PREPARATORY QUANTITATIVE METHODS

Solved Examples
Author:
Vinu CT
Sirish Kumar Gouda
May 24, 2014
Polynomials
Question 1
The roots of a quadratic equation are 1 and 2. Determine the quadratic equation
Solution:
The quadratic equation can be written as (x 1)(x 2) = 0
i.e. x
2
3x + 2 = 0
Question 2
What are the zeros of x
2
+ 5x + 7?
Solution:
Here, a=1, b=5 and c=7 so that b
2
4ac = 2528 = 3 which is negative. The roots are
imaginary. The curve does not intersect the x-axis at real points (Graphical approach).
Question 3
The market supply function of a commodity is q = 80 + 4p where q denotes the quantity
supplied and p denotes the market price. The unit production cost is Rs 1.50. The govern-
ment feels that a total prot of Rs 240 is desirable. What is the price that the farmer has
to receive so that he can realize this prot?
Solution:
Total prot = Revenue - Cost
= pq - 1.5q = (p - 1.5)q
= (p - 1.5)(80+4p)
= 4p
2
+ 74p 120
Equating to 240, we have to solve for p from 4p
2
+74p 120 240 = 4p
2
+74p 360 = 0
p =
180
4
or p = 4 Since negative prices have no economic meaning, the required price per
unit is Rs 4.
Question 4
What is the largest number of real roots that a 7th degree polynomial could have? What
is the smallest number?
Solution:
Seven is the largest number of real roots if all the roots can be dierent. For example,
x
7
28x
6
+ 322x
5
1960x
4
+ 6769x
3
13132x
2
+ 13068x 5040 = 0 has the roots
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
One is the smallest number of real roots if all the roots are the same. For example,
x
7
7x
6
+ 21x
5
35x
4
+ 35x
3
21x
2
+ 7x 1 = 0 has all the roots as equal to 1.
Question 5
Find the value of k for which the polynomial 2x + 3 is a factor of 2x
3
+ 9x
2
x k.
Solution:
2x
3
+ 9x
2
x k = (ax
2
+ bx + c)(2x + 3) = 2ax
3
+ (2b + 3a)x
2
+ (2c + 3b)x + 3c
By equating the coecients we get a=1, b=3, c=-5 and k = 15.
(Or calculate k by substitute x = 3/2 in 2x
3
+ 9x
2
x k = 0.
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