MATHEMATICS SOLUTIONS OF

"ADVANCED LEVEL PROBLEMS"

Target : IIT-JEE
TOPIC : QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
PART - I
x2  x  c
1. Let y = ; x  R and y  R.
x 2  x  2c
 (y – 1) x2 + (y + 1)x + 2y c – c = 0
 xR
 D  0
 (y + 1)2 – 4 c(y – 1) (2y – 1)  0
 y2 + 1 + 2y – 4c [2y2 – 3y + 1]  0
 (1 – 8c)y2 + (2 + 12c) y + 1 – 4c  0 .......... (1)

Now for all y  R (1) will be true if .

1
1 – 8c > 0  c < and D  0
8
 4 (1 + 6c)2 – 4 (1 – 8c) (1 – 4c)  0
 1 + 36c2 + 12c – 1 – 32c2 + 12c  0
 4c2 + 24c  0  –6c0
But c = –6 and c = 0 will not satisfy given condition  c (–6, 0)
4
2. Clearly the graph of y = x – 4x – 1 is

 no of positive real roots = 1

Aliter
y = x 4 – 4x – 1
dy
= 4x 3 – 4
dx

d2 y dy
2 = 12x 2 when = 0, then x = 1
dx dx

d2 y
dx 2 = 12 > 0
x 1

so x = 1 is a minima point so by graph, number of positive real roots = 1

3.  a2 + b2 + c2 = 1
(a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2 (ab + bc + ca)  0
 1 + 2 (ab + bc + ca)  0
1
 (ab + bc + ca)  – ........(1)
2
 a2 + b2 + c2 – (ab + bc + ca)  0
 (ab + bc + ca)  1 ........(2)

 1 
 From (1) and (2) we can say that (ab + bc + ca)   , 1
 2 
RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 1
4. Since the given equation has distinct roots
 D>0
 16 + 4 (1 – k2) > 0
 k2 < 5,
also k  –1
 If k = –1we will get only one solution, but we want two solutions
 k2 < 5, k  –1

5.  are roots of x 2 – ( – 1) x + 5 = 0

 1 5
 += and  =
 

   2  2
 + =4  =4
  
 ( + )2 = 6 
(  1)2 30
 =
2 
2
 – 32 + 1 = 0 ............(1)
  1,  2 are roots of (1)
  1 +  2 = 32 and  1 2 = 1
1 2 ( 1   2 )2  2 1 2 (32)2  2
 + = = = 1022
2 1  1 2 1

6. Dis. of x2 + px + 3q is p2 – 12q  D1
Dis. of –x2 + rx + q is r2 + 4q  D2
Dis. of –x2 + sx – 2q is s2 – 8q  D3
Case 1 : If q < 0, then D1 > 0, D3 > 0 and D2 may or may not be positive
Case 2 : If q > 0, then D2 > 0 and D1, D3 may or may not be positive
Case 3 : If q = 0, then D1  0, D2  0 and D3  0
from Case 1, Case 2 and Case 3 we can say that the given equation has at least two real roots.

7. (a – 1) (x2 + x + 1)2 – (a + 1) (x4 + x2 + 1) = 0 ........(1)

 x4 + x2 + 1 = (x2 + x + 1) (x2 – x + 1)
 (1) becomes
 (x2 + x + 1) [(x2 + x + 1) (a – 1) – (a + 1) (x2 – x + 1)] = 0
 (x2 + x + 1) (x2 – ax + 1) = 0
Here two roots are imaginary and for other two roots to be real D>0
 a2 – 4 > 0
 a  (–, –2)  (2, )

8.  = 2 2 ......(1)
 +  = 2 +  2 ......(2)
From (1),  = 0 or  = 1
Case 1 : If  = 0 then we have following possibilities
(i) If = 0 then from (2),  = 0 or  = 1
(ii) If  = 0 then from (2), = 0 or  = 1
 from (i) and (ii) we can say that roots are  = 0,  = 0 or  = 0,  = 1
 Required quadratic equations are x2 = 0 or x2 – x = 0
Case 2 : If  = 1 then from (2) we get
 +  = 2 +  2 = ( +)2 – 2  = 1
  +  = – 1, 2
So the required quadratic equations are x2 + x + 1 = 0
and x2 – 2x + 1 = 0
 four equations are possible.

