SUM and PRODUCT of the ROOTS of a QUADRATIC EQUATION

MYP 5 – Math Investigation

Assessment: Criterion B

Rubric for Criterion B – Investigating Patterns

Level of Descriptor
Achievement
0 The student does not reach a standard described by any of the
descriptors given below.

1–2 The student applies, with some guidance, mathematical problem

solving techniques to recognize simple patterns.

3–4 The student selects and applies mathematical problem solving

techniques to recognize patterns, and suggests relationships or general
rules.

5–6 The student selects and applies mathematical problem solving

techniques to recognize patterns, describes them as relationships or
general rules, and draws conclusions consistent with findings.

7–8 The student selects and applies mathematical problem solving

techniques to recognize patterns, describes them as relationships or
general rules, draws conclusions consistent with findings, and
provides justifications or proofs.

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Background Information:

In this investigation you are going to be solving quadratic equations and finding a pattern in
your solutions.

For the purpose of this investigation, your solutions are called roots

i.e. Find the roots of the following quadratic equation, then find the sum of the roots and the
product of the roots:

x 2  3x  2  0
Working:

( x  2)( x  1)  0

x  2, x  1

-2 and -1 are called the roots of

the quadratic equation

Sum of roots: -2 + -1 = -3

Product of roots: (-2)(-1) = 2 Sum of roots just means

to add your roots
(solutions), and product
of roots means to
multiply your roots
(solutions). You’ll do
this for each quadratic
equation.

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INVESTIGATING THE ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVESTIGATION

- To recognize the patterns existing between the coefficients of a quadratic equation and the roots of the equation.

- To apply the patterns you discover.

PART I: INVESTIGATING THE PATTERN

1. Solve each of the following quadratic equations using the method of your choice then find the sum (add) and the product
(multiply) of the roots (solutions) for each equation.

1) x2  5x  6  0 2) x 2  3x  18  0

3) x2  11x  30  0 4) x 2  3x  2  0

5) x2  5x  4  0 6) 6 x2  5x  1  0

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7) 3x 2  5 x  2  0 8) 4 x 2  3x  10  0

9) 3 y 2  10 y  8  0 10) 6 x2  x  2  0

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2. Organize your results and describe mathematically or in words what you think the relationship is between the numerical
coefficients and the roots of a quadratic equation.

3. Use the example x 2  7 x  18  0 and test your theory. If you are wrong, re-examine your theory.
PREDICTION : Sum of roots : Product of roots:

PROOF:

4. Use the example 2 x 2  5 x  2  0 and test your theory. If you are wrong, re-examine your theory.
PREDICTION : Sum of roots : Product of roots:

PROOF:

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 PART II: FINDING THE GENERAL RULE

1. Given the quadratic equation ax

2
 bx  c  0 , state a general expression (formula) for:

a) the sum of the roots b) the product of the roots

PART III: APPLICATIONS OF THE RULE

1. Using the rule that you developed above, find the sum and product of the roots of each of the following equations.
DO NOT SOLVE THE EQUATIONS.

a) x 2  5 x  12  0 b) 3 x 2  5 x  12

c) 6 x 2  18  0 d) 4 x 2  x  40  0

2. Determine if each of the following quadratic equations have the given solutions without actually solving the equation.
Explain your answers and/or demonstrate why or why not.

 2 5 
a) x2  6 x  8  0; 2, 4 b) 30 x 2  13 x  10  0;  , 
5 6 

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3. Use what you have learned in this investigation to find the quadratic equation with the given roots. Explain your reasoning
and/or clearly demonstrate what you are doing.

a) 5, 7 b) 1  3,1  3 

4. If –6 is one root of the equation 4 x 2  3 x  c  0 , find c and the other root. Show your work/reasoning clearly.

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 PART IV: PROVING YOUR RESULTS

1. A mathematical proof is a demonstration that a rule applies in the general case. Given any quadratic ax
2
 bx  c  0 , prove
that the relationship(s) you have discovered between the numerical coefficients and the roots is/are true.

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 PATHWAYS SCHOOL NOIDA
MYP 5 SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT 2 Date:20/10/21
Criterion B: Investigating Patterns
Unit: Quadratic Equations
Task:
In this task you will be investigating the types of roots(whether rational or
irrational) for a quadratic equation.
Rational Numbers: All numbers that can be expressed in terms of fraction (3, 8,
5.6, 2.3333… etc.)
Irrational Numbers: All numbers that cannot be expressed as fractions
𝜋, √2, √5, 2 + √3, −6 − √7 𝑒𝑡𝑐)
Q1. Solve the following quadratic equations using quadratic formula

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
a) 𝑥 2 – 6𝑥 + 8 = 0
b) 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 – 4 = 0
c) 3𝑥 2 – 8𝑥 + 4 = 0
d) 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 – 1 = 0
e) 5𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 2 = 0
Task 2
Q2. Using the answers in Q1, complete the following table:

Roots of the
Specify
Quadratic Discriminant
whether
.no Quadratic equation equation/ of Quadratic
Rational or
Equation
x- values Irrational roots

1. 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8 = 0.
2. 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 4 = 0.
3. 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 4 = 0.
4. 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 1 = 0.
5. 5𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 2 = 0.
Q3. From the above table, determine the conditions for the discriminant of a
quadratic equation to have rational or irrational roots (Relation between
discriminant and type of roots)

Q4. Test your observation or relation from any one of the examples and write
the type of roots for the equation (Rational or Irrational)

Q5. Without solving the below quadratic equations, use the discriminant to
write the type of roots for each of the folllowing quadratic equations:
a) 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 4 = 0
b) 3𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 4 = 0

Q6. Verify the relation between discriminant and type of roots by taking your
own quadratic equations (You should take one example for roots are rational
and another one example for the roots are irrational)
Q7. Justify the reason for your findings on the relationship between the
discriminant and types of roots using the quadratic formula.