Quadratic Equations and Expression

August 29, 2009

Abstract Complete in all respects! will add more problems, theory is complete
This lecture starts with quadratic equations and further adds quadratic expressions to increase depth of understanding of quadratic equations

Denition of quadratic equation - this is crucial as JEE exploits definitions - check the example following the denition * If given quadratic equation - 2 ways to get the roots, though both are dierent forms of the same idea, but usuage depends on what requirement is at hand * Dierent symmetric expressions that can be constructed using the above methods of nding the roots * Now we work the reverse - if we know the roots then can we construct the corresponding quadratic equation? * A quadratic can be constructed in two forms * Nature of roots * Roots common between two quadratic equations -that can be both roots are common or exactly one is common * Next we move to quadratic expressions as a tool to understand quadratic equations * we dene it rst then understand the graph of quadratic expression * what is the dierence between quadratic expression and equation * We see the graph of quadratic function * transformations of function - this helps in thinking quadratic (or for that matter any function) problems graphically which is a huge advantage * signicance of constants and - discriminant in determining nature of roots * sign of quadratic function * maxima-minima of quadratic curves * location of roots with respect to given constant * relation of coecients of a polynomial generating its roots

Content structure:

CONTENTS

Contents
I Concepts
1 Quadratic equations 1.1 Find roots from equation . . . . . . . . . 1.1.1 Roots of quadratic equation . . . . 1.1.2 Another form for nding the roots 1.2 Construct equations from roots . . . . . . 1.3 Nature of roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Roots of two quadratic equations . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4
4 4 4 4 5 6 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 13 14 14 14 15 15 16 17 18 18 18 19 20 21
21

2 Quadratic Expressions 2.1 Graph of a quadratic expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Transformation of graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2.1 Addition change in x-coordinate . . . . . . . . . 2.2.2 Subtraction change in x-coordinate . . . . . . . . 2.2.3 Addition change in y-coordinate . . . . . . . . . 2.2.4 Subtraction change in y-coordinate . . . . . . . . 2.2.5 Multiplying by a constant to x-variable . . . . . 2.2.6 Multiplying by a constant to y-variable . . . . . 2.2.7 Multiplying with negative unity . . . . . . . . 2.2.8 Taking modulus of a function . . . . . . . . . . 2.3 How quadratic expression explains quadratic equation? . 2.4 Generation of new quadratic curves from the given . . . 2.5 Graphs of quadratic expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5.1 Constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5.2 Constant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5.3 Combining behaviours of both & constants 2.6 Sign of Quadratic curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 Maxima and Minima of Quadratic curves . . . . . . . .

3 Investigating Nature of roots with Quadratic expressions 3.1 Inequalities from location of roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.1 k lies between the roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.2 k lies to the left or right of both the roots . . . . . . 3.2 Signicance of coecients , & in . . . . . 3.3 Geometric signicance of & . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 Are the roots real or complex, positive or negative - Another way! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Polynomials in general

21

II Problems and approaches for them

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8

Given equation we nd the roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Given roots nd the equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Nature of roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Roots of two quadratic equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Quadratic Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Graph of quadratic expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Transformation of Quadratic graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Signicance of and for graphical understanding of Quadratic equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

25

CONTENTS
4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Sign of Quadratic curves . . . . . . . . . Maxima, Minima of Quadratic expressions Location of roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Polynomials in general . . . . . . . . . . . Miscellaneous problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 27 27 28 29

1 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Part I 1

Concepts
Quadratic equations
Any equation of the form where & Polynomial of degree where : is dened as and

Denition. Denition. Theorem.

Fundamental law of Algebra

Any n degree polynomial will have n roots.

Problem 1. Solution:
and

Find the relation between For this to happen

such that equation (as if

has exactly one root. should be equal to zero,

will results in absurd result ) and c can take any real value.

Problem 2. Find number of roots of the equation Solution: There is a nice observation here.

seems to be one of the

solutions but is not since then the problems ceases to be the solution.

1.1 Find roots from equation

1.1.1 Roots of quadratic equation
has roots given by the equations Roots are also called the zeros

1.1.2 Another form for nding the roots

Suppose we are given the equation the value of the expression and we are asked to nd . Now can we use here the above formula?

We can but that is not going to be a good way of doing this! So we move to the next topic. If & are roots of the equation then we have,

We prove this now!

1.2 Construct equations from roots

Problem 3.

If one root of the equation

is the square of the

other, prove that Summary till here we have seen if given equations then how to determine the root of the equation. Next we see if given the roots how can we nd the equation.

1.2 Construct equations from roots

Given quadratic equation equation in terms of the roots is has roots & then the quadratic

How we derive this ? Consider the equation

Hence we can conclude

Summary
are roots of the equation or or of equation

So all symmetric functions of the roots following identities 1. 2. 3. 4.

