ± 1 ) / 2 = 3 or 2 real and distinct.


  2.     In (ii), a = 1 b = 4 c = 5

        Δ= b2 - 4ac = 16 - 20 = -4 < 0

        Therefore roots are a, b =

                                                      =

                                                      =


  3.    In (iii) a = 1, b = 2, c = -1

        Δ = b2 - 4ac = 4 + 4 = 8 > 0

        The roots are            

                                              =

                                            =-1 ± √2

        which are real and irrational.


    these questions

    I. Using the formula for roots solve the following equations.

    1. x2- 4x - 12 = 0

    2. x2+ x - 42 = 0

    3. x2+ 16x + 48 =0

    4. 3x2+ 2x - 8 = 0

    5. 10x2- 7x - 12 = 0

    6. 8 - 5x2 - 6x = 0 or - 5x2 - 6x + 8 = 0

    7. 16x - 15 - 4x2 = 0

    8. 6x2 - 13x - 63 =0

    9. 12x2 + 3x - 99 = 0

    10. 2x2 + 3x - 3 = 0


    II. Find the sum and product of the roots of the equations given below

    1. 3x2 + 2x + 1 = 0

    2. px2 - r x + q =0

    3. x2 - px + pq =0

    4. x2 +m x + m n = 0

    5. x2 - p x + q = 0


    III. If a, b are the roots of x2 - px + q = 0 the find the values of

    ( i ) a3 + b3

    ( ii ) a2/b + b2/a

    ( iii ) 1/a3 + 1/b3


    I. Answers to Practice Problems

    1.    x2 - 4x - 12 = 0

      x =

      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + bx + c = 0

      We have a = 1; b = - 4 and c = - 12

      b2 - 4ac = ( - 4 )2 - 4 1 ( - 12)

      = 16 + 48 = 64

      Therefore x = { - ( - 4)                 } / 2 1

      = 4 ± 8/2

      x = 4 + 8 /2 or 4 - 8 /2 Therefore x = 6 or - 2


    2.   x2 + x - 42 = 0

      x =

      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c = 0

      We have a = 1, b = 1, c = - 42

      b 2- 4ac = (1)2 - 4.1 ( - 42)

      = 1 + 168 = 169 > 0

      Therefore x = { - 1 ±                } / 2 1

      x = - 1 ± 13/2

      x = - 1 + 13/2 or - 1 - 13/2

      x = 12/2 or - 14/2

      Therefore x = 6 or - 7


    3.   x2+ 16x + 48 =0

      x =

      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0

      We have a = 1, b = 16, c = 48

      b2 - 4ac = (16)2 - 4  1* 48

      = 256 - 192 = 64

      Therefore x = { - 16 ± √64} / 2 *1

      x = - 16 + 8/2

      x = - 16 + 8/2 or - 16 - 8/2

      x = - 8 /2 or - 24/2

      x = - 4 or - 12.


    4.   3x2 + 2x - 8 = 0

      x =

      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c = 0

      We have a = 3, b = 2, c = - 8

      b2 - 4ac = (2)2 - 4 *3 * ( - 8)

      = 4 + 96 = 100

      Therefore x =       

      x = - 2 ± 10/6

      x = - 2 + 10/6 or - 2 - 10/6

      x = 8/6 or - 12/6

      x = 4/3 or - 2.


    5.    10x2 - 7x - 12 = 0

      x =

      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0

      We have a = 10; b = - 7; c = - 12

      b2 - 4ac = ( - 7)2 - 4  10  ( - 12)

      = 49 + 480 = 529

      Therefore x =        

      x = 7 ± 23/20

      x = 7 + 23/20 or 7 - 23/20

      x = 30/20 or -16/20

      Therefore x = 3/2 or - 4/5.


    6.    8 - 5x2 - 6x = 0 or - 5x2- 6x + 8 = 0

      Multiplying both sides by -

      We have 5x2 + 6x - 8 = 0

      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0

      We have a = 5; b = 6; c = - 8

      b2 - 4ac = 62 - 4 *5 * ( - 8)

      = 36 + 160 = 196

      x =

      Therefore x =       

      x = - 6 ± 14/10

      x = - 6 + 14/10 or - 6 - 14/10

      x = 8/10 or -20/10

      x = 4/5 or - 2.