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 2

9. Given equation can be written as

x a b x b a
– + – =0
b x a a x b

x  a 2  b 2  x  b 2  a 2
 =0
bx  a  ax  b 

x  a  b x  b  a
 (x – a – b)    =0
 bx  a  ax  b  

 a x 2  bx  ax  ab  bx  b 2  b x 2  ax  bx  ab  ax  a 2
    = 0
 (x – a – b) 
 abx  a x  b  
 (x – a – b) (ax2 – a2x + a2b – ab2 + bx2 – b2x + ab2 – a2b) = 0
 x(x – a – b ) {x(a + b) – (a2 + b2)} = 0

a2  b2
 roots will be x = 0, a + b,
ab

a2  b2
Let x1 = a+b, x2 = and x3 = 0 [given x1 > x2 > x3 ]
ab
 x1 – x2 – x3 = c (given)

a2  b2
 (a + b) – –0=c
ab

a  b2  a 2  b 2  2ab
 =c  =c
ab ab
i.e. a, c, b are in H.P.

b 
10. Since ,  = and 2 = b2 – 4ac
2a
either 2a +  = – b and 2a –  = – b
or 2a +  = – b + 2 and 2a –  = – b – 2
 Sum of roots of required equation = – 2b
And product of roots = b2 or b2 – 42 = – 3b2 + 16ac
 Required equation is
either x2 + 2bx + b2 = 0
or x2 + 2bx – 3b2 + 16ac = 0

3 4 5
11. f(x) = + +
x2 x 3 x4

 f (2  )   
  f(x) = 0 has exactly one root in (2, 3).
and f (3  )  

 f (3  )   
again   f(x) = 0 has exactly one root in (3, 4).
and f ( 4  )  

12. Given equation can be Expressed as

e (x –) (x –– e) + e(x – e) (x –– e) + ( + ee) (x – e) (x – ) = 0
Let f(x) = e(x – ) (x –– e) + e(x – e) (x –– e) + ( + ee) (x – e) (x –)
 f(e) = e (e – ) (–) > 0

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 3

 and f() = e(– e) (–e) < 0 ; hence given equation has a real root in (e, )
again f(+ e) = (+ ee) . e > 0
  + e >  It concluds it has a real root in (, + e)
also  –e<e
Hence f(x) has two real roots in (– e, + e)

PART - II
1. a2x2 + (b2 + a2 – c2) x + b2 = 0 ......(1)
 a + b > c a + b – c > 0 ......(2)
and |a – b| < c  a–b–c<0 .......(3)
and a–b+c>0 .......(4)
Discriminant of equation (1) i.e. D = (b2 + a2 – c2)2 – 4a2b2
= (b2 + a2 – c2 – 2ab) (b2 + a2 – c2 + 2ab)
= {(a – b)2 – c2} {(a + b)2 – c2}
= (a – b + c) (a – b – c) (a + b + c) (a + b – c) < 0 (using (2), (3), (4))
D<0  roots are not real.

2. Equation is mx 2 – (m + 1) (a + b)x + ab (m + 2) = 0
(a  b)(1  m)
Sum of roots = =0 .........(1)
m
(m  2)ab
and product of roots = <0 .........(2)
m
Case 1 : If a + b = 0  b=–a
 (2) becomes
(m  2 ) m2
 –a2 < 0 >0
m m
 m  (–  , –2)  (0,  )
 a + b = 0 , m  (–  , –2)  (0,  )
Case 2 : If m = – 1, then from (2) we get
1.ab
 <0
1
 ab > 0
 m = –1 ; ab > 0
1 1 4 4 1 –3 4 1
3. – + – <  2
 2

x 1 x  4 x  3 x2 30 x – 5x  4 x – 5x  6 30
Let x2 – 5x = y
4 3 1
 y6 – y  4 < 30

y 2  20y  84
 >0
( y  6)( y  4)
 y  (–  , – 6)  (–4, 6)  (14,  )
Now (i) if y  (–, –6)
 x2 – 5x < –6.
 x  (2, 3)
(ii) if y  (–4, 6)
 –4 < x2 – 5x < 6
 x  (–1, 1)  (4, 6)
(iii) if y  (14,  )
 x2 – 5x > 14
 x  (– , – 2)  (7, )
 final answer is x  (–  , – 2)  (–1, 1)  (2, 3)  (4, 6)  (7,  )

