AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities

Relationship between the coefficients and roots of the Non-linear

Algebraic equations
In this section, we will see the relationships between the roots and coefficients of the
equation.
a) Quadratic Equation
Suppose the quadratic equation is a2 x 2  a1 x  a0  0 (1)
Let  and  be the roots of (1)
a a0
Then    1 and  
a2 a2
b) Cubic Equation
Suppose the cubic equation is a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0 (2)
Let  ,  and  be the roots of (2)
a a a0
Then       2 ,       1 and    .
a3 a3 a3
c) Biquadratic Equation
Suppose the biquadratic equation is a4 x 4  a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0 (3)
Let  ,  ,  and  be the roots of (3)
a a2
Then        3 ,            
a4 a4
a1 a0
         and  
a4 a4
Example 1
Solve x3  12 x 2  39 x  28  0 , provided the roots are in arithmetic progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a a
Then        2 ,       1 and    0 .
a3 a3 a3
Let  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
x3  12 x 2  39 x  28  0
a  12
Then        2    12 (1)
a3 1
a 39
      1   39 (2)
a3 1
a  28
   0    28 (3)
a3 1
Since the roots are in arithmetic progression
   ad ,   a ,   ad (4)
Using (4) in (1), we get
(a  d )  a  (a  d )  12 , 3a  12  a4
Using (4) in (2), we get
(a  d )a  a(a  d )  (a  d )(a  d )  39

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
 3a 2  d 2  39
Put a  4 , we get
d2  9,  d  3
The roots of the cubic equation for a  4 and d  3 are
  a  d  4  3  1,   a  4,   ad  43 7
The roots of the cubic equation for a  4 and d  3 are
  a d  43  7,   a  4,   a  d  43 1
Hence three roots are 1, 4 and 7.
Example 2
Solve the biquadratic equation x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  15  0 , when the roots are in
arithmetic progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a4 x 4  a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a
Then        3 ,             2
a4 a4
a a
         1 and   0
a4 a4
Let  ,  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  15  0
a 8
Then        3    8, (1)
a4 1
a 14
            2   14 (2)
a4 1
a 8
         1    8 (3)
a4 1
a  15
  0   15 (4)
a4 1
Since the roots are in arithmetic progression
   a  3d ,   a  d ,   a  d ,   a  3d (5)
Using (5) in (1) we get
(a  3d )  (a  d )  (a  d )  (a  3d )  8 , 4a  8  a2
Using (5) in (4) we get
(a  3d )(a  d )(a  d )(a  3d )(a  3d )  15
 (a 2  d 2 )(a 2  9d 2 )  15
Put a  2 , we get
(4  d 2 )(4  9d 2 )  15
 9d 4  40d 2  16  0
(9d 2  31)(d 2  1)  0 ,
 d  1
The roots of the equation for a  2 and d  1 are
  a  3d  2  3  1 ,   a  d  2 1  1,
  a  d  2 1  3 ,   a  3d  2  3  5 ,
Hence four roots are  1,1, 3 , and 5.

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
Example 3
Solve the biquadratic equation x4  2 x3  21x2  22 x  40  0 , when the roots are in
arithmetic progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a4 x 4  a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a
Then        3 ,             2
a4 a4
a a
         1 and   0
a4 a4
Let  ,  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
x4  2 x3  21x2  22 x  40  0
a 2
Then        3   2, (1)
a4 1
a  21
            2   21 (2)
a4 1
a 22
         1    22 (3)
a4 1
a 40
  0   40 (4)
a4 1
Since the roots are in arithmetic progression
   a  3d ,   a  d ,   a  d ,   a  3d (5)
Using (5) in (1) we get
(a  3d )  (a  d )  (a  d )  (a  3d )  2 , 4a  2  a  1/ 2
Using (5) in (4) we get
(a  3d )(a  d )(a  d )(a  3d )(a  3d )  40
 (a 2  d 2 )(a 2  9d 2 )  40
Put a  1/ 2 , we get
(1/ 4  d 2 )(1/ 4  9d 2 )  40
 144d 4  40d 2  639  0
40  (40) 2  4(144)(639)
d 2

2(144)
40  608 40  608 40  608
d2   ,
288 288 288
648  568 9  71
d2  ,  ,
288 288 4 36
3
 d
2
The roots of the equation for a  1/ 2 and d  3 / 2 are
1 3 1 3
  a  3d   3   4 ,   a  d    1 ,
2 2 2 2
1 3 1 3
  a  d    2,   a  3d   3   5 ,
2 2 2 2
Hence four roots are  4,  1, 2 and 5.

