Symmetric Root

• Symmetric Properties of Roots

Recall: if α and β are distinct roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0,
then α + β = -b/a and αβ = c/a
• Certain relations involving α and β can also be
determined from α + β and α β, even when we do
not know α and β distinctly. Such relations are said
to be symmetric.
• They are symmetric in the sense that if α and β are
interchanged, either the relation remains the same
or is multiplied by -1
• Example 1
• If α ≠ β, determine whether or not each of the
following is symmetric.
• (a) α + β
• (b) α β
• (c) α 2 + β2
• (d) α 2 - β2
• (e) 3α + 2β
• (f) α3 + β3
• Solution
• (a) α + β = β + α
• α + β is symmetric
•
• (b) α β = βα
• α β is symmetric
•
• (c) α 2 + β2 = β2 + α 2
• α 2 + β2 is symmetric
•
• (d) α 2 - β2 = - (β2 - α 2)
• α2 - β2 is symmetric
•
• (e) 3α + 2β ≠ 3β + 2α since α ≠ β
• 3α + 2β is not symmetric
•
• (f) α 3 + β3 = β3 + α 3
• α 3 + β3 is symmetric
• Example 2
If α and β are the roots of the equation:3x2-4x-1 = 0, find the
values of:
• (a) α + β
• (b) α β
• (c) α 2 + β2
• (d) 1 + 1
• α β
(e)α + β
β α
• (f) α 3 + β3
• (g) α - β
• (h) 1 + 1
• α+1 β+1
• Solution
• 3x2 - 4x - 1 = 0
• a = 3, b = -4, c = -1
• (a) α + β = -b = - (- 4) = 4
• a 3 3
•
• (b) αβ = c = -1 =
• a 3
•
• (c) α 2 + β2 = (α + β)2 - 2α β
• Consider (α + β)2
• (α + β) (α + β) = α 2+ αβ + α β + β2
• (α + β)2 = α 2 + β2 + 2α β
• (α + β)2 - 2α β = α 2 + β2
• α 2 + β2 = (4)2 - 2(-1)
• (3)2 3
• 16 + 2 = 16 + 6 = 22
• 9 3 9 9
• (d) 1 + 1
• α β
• β +α => α + β = 4 -1
• αβ αβ 3 3
•
• 4/3 x -3/1 = -4
• (e) α + β
• β α
α 2 + β2 = (α + β)2 - 2α β = (4/3)2 - 2(-1/3)
• αβ αβ - 1/3
• 22 ÷-1
• 9 3
• 22 x3 = -22
• 9 1 3
• (f) α3 + β3 = (α + β) (α 2 + β2 - α β)
• = (α + β) ((α + β)2 - 3αβ)
• = (4/3) (4/3)2 - 3(-1/3)
• = (4/3) (16/9 + 1)
• = 4/3 (25/9) = 100/27
•
• (g) α- β
• => (α - β)2 = α 2 + β2 - 2α β
• (α - β)2 = (α + β)2 - 2α β - 2α β
• α - β = (α - β)2 - 4α β
•
• = (4/3)2 - 4(-1/3)
•
•
= 16 + 4 = 16 + 12
• 9 3 9
•
•
= 28 = 2 √7
• 3 3
•
• (h) 1 + 1
• α + 1 β + 1
•
• β+ 1 + α + 1 = α + β + 2
• (α + 1) (β + 1) αβ + α+ β + 1
•
• = 4/3 + 2 / -1/3 + 4/3 + 1
•
• = 4 + 6 / -1 + 4 + 3
• 3 3
• = 10/3 ÷ 2
•
• = 10/3 x ½ = 5/3
•
• FORMING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS WITH
ALREADY GIVEN SUM AND PRODUCT
• In forming a new quadratic equation from an
existing sum and product, we first find the new
sum and product and then substitute the values
in the formula for quadratic equation which is
• x2 – (sum of roots)x + product of roots = 0
• x2 – (α + β)x + α β = 0
• Example 5
If α and β are the roots of the equation:
3x2 + 4x - 5 = 0,
form an equation in x whose roots are
• (a) α 2 and β2
• (b) 1/α and 1/β
• (c) α /β and β/α
• (d) 1 and 1
• α+1 β + 1
•
• Solution
• 3x2 + 4x - 5 = 0
• a = 3, b = 4, c = -5
• If α and β are the roots, then
• Sum of roots = α + β = -b/a = -4/3
• Product of roots = α β = c/a = -5/3
•
• (a) α 2 and β2
• New sum = α2 + β2 = (α + β)2 - 2α β
•
• = (-4/3)2 - 2(-5/3)
•
• = 16 +10 = 16 + 30 = 46
• 9 3 9 9
• New product = α2β2= (α β)2 = (-5/3)2 = 25/9
• New Quadratic Equation:
• x2 - (sum of roots) x + product = 0
• x2 - 46/9x + 25/9 = 0
• multiplying through by 9 gives
• 9x2 - 46x + 25 = 0
• (b) 1/α and 1/β
• New sum = 1 + 1 = α + β = -4 ÷ -5 =>4 x 3
• α β αβ 3 3 3 5
= 4/5
•
• New product = (1/α) (1/β) = 1/α β = 1/-5/3 = -3/5
•
• New Quadratic Equation: x2 – (sum) x + product = 0
• x2 - 4/5x + -3/5 = 0
• multiply through by the L.C.M (i.e. 5)
• 5x2 - 4x - 3 = 0
•
•
• (c) α /β and β/α
• Sum = α + β = α 2 + β2 = (α + β) 2 - 2α β
• β α αβ αβ
•
•
= (-4/3)2 - 2(-5/3) = 16 + 10 / - 5
• -5/3 9 3 3
•
• = 46/9 x -3/5
•
• = -138/45
•
• Product (α /β) (β/α) = 1
•
• Equation: x2 - (-138)/45x + 1 = 0
•
• = 45x2 + 138x + 45 = 0
• 15x2 + 46x + 15 = 0
• (d) 1 and 1
• α+1 β+1
•
• Sum: 1 + 1 = α + 1 + β+ 1 = α + β + 2
• α+1 β + 1 (α + 1)(β + 1) α β + α + β + 1
•
•
= -4/3 + 2 / -5/3 + -4/3 + 1
•
• = -4 + 6 / -5 - 4 + 3
• 3 3
•
• = 2/3 ÷ -2
•
• = 2/3 x 1/-2 = -1/3
Product: 1 1 = 1
α+1 β + 1 αβ + α + β+ 1

= 1
-5/3 + -4/3 + 1
•
• = 1/-2
•
• Equation: x2 - -1/3x + -1/2 = 0
•
• 6x2 + 2x - 3 = 0
•
•
• CLASSWORK
• If α and β are the roots of the equation: x2 - 3x + 4 = 0, form an equation in x
whose roots are
• (a) α 2 and β2 (b) 1/α and 1/β (c) α /β and β/α
• (d) 1 and 1
• α+1 β + 1
•
•
•
• ASSIGNMENT
• If α and β are the roots of the equation: x2 - 2x + 5 = 0, form an equation in x
whose roots are
• (a) α 2 and β2
• (b) 1/α and 1/β
• (c) α /β and β/α
• (d) 1 and 1 (e) α 2 and β2 (f)α 3 and β3
• α+1 β + 1
•
•