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 4

4. Let the three numbers in G.P. be a, ar, ar2
 a + b + c = xb
a c
+1+ =x  b = ar, c = ar2
b b
 r2 + (1 – x )r + 1 = 0 ........(1)
 r is real
 for (1) D  0  (1 – x)2 – 4 0
2
 x – 2x –3  0
 x  –1 or x  3
Note : If we put x = – 1 and x = 3 in (1) we get r = – 1 and r = 1 respectively which is not possible because
in both cases the three numbers will not be distinct therefore x < – 1 or x > 3

5. f(x) = x2 – (m – 3) x + m > 0  x  [1, 2]

Here D = (m – 3)2 – 4m = m2 – 10m + 9 = (m – 1) (m – 9)
All possible graphs are
Case 1 :

D<0

 m  (1, 9)

Case 2 :
(i) f(1) > 0  4 > 0 always true
b
(ii) – <1  m<5
2a
(iii) D  0  m  (–, 1]  [9, )

 (i)  (ii)  (iii), we get m  (– , 1]

Case 3 :
(i) f(2) > 0  m < 10
b
(ii) 2  m>7
2a
(iii) D0  m  (–  , 1]  [9, )

 (i)  (ii)  (iii), we get m  [9, 10)

Now final Answer is (Case 1)  (Case 2)  (Case 3)

we get m  (– , 10)

6. Let f(x) = ax2 + (a – 2) x – 2

 f(0) = –2

and f(–1) = 0

Since the quadratic expression is negative for exactly two integral values
 f(1) < 0 and f(2)  0
 a+a–2–2<0 and 4a + 2a – 4 – 2  0
 a<2 and a1
 a  [1, 2)

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 5

7. Let roots be ,  and 
20
 ++=–
4
 2 +  = – 5 .............(1)
23
  .  +  +  = –
4
23
 2 + 2 = – .............(2)
4
6 3
and 2  = –
=– .............(3)
4 2
from equation (1) put  = – 5 – 2
in (2), we get
23
2 + 2 (– 5 – 2) = –
4
 122 + 40 – 23 = 0
23
  = 1/2, –
6
1
(i) If  = then from (1), we get  = – 6
2
23 8
(ii) If  = – then from (1), we get  =
6 3
1 23 8
Note :  = and  = – 6 also satisfy (3) but  =  and  = does not satisfy (3)
2 6 3
1 1
 required roots are , ,–6
2 2

8.   ,  are the roots of x2 – 34x + 1 = 0

 +  = 34 and  = 1
2
 1 1
 4   4 
   =    – 2 ()1/4   = 1
 

2
 1 1

  4   4  = ........(1)
    –2
 
2
     =  +  + 2   +  = 34 and  = 1
2
     = 36  we consider the principal value

    = 6 put in (1), we get.

2
 1 1
 4   4  =4
 
 
1 1
4 4
   = ±2 Ans.

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 6

9. The equation can be rewritten as
2
 x2  x  2   2
  a  3  x  x  2   a  4   0


 x2  x  1   x2  x  1 
   

x2  x  2 1
Let 2 =t or t=1+ 2
x  x 1 x  x 1

2
 1 3
since x2 + x + 1 = x  +
 2 4

3  7
Therefore (x2 + x + 1) >  t 1, 
4  3
Now given equation reduces to t2 - (a - 3) t + (a - 4) = 0

 7
At least one root of the equation must lie in 1, 
 3

a  3  a  32  4a  4
Now, t=  t = a – 4, 1
2

 7 7 19
For one root to lie in 1,  we must have 1 < a – 4 <  5<a<
 3 3 3
10. Let x2 = t > 0, for only real solution
Again let f(t) = t2 – (a2 – 5a + 6) t – (a2 – 3a + 2)
f(0) > 0  a2 – 3a + 2 < 0 a  [1, 2]

– b/2a > 0  a2 – 5a + 6 > 0  (a – 2) (a – 3) > 0

a   ,2 3,  

So possible 'a' from above two conditions are a = 1, 2.

