QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

1. Quadratic Equation : a x2 + b x + c = 0, a  0

 b  b2  4 a c
x= , T he exp ression b 2  4 a c  D is c alled
2a
discriminant of quadratic equation.

b c
If ,  are the roots, then (a)  +  =  (b)  =
a a
A quadratic equation whose roots are  & , is (x ) (x  )
= 0 i.e. x2  ( +  ) x +  = 0

2. Nature of Roots:
Consider the quadratic equation, a x2 + b x + c = 0 having ,  as its roots;
D  b2  4 a c

D=0 D0
Roots are equal =  =  b/2a Roots are unequal

a, b, c  R & D > 0 a, b, c  R & D < 0

Roots are real Roots are imaginary  = p + i q,  = p  i q

a, b, c  Q & a, b, c  Q &
D is a perfect square D is not a perfect square
 Roots are rational  Roots are irrational

 i.e.  = p + q ,=p q
a = 1, b, c   & D is a perfect square
 Roots are integral.

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3. Common Roots:
Consider two quadratic equations a1 x2 + b 1 x + c 1 = 0 & a2 x2 + b 2 x + c 2 = 0.
(i) If two quadratic equations have both roots common, then

a1 b1 c1
= = .
a2 b2 c2

(ii) If only one root  is common, then

c1 a 2  c 2 a1 b1 c 2  b 2 c1
= =
a1 b 2  a 2 b1 c1 a 2  c 2 a1

4. Range of Quadratic Expression f (x) = a x 2 + b x + c.

Range in restricted domain: Given x  [x1, x2]

b
(a) If   [x1, x2] then,
2a

 (
f(x)  min f x1 , f x 2) ( ) , 
max f ( x 1) , f ( x 2 ) 

b
(b) If   [x1, x2] then,
2a

  D  D 
f(x)   min  f ( x1) , f ( x 2 ) ,  , max  f ( x1) , f ( x 2 ) ,  
  4a  4 a  

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5.
Let f (x) = ax² + bx + c, where a > 0 & a, b , c  R.

(i) Conditions for both the roots of f (x) = 0 to be greater than a

specified number‘x0’ are b²  4ac  0; f (x0) > 0 & ( b/2a) > x0.

(ii) Conditions for both the roots of f (x) = 0 to be smaller than a

specified number ‘x0’ are b²  4ac  0; f (x0) > 0 & ( b/2a) < x0.

(iii) Conditions for both roots of f (x) = 0 to lie on either side of the
number ‘x0’ (in other words the number ‘x0’ lies between the roots
of f (x) = 0), is f (x0) < 0.

(iv) Conditions that both roots of f (x) = 0 to be confined between the

numbers x1 and x2, (x1 < x2) are b²  4ac  0; f (x1) > 0 ; f (x2) > 0 &
x1 < ( b/2a) < x2.

(v) Conditions for exactly one root of f (x) = 0 to lie in the interval (x1, x2)
i.e. x1 < x < x2 is f (x1). f (x2) < 0.

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