Quadratic equations

Mathematics Reference Manual

Mathematics Reference Manual

Quadratic Equations

Forming Quadratic Polynomials

A quadratic polynomial is of the form \(ax^2 + bx + c\).

Example:

Form a quadratic polynomial given the roots \(\alpha = 3\) and \(\beta = -2\).

Sum of roots: \(\alpha + \beta = 1\)

Product of roots: \(\alpha \beta = -6\)

Quadratic polynomial: \(x^2 – (\alpha + \beta)x + \alpha \beta = x^2 – x – 6\)

Sum and Product of Roots

For a quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\), the sum and product of the roots are given by:

  • \(\alpha + \beta = -\frac{b}{a}\)
  • \(\alpha \beta = \frac{c}{a}\)

Example:

Given the quadratic equation \(x^2 – 5x + 6 = 0\), find the sum and product of the roots.

Sum of roots: \(\alpha + \beta = 5\)

Product of roots: \(\alpha \beta = 6\)

Discriminant

The discriminant of a quadratic equation \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\) is given by \(\Delta = b^2 – 4ac\). The nature of roots depends on the discriminant:

  • If \(\Delta > 0\), the equation has two distinct real roots.
  • If \(\Delta = 0\), the equation has two equal real roots.
  • If \(\Delta < 0\), the equation has two complex roots.

Example:

Given the quadratic equation \(x^2 – 4x + 4 = 0\), determine the nature of its roots.

\(\Delta = 4^2 – 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 = 16 – 16 = 0\)

Nature of roots: Two equal real roots

Completing the Square

Completing the square is a method used to solve quadratic equations by rewriting the quadratic expression in the form \((x – p)^2 = q\).

Steps to Complete the Square

  1. Start with a quadratic equation in the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\).
  2. Divide all terms by \(a\) (if \(a \neq 1\)).
  3. Move the constant term \(c/a\) to the right side of the equation.
  4. Add and subtract \((b/2a)^2\) to/from the left side to form a perfect square trinomial.
  5. Factor the perfect square trinomial.
  6. Solve for \(x\).

Example:

Solve the quadratic equation \(2x^2 + 8x – 10 = 0\) by completing the square.

Divide all terms by 2: \(x^2 + 4x – 5 = 0\)

Move the constant term: \(x^2 + 4x = 5\)

Add and subtract 4: \(x^2 + 4x + 4 – 4 = 5 \quad \Rightarrow \quad x^2 + 4x + 4 = 9\)

Factor the left side: \((x + 2)^2 = 9\)

Take the square root: \(x + 2 = \pm 3\)

Solve for \(x\): \(x = 1 \quad \text{or} \quad x = -5\)

Solution: The roots of the equation are \(x = 1\) and \(x = -5\).

Polynomials and Roots

Finding the Roots of a Polynomial

The roots of a polynomial are the values of \(x\) that satisfy the polynomial equation.

Example:

Find the roots of the polynomial \(x^2 – 5x + 6\).

Factorize: \((x – 2)(x – 3) = 0\)

Roots: \(x = 2 \quad \text{and} \quad x = 3\)

Factorization

Expressing a polynomial as a product of its factors helps in solving polynomial equations.

Example:

Factorize the polynomial \(x^2 – 4\).

Factorize: \((x – 2)(x + 2) = 0\)

Factors: \(x – 2 \quad \text{and} \quad x + 2\)

Rational Expressions

Simplifying Rational Expressions

Combining and simplifying expressions involving fractions.

Example:

Simplify the rational expression \(\frac{x}{x^2 – 1} + \frac{1}{x – 1}\).

\(\frac{x}{(x – 1)(x + 1)} + \frac{1}{x – 1} = \frac{x + 1}{(x – 1)(x + 1)} = \frac{1}{x – 1}\)

Exponential Equations

Solving Exponential Equations

Equations involving terms with variables in the exponent.

Example:

Solve the equation \(2^{x+1} = 8\).

Rewrite: \(2^{x+1} = 2^3\)

Equate exponents: \(x + 1 = 3\)

Solution: \(x = 2\)

Radical Equations

Solving Radical Equations

Equations involving square roots or higher-order roots.

Example:

Solve the equation \(\sqrt{2x + 3} = x + 1\).

Square both sides: \(2x + 3 = (x + 1)^2\)

Expand and solve: \(2x + 3 = x^2 + 2x + 1 \Rightarrow x^2 – 2 = 0\)

Roots: \(x = \pm \sqrt{2}\)

Systems of Equations

Solving Systems of Equations

Solving for multiple variables by setting up and solving multiple equations.