Now condition for D = ((a – 2) (a – 3))2 + 4(a – 1) (a – 2) > 0 is also satisfied by these two possible
values of a
So required value of 'a' are 1, 2

11. are the roots of a1x2 + b1x + c1 = 0

b1 c1
=  and =
a1 a1

c 1  b1  a1
1 ++ = a1

a1  b1  c 1
 1    1   = a1 ....................(1)

Similarly
a2  b2  c 2
1   1    = a2 ....................(2)

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 7

 a3  b3  c 3
1    1    = a3 ....................(3)

Multiplying (1), (2) & (3), we get

a1  b1  c 1  a 2  b 2  c 2  a3  b 3  c 3 
1   2 1   2 1   2 = a1 a2 a3
1
  2
3
  ai  bi  c i  
   
 1    1   1    =   ai 
i 1
 
1
  2
3
  ai  bi  c i  
   
 1 +                =  ai
 i 1  
 
1
  2
3
  ai  bi  c i 
   
               =   ai 
–1
i 1
 

12. On putting the value of p, q and r in given equation we have

2x3 - (a1 + a2 ........+ a6)x2 + (a1a3 + a3a5 .......+ a6a2)x - (a1a3a5 + a2a4 a6) = 0
3
x  a1  a 3  a 5 x 2  a1a 3  a 3 a 5  a 5 a1 x  a1a 3a 5 + 
3
x  a 2  a 4  a 6 x 2  a 2a 4  a 4a 6  a 6a 2 x  a 2a 4 a 6 = 0 
 x  a1 x  a3 x  a5   x  a 2 x  a 4 x  a 6   0
Let f(x) = x  a1 x  a 3 x  a 5   x  a 2 x  a 4 x  a 6 

Now f(a1) = a1  a 2 a1  a 4 a1  a 6  > 0

f(a2) = a 2  a1 a 2  a 3 a 2  a 5  < 0

f(a3) = a 3  a 2 a 3  a 4 a 3  a 6  < 0
f(a4) = a 4  a1 a 4  a 3 a 4  a 5  > 0
f(a5) = a 5  a 2 a 5  a 4 a 5  a 6  > 0
f(a6) = a 6  a1 a 6  a 3 a 6  a 5  < 0
From above results it is clear that there are three real roots lying in the intervals (a1, a2), (a3,a4) and
(a5, a6)

13. Let A1 , A2 are the roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0,

b2 4c b 2  4ac
then (A1 – A2)2 = (A1 + A2)2 – 4A1A2 =  =
a2 a a2

Using same result for x2 + 2bx + c = 0

2 2 2 2
  cos      sin   = 4b – 4c

2 2 2 2
 cos   sin  = 4b – 4c
 cos 2 2 = 4(b 2  c ) .....................(i)

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 8

 Similarly for X2 + 2BX + C = 0
2
  cos     sin  = 4B 1 4C = 4B – 4C
4 4 2 2

2 2 2 2 2 2
 cos   sin cos   sin  = 4(B – C)
 cos 2 2 = 4(B2 – C) .....................(ii)
 from (i) & (ii)
B2 – C = b2 – c
B2 – b2 = C–c Hence Proved.
14. (x2 + x)2 + a(x2 + x) + 4 = 0
Let x2 + x = t then x2 + x – t = 0 xR
D0
 1 
1 + 4t  0  t   ,   ....(1)
 4 
2
Now f(t) = t + at + 4 = 0

(i) all four real and distinct roots

(A) D>0
(B) f(– 1/4) > 0
b 1
(C) – >–
2a 4
(A) D>0  a2 – 16 > 0  |a| > 4
1 a
(B) f(–1/4) = – +4>0  a < 65/4
16 4
b a 1
(C) – =– >–
2a 2 4
1
a<
2
a  (– , –4)
(ii) Two real roots which are distinct

f(– 1/4) < 0  a > 65/4

a  (65/4, )
(iii) all four roots are imaginary
Case-(i)(A) D  0  |a|  4

  65 
65
(B) f(–1/4) > 0 a <   a   4, 
4   4 

b 1 1 
(C) – <– a>
2a 4 2 
Case-(ii) D<0
 a  (–4, 4) ...(i)
taking union of both conditions mentioned by graph of case-(i) and case-(ii)
 65 
a    4, 
 4 
(iv) four real roots in which two are equal
b 1
(A) D>0 (B) f(–1/4) = 0 (C) – >–
2a 4
1
(A) |a| > 4 (B) a = 65/4 (C) a <
2
No common solution  a

RESONANCE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS - 9