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
Example 4
Solve the cubic equation x3  7 x 2  14 x  8  0 , if the roots are in geometric
progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a a
Then        2 ,       1 and    0 .
a3 a3 a3
Let  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
x3  7 x 2  14 x  8  0
a 7
Then        2   7 (1)
a3 1
a 14
      1   14 (2)
a3 1
a 8
   0   8 (3)
a3 1
Since the roots are in geometric progression
a
   ,   a ,   ar (4)
r
Using (4) in (3), we get
a
 (a)(ar )  8 , a3  8 ,  a2
r
Using (4) in (1), we get
a
 a  ar  7
r
Put a  2 , we get
2
 2  2r  7 ,
r
 2r 2  5r  2  0
(2r  1)(r  2)  0
r  2,1/ 2
The roots of the equation for a  2 and r  2 are
  a / r  2 / 2  1,   a  2,   ar  2(2)  4
Hence three roots are 1, 2 and 4.
Example 5
Solve the cubic equation 27 x3  42 x 2  28x  8  0 , if the roots are in geometric
progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a a
Then        2 ,       1 and    0 .
a3 a3 a3
Let  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
27 x3  42 x 2  28x  8  0
a 42
Then        2   (1)
a3 27

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
a1  28
       (2)
a3 27
a 8 8
   0    (3)
a3 27 27
Since the roots are in geometric progression
a
   ,   a ,   ar (4)
r
Using (4) in (3), we get
a 8 8 2
 (a)(ar )  , a3  ,  a
r 27 27 3
Using (4) in (1), we get
a 42
 a  ar  
r 27
1 42
 a(  1  r )  
r 27
Put a  2 / 3 we get
2 1 42
 (  1  r )   ,
3 r 27
 3r  10r  3  0
2

(3r  1)(r  3)  0
r  3,  1/ 3
The roots of the equation for a  2 / 3 and r  3 are
 2  1  2 2 2
  a / r       ,  a ,   ar   (3)  2
 3   3  9 3 3
The roots of the equation for a  2 / 3 and r  1/ 3 are
 2  1  2  2 2
  a / r      2 ,  a ,   ar   (1 / 3)  
 3   1 / 3  3  3 9
2 2
Hence three roots are  , and  2 .
9 3
Example 6
Solve x 4  15x3  70 x 2  120 x  64  0 , whose roots are in geometric progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a4 x 4  a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a
Then        3 ,             2
a4 a4
a a
         1 and   0
a4 a4
Let  ,  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
x 4  15x3  70 x 2  120 x  64  0
a 15
Then          3    15 , (1)
a4 1
a 70
            2   70 (2)
a4 1

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
a1 120
           120 (3)
a4 1
a0 64
    64 (4)
a4 1
Since the roots are in geometric progression
   a ,   ar ,   ar 2 ,   ar 3 (5)
Using (5) in (4), we get
(a)(ar )(ar 2 )(ar 3 )  64 , a 4r 6  64  a 2r 3  8 (6)
Using (5) in (1), we get
a  ar  ar 2  ar 3  15
 a(1  r  r 2  r 3 )  15 (7)
Using (5) in (2), we get
(a)(ar )  a(ar 2 )  a(ar 3 )  (ar )(ar 2 )  (ar )(ar 3 )  (ar 2 )(ar 3 )  70
 a 2r (1  r  2r 2  r 3  r 4 )  70
From (6) a 2r  8 / r 2 , using this we get
(8 / r 2 )(1  r  2r 2  r 3  r 4 )  70
4r 4  4r 3  27r 2  4r  4  0
By synthetic division
4 4 -27 4 4
2 8 24 -6 4
4 12 -3 -2 0
That is r  2 , putting in (7), we get
a(1  2  22  23 )  15 , 15a  15 ,  a  1
The roots of the equation for a  1 and r  2 are
  a  1 ,   ar  (1)(2)  2 ,
  ar  (1)(2)  4 ,
2 2
  ar 3  (1)(2)3  8 ,
Hence four roots are  1,  2,  4 and  8 .
Example 7
Solve 6 x3  11x 2  3x  2  0 , whose roots are in harmonic progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a a0
Then        2 ,       1 and    .
a3 a3 a3
Let  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
6 x3  11x 2  3x  2  0
a  11 11
Then        2    (1)
a3 6 6
a 3 1
      1   (2)
a3 6 2
a 2 1
   0     (3)
a3 6 3
Since the roots are in harmonic progression
1 1 1
  ,  ,  (4)
ad a ad
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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
Using (4) in (3) we get
 1  1  1  1
   