    7.    16x - 15 - 4x2 = 0

      Multiplying both sides by -

      4x2 - 16x + 15 =0

      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0

      We have a = 4, b = - 16, c = 15

      b2 - 4ac = ( - 16 )2 - 4 * 4 * 15

      = 256 - 240 = 16

      x =

      Therefore x =        

      x = 16 + 4 / 8

      x = 16 + 4/ 8 or 16 - 4/8

      x = 20/8 or 12/8

      x = 5/4 or 3/2


    8.    6x2 - 13x - 63 =0

      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c = 0

      We have a = 6, b= - 13; c = - 63

      b2 - 4ac = ( - 13)2 - 4 * 6 * ( - 63)

      = 169 + 1512

      = 1681

      x =

      Therefore x =       

      x = 13 ± 41/12

      x = 13 + 41/12 or 13 - 41/12

      x = 54 /12 or - 28/12

      x = 9/2 or - 7/3


    9.   12x2 + 3x - 99 = 0

      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c = 0

      a = 12, b = 3; c = -99

      b2 - 4ac = (3)2 - 4  12  ( - 99)

      = 9 + 4752 = 4761

      x =

      Therefore x =     

      x = - 3 ± 69/ 24

      x = -3 + 69/24 or - 3 - 69/24

      Therefore = 66/ 24 or -72/24

      x = 11/4 or - 3


    10.   2x2 + 3x - 3 = 0

      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c = 0

      a = 2, b = 3, c = - 3

      b2 - 4ac = (3)2 - 4 *2 * ( - 3)

      = 9 + 24 = 33

      x =

      Therefore x =       

      x = (-3 ± √33) / 4

    II. Find the sum and product of the roots of the equations given below.

    1.    3x2 + 2x + 1 = 0
      Comparing the given equation with ax2+ b x + c= 0
      We have a = 3, b = 2, c = 1,
      Sum of roots = - b/a = - 2/3
      Product of the roots = c/a = 1/3.

    2.    px2 - r x + q =0
      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c =0
      We have a = p, b = - r, c = q
      Some of roots = - b/a = - ( - r)/p = r/p
      Product of the roots = c/a = q/p

    3.     x2 - px + pq = 0
      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0
      We have a = 1, b = - p, c = pq
      Sum of root = - b/a = - ( - p) /1 =p
      Product of the roots = c / a = pq/1 = pq

    4.     x2 + m x + m n = 0
      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c = 0
      We have a = 1,b= m, c = mn
      Sum of roots = - b/a
                            = - m/1 = - m
      Product of the roots = c/a = mn /1 = mn.

    5.     x2 - p x + q = 0
      Comparing the given equation with ax2 + b x + c= 0
      We have a = 1, b = - p, c = q
      Sum of roots = - b/a = - (- p)/1 =p
      Product of the roots =c/ a = q /1= q.

    III.The given equation is x2 - p x + q = 0

    Let a, b be the roots of the given equation.

    Sum of roots = a + b = - b/a = - ( - p)/1 =p

    Product of roots = ab = c/a = q/1 = q

    i).    a3+ b3 = (a + b)3 - 3a b (a + b)

        Recall: (a + b)3= a3 + b3 + 3ab (a + b)]

        Substituting for a + b and ab.

        We have a3+ b3 = (p)3 - 3. q (p) = p3 - 3pq


    ii)    a2/b + b2 /a = a3 + b3/ab

        From (i)    above we have a3 + b3= p3 - 3pq also a b = q

        Therefore a2 / b + b2/ a = a3 + b3/ab = p3 - 3pq/q


    iii)    1/a3 + 1/b3 = b3+ a3/a3b3 = a3+ b3/(ab)3

        From (i) above we have a3 + b3 = p - 3pq

        Therefore 1/a33+ 1/b3= a3+ b3/(ab)3= p3- 3pq/(q)3 = p3 - 3pq /q3