QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

1) ●A Quadratic equation is a polynomial of second degree

●ax^2+bx+c = 0, where a is not equal to 0.

●Do remember that ax^2 + bx+ c is not a quadratic equation. why?

Oa:
yes coz its not equated to anything, hence its not an equation. Not necesrily rhs Has to be 0.

2) ● Roots of an equation: All the values satisfying the equation are known as the roots of the
equation.

● Note: It Is known that an equation of degree n will have n roots, real or imaginary

3) ●Geometrical meaning of roots: For any given equation y = f(x) =0, the number of times the
graph of this equation cuts the X axis is equal to the disticnt real roots of this equation.

●For ex: y= (x-1)(x+2)(x-2)=0 will intersect x axis at 3 distinct points 1,2, -2.

●Any quadratic equation will be of the form (x-a)(x-b)=0 and will cut the axis at a and b . (where
a and b are real)

4) ●Discriminant of an equation ax^2+bx+c=0 is b^2-4ac.

●Nature of roots: Now in a quadratic equation, there are 3 possibilities

i) D=0, then roots will be equal and real. (Graph just touches the x axis)

ii) D>0, then roots will be distinct and real. (Graph cuts x axis at two distinct points)

ii) D<0, then roots will be complex not real, (Graph doesnt cut the x axis)

5) Nature of graph of ax^2+bx+c=0.

We all know y=x^2 ka graph is U shaped . So here are few other versions of graphs depending
on "a" and it's roots.
Q6) How many real roots will be there of the quadratic f(x) = x^2 + 5|x| + 6 =0 ?

Oa: 0
x^2 + 5|x| = -6

Lhs both terms are positive. Which can never be equal to a negative number -6

So no solutions .

Q)7 How many roots of x^4+x^2 = 0 ?

x^2(x^2+1)=0
x^2=0 gives two repeated roots (0,0)
x^2+1=0 gives two complex roots as D < 0

So answer is 4 roots total.

●If the question had asked for distinct roots then answre would have been 3

●if asked for real roots then answer would be 2. (0,0)

●if asked for complex then 2 again.

All these points are very important with respect to CAT. Lots of questions have been adked on
these concepts. I have just summarised them.
8) Properties of Roots :

i) A polynomial equation of degree n will have n roots, real or imaginary.

ii) Complex roots or surds always occur in pair. Ex. if 2+rt5 is a root of any equation, then 2-rt5
will also be a root of that equation. The coefficients must be integral for surds and real for
complex.

iii) Every equation of an even degree with coefficient of the highest degree term positive and
constant term negative will have at least two real roots.

iv) Any equation with sum of all of its coefficients equal to zero will have 1 as one of its roots.
For ex; x^2 - 5x +4 =0 will have 1 as its roots.

v) If all the terms of an equation are positive and it does not involve any odd powers of x then
this equation will have no real roots. (There must be a constant term too. )

Ex : x^4 + x^2 + 1 =0 will not have any real root. Coz if all terms are positive how can they sum
upto give 0.

iii) smallest example to understand atleast part

x^2 - 4 =0

x^2 = 4

x = 2 or -2, hence atleast 2 real roots as in that case the we always get result in the form of x^2
= a , gives two values root(a) and -root(a) .

Q9) How many equations x^2+bx+c=0, are with real roots, where b, c are natural numbers less
than 7 ?

For real, b^2 - 4c >=0

When b =6,
c =< 9 : 6 values

b=5, c =< 6 , 6 values

b =4, c=< 4, 4 values

b=3, c=<2, 2 values

b=2, c=<1, 1 value

b=1, c=<0, no value.

Total : 6 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19

Q10) The number of real solutions of

x - 1/(x^2-4) = - 2 - 1/(x^2-4) is ?

Oa : 0

2 not in domain . As if x = -2
Then denominator will become undefined.

Q. The coefficient of x in the equation x^2 + px +q =0 was wrongly written as 17 in place of 13

and the roots thus found were -2 and -15.

Find the roots of the correct equation.

Given: The roots of the equation x^2 + 17x + q =0 are -2 and -15.

And we need to find the roots of the equation x2 + 13x + q =0

So first need to find the value of q.

=> product of roots = q

or, (-2)(-15)= q

or, q= 30

Now it is a simple question where we have to find the roots of

x2 + 13x + 30 =0

or, (x+10) (x+3) =0

or, x= -10, -3

Q. If a, b, c belong to R and equations ax^2 + bx + c=0 and x^2 + 2x + 9 =0 have a common

root, then a : b : c = ?