Example:

Solve the system of equations:

\[ \begin{cases} 2x + 3y = 5 \\ x – y = 1 \end{cases} \]

Multiply the second equation by 3 and add to the first: \(2x + 3y + 3(x – y) = 5 + 3 \Rightarrow 5x = 8 \Rightarrow x = \frac{8}{5}\)

Substitute \(x\) into the second equation: \(\frac{8}{5} – y = 1 \Rightarrow y = \frac{3}{5}\)

Arithmetic and Geometric Progressions

Sum of Arithmetic Progressions

Using the formula for the sum of the first \(n\) terms of an arithmetic sequence.

Example:

Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the arithmetic progression with first term \(a = 2\) and common difference \(d = 3\).

\(S_n = \frac{n}{2}(2a + (n – 1)d)\)

\(S_5 = \frac{5}{2}(2 \cdot 2 + 4 \cdot 3) = \frac{5}{2}(4 + 12) = 40\)

Logarithmic Equations

Solving Logarithmic Equations

Using properties of logarithms to solve equations involving logarithmic expressions.

Example:

Solve the equation \(\log_2(x + 3) = 4\).

Rewrite: \(x + 3 = 2^4 = 16\)

Solution: \(x = 13\)

Symmetry and Geometry

Properties of Triangles and Circles

Using geometric properties and theorems to solve problems involving triangles and circles.

Example:

Find the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs 3 cm and 4 cm.

Hypotenuse: \(c = \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{9 + 16} = 5 \, \text{cm}\)

Algebraic Manipulations

Simplifying Complex Expressions

Using algebraic identities and techniques to simplify and solve complex expressions.

Example:

Simplify the expression \(\frac{x^2 – 1}{x – 1}\).

\(\frac{(x – 1)(x + 1)}{x – 1} = x + 1\)

Specific Concepts and Formulas Required

Roots of Unity

Using the properties of roots of unity in polynomial equations.

Example:

Find the cube roots of unity: \(1, \omega, \omega^2\), where \(\omega = e^{2\pi i / 3}\).

Sum of Inverses of Roots

For roots \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\), the sum of their inverses is given by \(\alpha^{-1} + \beta^{-1} = \frac{\alpha + \beta}{\alpha \beta}\).

Example:

Given the quadratic equation \(x^2 – 5x + 6 = 0\), find the sum of the inverses of its roots.

Roots: \(\alpha = 2, \beta = 3\)

Sum of inverses: \(\alpha^{-1} + \beta^{-1} = \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3 + 2}{6} = \frac{5}{6}\)