 a  d  a  a  d  3
 a(a  d )  3
2 2
(5)
Using (4) in (2) we get
 1  1   1  1   1  1  1
        
 a  d  a   a  a  d   a  d  a  d  2
(a  d )  (a  d )  a 1

(a  d )a(a  d ) 2
3a 1

(a  d )a 2
2 2

3a 1 1
Using (5)  ,  a  1/ 2  a
3 2 2
1
Put a  in (5) we get
2
 1  1 2
   d   3
 2  4 
1 25
 d2  6 
4 4
5
 d 
2
The roots of the equation for a  1/ 2 and d  5 / 2 are
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
  1 5  ,    1  2,  1 5  .
ad 2  2 2 a 2 ad 2  2 3
1 1
Hence four roots are  , 2 and .
2 3
Example 8
Solve 15x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  1  0 , whose roots are in harmonic progression.
Solution: We know that if  ,  ,  and  are the roots of the equation
a4 x 4  a3 x3  a2 x 2  a1x  a0  0
a a
Then        3 ,             2
a4 a4
a a
         1 and   0
a4 a4
Let  ,  ,  and  be the roots of the given equation
15x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  1  0
a 8 8
Then        3    , (1)
a4 15 15
a  14
            2  (2)
a4 15
a 8
         1   (3)
a4 15

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities
a0  1
   (4)
a4 15
Since the roots are in harmonic progression
1 1 1 1
  ,  ,  , (5)
a  3d ad ad a  3d
Using (5) in (4) we get
 1  1  1  1  1
    
 a  3d  a  d  a  d  a  3d  15
 (a  d )(a  9d )  15
2 2 2 2
(6)
Using (5) in (3) we get
 1  1  1   1  1  1 
      
 a  3d  a  d  a  d   a  d  a  d  a  3d 
 1  1  1   1  1  1  8
      
 a  d  a  3d  a  3d   a  3d  a  3d  a  d  15
(a  3d )  (a  3d )  (a  d )  (a  d ) 8

(a  3d )(a  d )(d )(a  3d ) 15
4a 8

(a  9d )(a  d )
2 2 2 2
15
4a 8
Using (6)  , 4a  8  a2
 15 15
Put a  2 in (6) we get
(4  d 2 )(4  9d 2 )  15
 9d 4  40d 2  31  0
(9d 2  31)(d 2  1)  0
 d  1
The roots of the equation for a  2 and d  1 are
1 1 1 1
   1 ,    1,
a  3d 2  3(1) a  d 2 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
   ,    ,
a  d 2 1 3 a  3d 2  3(1) 5
1 1
Hence four roots are  1,1, and .
3 5

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.
 AHMAD HASSAN (Lecturer) Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities

Exercise
1. Solve x  2 x  21x  22 x  40  0 , whose roots are in arithmetic progression.
4 3 2

2. Solve 27 x3  42 x 2  28x  8  0 , whose roots are in geometric progression.

3. Solve x 4  15x3  70 x 2  120 x  64  0 , whose roots are in geometric progression.
4. Solve 6 x3  11x 2  3x  2  0 , whose roots are in harmonic progression.
5. Solve 15x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  1  0 , whose roots are in harmonic progression.
6. Solve x 4  8x3  14 x 2  8x  15  0 , given that the sum of two of the roots is equal to
the sum of the other two.
7. Solve x 4  8x3  23x 2  28x  12  0 , given that the difference of two roots is equal to
the difference of the other two.
8. Solve x 4  8x3  7 x 2  36 x  36  0 , given that product of two roots is negative of the
product of the remaining two.

Answers
1. -4, -1, 2, 5
2. -2/9, -2/3, -2
3. -1, -2, -4, -8
4. -1/2, 2, 1/3
5. -1, 1, 1/3, 1/5
6. -1, 1, 3, 5
7. 1, 2, 2, 3
8. 3, -2,1, 6

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Faculty of Engineering & Technology, B. Z. University, Multan, Pakistan.