Investigating the relationship between the Sum and product o the roots of a quadratic equation

and its coefficient of terms.

Let 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 be any quadratic equation and 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 be the two roots of the
equation.

a) Use factorization to solve the equation 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 1 = 0. Express your answer in fraction

( ) form.
b) Find the sum of the roots and product of the roots obtained in part (a) in fraction form.

Given below are some quadratic equations along with their roots.

Si. No.: 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 𝑥 (First root) 𝑥 (Second root)

1. 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6 = 0 −2 −3
2. 2𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 3 = 0 1
− 3
2
3. 3𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 2 = 0 1
− 2
3
4. 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 1 = 0

The following table shows the details of the sum & product of the roots and coefficients of the
terms.

Si. No:. 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 Sum (𝑥 + 𝑥 ) Product (𝑥 × 𝑥 )

5 6
1. 1 5 6 −
1 1
5 3
2. 2 −5 −3 −
2 2
5 2
3. 3 −5 −2 −
2 3
5 1
4. 4 5 1 −
4 4
5. 2 −7 3

6. 5 −19 −4

c) Describe the pattern you observe in the formation of sum of the roots and product of the
roots.
d) Write the general rule for the sum of the roots of a quadratic equation in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
e) Write the general rule for the product of the roots of a quadratic equation in terms of 𝑎 and
𝑐.
f) Test your general rule sum of the roots.
g) Verify your general rule for the product of the roots.
h) Justify the general rules for the sum of the roots using the roots of the equation
−𝑏 + √𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 −𝑏 − √𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 = , 𝑥 =
2𝑎 2𝑎
i) Justify the general rule for the product of the roots using the roots of the equation
−𝑏 + √𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 −𝑏 − √𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 = , 𝑥 =
2𝑎 2𝑎