Example Problems

Questions

  1. Form a quadratic polynomial, one of whose zeroes is $2 + \sqrt{5}$ and the sum of zeroes is 4.
  2. Form a quadratic polynomial, one of whose zeroes is $\sqrt{5}$ and the product of the zeroes is $-2 \sqrt{5}$.
  3. Determine if 3 is a zero of the polynomial \(P(x) = \sqrt{x^2 – 4x + 3} + \sqrt{x^2 – 9} – \sqrt{4x^2 – 14x + 6}\).
  4. \(\alpha, \beta\) are zeroes of the quadratic polynomial \(x^2 – (k + 6)x + 2(2k – 1)\). Find the value of \(k\) if \(\alpha + \beta = \frac{1}{2} \alpha \beta\).
  5. \(m, n\) are zeroes of \(ax^2 – 5x + c\). Find the value of \(a\) and \(c\) if \(m + n = 5\) and \(mn = 10\).
  6. Form a quadratic polynomial whose zeroes are \(\frac{3 – \sqrt{3}}{5}\) and \(\frac{3 + \sqrt{3}}{5}\).
  7. For what values of \(k\), \((4 – k)x^2 + (2k + 4)x + 8k + 1 = 0\) is a perfect square?
  8. A polygon of \(n\) sides has \(\frac{n(n – 3)}{2}\) diagonals. How many sides does a polygon with 54 diagonals have?
  9. Mr. Prakash was born in 1809 A.D. In year \(x^2\) A.D., he was \(x – 3\) years old. Find the value of \(x\).
  10. A rectangle of perimeter 34 units is inscribed in a circle of diameter 13 units. Find its sides.
  11. Solve the equation: \(2(x – 3)^2 + 3(x – 2)(2x – 3) = 8(x + 4)(x – 4) – 1\).
  12. Abhishek takes 6 days less than the time taken by Anubhav to finish a piece of work. If both of them together finish the work in 4 days, find the time taken by Anubhav alone to finish the work.
  13. Solve:
    • (i) \(\frac{x – 1}{x – 2} + \frac{x – 3}{x – 4} = \frac{10}{3}\)
    • (ii) \(\frac{1}{x + 1} + \frac{2}{x + 2} = \frac{4}{x + 4}\), \(x \neq -1, 2\)
  14. A two-digit number is four times the sum and three times the product of its digits. Find the number.
  15. Find the value of \(k\) for real and equal roots.
    • (i) \((k + 1)x^2 – 2(k – 1)x + 1 = 0\)
    • (ii) \(k^2 x^2 – 2(2k – 1)x + 4 = 0\)
  16. If \(\alpha, \beta\) are the roots of the quadratic equation \(x^2 + ax + b = 0\), find the value of \((\alpha^2 – 3)(\beta^2 – 3)\).
  17. If \(\alpha, \beta\) are the roots of \(2x^2 + x + 7 = 0\), find the value of:
    • (i) \(\alpha^2 \beta + \alpha \beta^2\)
    • (ii) \(\alpha^3 + \beta^3 + 9\alpha \beta (\alpha^2 + \beta^2) + 3(\alpha^2 \beta + \alpha \beta^2)\)
    • (iii) \(\alpha^4 + \alpha^2 \beta^2 + \beta^4\)
  18. If \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) are the roots of the quadratic equation \(x^2 – 6x + k = 0\), find the value of \(k\) such that \(\alpha^2 + \beta^2 = 40\).
  19. In a flight of 600 km, an aircraft was slowed down due to bad weather. Its average speed for the trip was reduced by 200 km/hr and the time of flight increases by 30 minutes. Find the duration of the flight.
  20. Find two consecutive natural numbers whose product is 20.
  21. Find the whole number which, when decreased by 20, is equal to 69 times the reciprocal of the number.
  22. Find the value of \(a\) such that the quadratic equation \((a – 12)x^2 + 2(a – 12)x + 2 = 0\) has equal roots.
  23. Two circles touch externally. The sum of their areas is \(130\pi \, \text{sq cm}\) and the distance between their centers is 14 cm. Find the radii of the two circles.
  24. The speed of the boat in still water is 15 km/hr. It can go 30 km upstream and return downstream to the original point in 4 hrs. and 30 minutes. Find the speed of the stream.
  25. \(ABCD\) is a square. \(F\) is the midpoint of \(AB\). \(BE\) is one-third of \(BC\). If the area of \(\triangle AFB E\) is 108 sq cm, find the length of \(AC\).
  26. Find the value of \(\sqrt{8 + 2\sqrt{8 + 2\sqrt{8 + \ldots}}}\).
  27. In a group of children, each child gives a gift to every other. If the number of gifts is 132, find the number of children.
  28. A sum of Rs.1200 becomes Rs.1333 in 2 years at compound interest compounded annually. Find the rate of interest.
  29. The roots \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) of the quadratic equation \(x^2 – 5x + 3(k – 1) = 0\) are such that \(\alpha – \beta = 1\). Find \(k\).
