Roots of Quadratic Equations

Roots of Quadratic Equations

Roots of a quadratic equation are the values of variables/unknowns that satisfy the equation.

Example:
Determine whether 1, 2, and 3 are the roots of the quadratic equation x25x+6=0 .

Answer:
When x = 1,
x25x+6=0(1)25(1)+6=02=0
x = 1 does not satisfy the equation

When x = 2,
x25x+6=0(2)25(2)+6=00=0
x = 2 satisfies the equation.

When x = 3
x25x+6=0(3)25(3)+6=00=0
x = 3 satisfies the equation.

 Conclusion:
  1. 2 and 3 satisfy the equation x25x+6=0 , hence there are the roots of the equation.
  2. 1 does not satisfy the equation x25x+6=0 , hence it is NOT the root of the equation.

SPM Practice (Paper 1)

Question 11:
The quadratic equation x24x1=2p(x5) , where p is a constant, has two equal roots. Calculate the possible values of p.

Solution:




Question 12:
Find the range of values of k for which the equation x22kx+k2+5k6=0 has no real roots.

Solution:




Question 13:
Find the range of values of p for which the equation 5x2+7x3p=6 has no real roots.

Solution:

SPM Practice (Paper 1)

Question 6:
Write and simplify the equation whose roots are the reciprocals of the roots of 3x2+2x1=0 , without solving the given equation.

Solution:





Question 7:
Find the value of p if one root of x2+px+8=0 is the square of the other.

Solution:





Question 8:
If one root of 2x2+px+9=0 is twice the other, find the values of p.

Solution:


SPM Practice (Paper 1)


Question 1:
Solve the following quadratic equations by factorisation.
(a) x25x10=4(b) 3x2x2=0(c) 11a=2a2+12(d) 2x+73x2=x

Solution:








Question 2:
Solve the following quadratic equations by completing the square.
(a) 5x2+10x3=0(b) 2x25x6=0

Solution:





2.4 Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation


The Discriminant

The expression b24ac in the general formula is called the discriminant of the equation, as it determines the type of roots that the equation has.



Example

Determine the nature of the roots of the following equations.
a. 5x27x+3=0
b. x24x+4=0
c. 2x2+5x9=0

Answer:



2.3d Forming New Quadratic Equation given a Quadratic Equation (Example)

Example

If the roots of x23x7=0   are α  and β  , find the equation whose roots are α2β   and αβ2 .

Solution

Part 1 : Find SoR and PoR for the quadratic equation in the question




Part 2 : Form a new quadratic equation by finding SoR and PoR




Finding the Sum of Roots (SOR) and Product of Roots (POR) of a Quadratic Equation (Example)


Example
The roots of 2x2+3x1=0   are α and β.  Find the values of
(a) (α+1)(β+1)
(b) 1α+1β
(c) α2β+αβ2
(d) αβ+βα

[Clue: α2+β2=(α+β)22αβ   ]






Finding the Sum of Roots (SoR) and Product of Roots (PoR)

2.6 Finding the Sum of Roots (SoR) and Product of Roots (PoR)



Example
Find the sums and products of the roots of the following equations.
a. x2+7x3=0
b. x(x1)=5(1x)

Answer:
(a)
x2+7x3=0a=1, b=7, c=3Sum of Rootsα+β=ba=71=7Product of Rootsαβ=ca=31=3

(b)
x(x1)=5(1x)x2x=55xx2x+5x5=0x2+4x5=0a=1, b=4, c=5Sum of Rootsα+β=ba=41=4Product of Rootsαβ=ca=515

2.2.2c Solving Quadratic Equations – Quadratic Formula

The quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0 can be solved by using the quadratic formula

b±b24ac2a

Example 
Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions of the following equations.
a. x2+5x24=0
b. x(x+4)=10

Answer
(a)
For the equation x2+5x24=0
a = 1, b = 5, c = -24

x=b±b24ac2ax=(5)±(5)24(1)(24)2(1)x=5±1212x=8 or x=3

(b)
x(x+ 4) = 10x2+4x10=0a=1,  b=4,  c=10x=b±b24ac2ax=(4)±(4)24(1)(10)2(1)x=4±562x=1.742 or x=5.742