  30. The difference of the squares of two numbers is 45. The square of the larger number is 4 times the square of the smaller number. Determine the numbers.
  31. If the equation \((1 + m^2)x^2 + 2mcx + (c^2 – a^2) = 0\) has equal roots, prove that \(c^2 = a^2 (1 + m^2)\).
  32. Solve for \(x\): \[ x = \frac{1}{1 – \frac{1}{1 – \frac{1}{2 – \frac{1}{2 – x}}}} \]
  33. Solve:
    • (i) \( x^2 + \left(\frac{a + b}{a} + \frac{a}{a + b}\right)x + 1 = 0\)
    • (ii) \( \frac{2x}{x – 3} + \frac{x}{2x + 3} + \frac{3x + 9}{(x – 3)(2x + 3)} = 0\)
  34. The area of an isosceles triangle is 60 cm\(^2\) and the length of each one of its equal sides is 13 cm. Find its base.
  35. Solve: \(3^{x+1} – 2 \times 3^{x+2} = 81\).
  36. Solve: \[ \frac{1}{x + 1} + \frac{1}{x + 5} = \frac{1}{x + 2} + \frac{1}{x + 4} \]
  37. Solve the equations:
    • (i) \(\sqrt{2x + \sqrt{2x + 4}} = 4\)
    • (ii) \(4x^2 – 4x^2 – 7x^2 – 4x + 4 = 0, \, x \neq 0\)
  38. Solve for \(x\): \(4x^2 – 2(a^2 + b^2)x + a^2 b^2 = 0\).
  39. Solve for \(x\): \(4x^2 – 4a^2 x + (a^4 – b^4) = 0\).
  40. Solve for \(x\): \(9x^2 – 9(a + b)x + [2a^2 + 5ab + 2b^2] = 0\).
  41. Using the quadratic formula, solve the following quadratic equation for \(x\): \[ p^2 x^2 + (p^2 – q^2)x – q^2 = 0 \]
  42. Using the quadratic formula, solve the following quadratic equation for \(x\): \[ x^2 – 2ax + (a^2 – b^2) = 0 \]
  43. Using the quadratic formula, solve the following quadratic equation for \(x\): \[ x^2 – 4ax + 4a^2 – b^2 = 0 \]
  44. Solve for \(x\): \(9x^2 – 6a^2 x + (a^4 – b^4) = 0\).
  45. Solve for \(x\): \(9x^2 – 6ax + (a^2 – b^2) = 0\).
  46. Solve for \(x\): \(16x^2 – 8a^2 x + (a^4 – b^4) = 0\).
  47. Solve for \(x\): \(36x^2 – 12ax + (a^2 – b^2) = 0\).
  48. If the roots of the equation \((a – b)x^2 + (b – c)x + (c – a) = 0\) are equal, then:
    • (A) \(2b = a + c\)
    • (B) \(2a = b + c\)
    • (C) \(2c = a + b\)
    • (D) \(\frac{1}{b} = \frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{c}\)
  49. If one of the roots of \(x^2 + ax + 4 = 0\) is twice the other root, then the value of \(a\) is:
    • (A) \(-3\sqrt{2}\)
    • (B) \(8\sqrt{2}\)
    • (C) \(\sqrt{2}\)
    • (D) \(-2\sqrt{2}\)
  50. In the equation \(2x^2 – hx + 2k = 0\), the sum of the roots is 4 and the product of the roots is \(-3\). Then \(h\) and \(k\) respectively, have the values:
    • (A) 8 and 6
    • (B) 4 and \(-3\)
    • (C) \(-3\) and 8
    • (D) 8 and \(-3\)
  51. \(\alpha\) and \(\frac{1}{\alpha}\) are zeroes of the polynomial \(4x^2 – 2x + (k – 4)\). Find the value of \(k\).
  52. If \(\alpha, \beta\) are zeroes of \(x^2 + 5x + 5\), find the value of \(\alpha^{-1} + \beta^{-1}\).
  53. If \(\alpha, \beta\) are zeroes of \(x^2 + 7x + 7\), find the value of \(\frac{1}{\alpha} + \frac{1}{\beta} – 2 \alpha \beta\).
  54. Find the zeroes of \(\sqrt{3}x^2 + 10x + 7\sqrt{3}\).
  55. Write a quadratic polynomial whose one zero is \(3 – \sqrt{5}\) and the product of zeroes is 4.
  56. Solve \(x^{2/3} – 2x^{1/3} = 15\).
  57. Solve the following by reducing to quadratic equations:
    • (i) \(x^4 – 26x^2 + 25 = 0\)
    • (ii) \(2x – \frac{3}{x} = 5\)
    • (iii) \(\sqrt{3x^2 – 2} = 2x – 1\)
    • (iv) \(\sqrt{3x + 10} + \sqrt{6 – x} = 6\)
    • (v) \(4\left(x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}\right) + 8\left(x – \frac{1}{x}\right) – 3 = 0\)
    • (vi) \(\sigma\left(x^2 + \frac{1}{x^2}\right) – 25\left(x – \frac{1}{x}\right) + 12 = 0\)
    • (vii) \(x^4 + 2x^3 – 13x^2 + 2x + 1 = 0\)
    • (viii) \((x – 7)(x – 3)(x + 1)(x + 5) – 1680 = 0\)
  58. Solve \(\frac{1}{a + b + x} = \frac{1}{a} + \frac{1}{b} + \frac{1}{x}\), \((a + b) \neq 0\).
  59. If \(-4\) is a root of the quadratic equation \(x^2 + kx – 4 = 0\) and the quadratic equation \(x^2 + px + k = 0\) has equal roots, find the values of \(k\) and \(p\).
  60. If \(x = 2\) and \(x = 3\) are the roots of the equation \(3x^2 – 2kx + 2m = 0\), find the values of \(k\) and \(m\).

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top