&

can be constructed using the

Problem 4.
show that

If r be the ratio of the roots of the equation

then

Problem 5.

If a quadratic equation &

has roots

&

then

what is the equation whose roots are

1 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
The new equation is

This could have been done is a slight tricky way. We have a equation whose roots are some And now we . see that they are asking us to nd the equation whose roots are some form. Hence we get usual way of writting an expression. Similarly try to nd the equation whose roots are If there are three roots of an equation 1,2 & 3 then nd the equation. . Since is the root of the equation which can be written in the

1.3 Nature of roots

is the Discriminant(D) So

The deciding factor for the nature of roots of a quadratic equation

Observe the discriminant in 1. If it has two real distinct roots and D is a perfect square then there are two

(a) Moreover if distinct rational roots 2. If

it has two equal real roots then there are two equal rational roots

(a) Moreover if 3. If

it has two complex conjuagate

two real equal roots

2 roots

1 Nature of roots 2 Complex

Two distinct real roots

is perfect square

Rational roots where

Conjugate roots of form

No real roots i.e. two complex conjugate roots roots : then the roots cannot be evaluated in real domain but and by ). has two roots (as per and . Then why do we speak of quadratic will ( a conjugate is dened as the complex

If a quadratic equation has pairs. i.e. in the form number obtained by replacing

in complex domain you can nd the roots. And we always get the complex roots in conjugate

Can it happen that a quadratic equation has one real root and other complex? Well yes it can happen. for e.g. fundamental law of algebra) and they are equation and

have complex roots in conjugate pair? Again you forgot the denition we took for quadratic hence the conjugate pairs else see the equation we have derived with as the roots, this quadratic doesn't have real coecients.

1.3 Nature of roots

Note : A quadratic equation if has more than 2 roots then it becomes an identity. Generalising if an polynomial equation has 1 more than the degree then the equation is an identity.

Problem 6. Problem 7.

Prove that if the roots of and

are imaginary, then

must lie in between Prove that

will

have equal roots if and only if This problem has two parts in the proof

If given Method I
Let Put That means Similarly,

then prove that given quadratic has equal roots

since given is the roots of are roots of but we also are given hence is also the root of

So we have proved

we conclude that the roots are equal

Method II
(since ) hence proved one side and we can coclude both roots are

If given quadratic equation has equal roots then prove

Now here we should assume the equation has both roots equal and have to prove But to before starting the proof see how we are going to get by tring to prove the following sequence Now we start our proof, has equal roots has equal roots i.e. is

So we have to get the equation in above form to get what we want Do u remember where you have seen this equation ! yes in factorization of

that implies each is zero)

(since sum of positive numbers equals zero means

3 if

and only if or i in mathematics means : double implication you have to prove either

way. An example of double implication is An angle in a triangle is right angle i (if and only if ) sum of squares of the sides is equal to square of the greatest side So it contains a double implication ONE SIDE SIDE

given angle right anlge in a triangle prove in a triangle then angle opposite to is right angle

OTHER

given

1 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

1.4 Roots of two quadratic equations

1. If two quadratic equations both roots same then & have

(a) Special case : What if the two equations are given as & ? The relationship in the coecients are 2. If the above two quadratic equations have just one root in common then the relation between the coecients is given by cross multiplication rule

3. The quadratic equations & as their discriminants have

and

with

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Both equations have real roots Both equations have no real roots atleast one equation has real roots atleast one equation has real roots Either exactly one equation has real roots or Both have identical real roots

Problem 8.

Find the value of

such that equations

and

may have one common root. Also nd the common root. There are two ways to solve this problem. But rst approach is much better. this implies the roots of this equation are & Now one of these should be the root in common with the other given equation. Case I : common root is

Case II: common root is

4 Cross

Multiplication Rule:

Solution to linear equations

is given by the ratio

If these equations are linear with no

variable then we can put

in the above method

and still get the corresponding solution.

Other method would be to use the above said theory but factorisation is involved hence we leave that as an exercise.

Problem 9.

Let

be real numbers such that and

. Consider . Then none of

the quadratic equations : these has real roots 1. both have real roots 2. atmost one equation has real roots 3. atleast one equation has real roots

Quadratic Expressions
Quadratic Expression is dened as and and

Denition.

2.1 Graph of a quadratic expression

A quadratic expression dened as above is Its graph

5 is given as follows

Table 1: This is graph of quadratic curve when

or

2.2 Transformation of graphs

We know the graph of the function ? we can do that provided we know transformations work like! can we draw the graph of

5 Always

remember that a quadratic expression represents a parabola then is the y-axis intercept

If we have

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2 QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS
We see that additive or multiplicative change in x variable, reverse of what we expect happens And additive or multiplicative change in y variable, what we expect happens (you will understand as we proceed by what I mean here)

If we know the graph of the function

, we also take

2.2.1 Addition change in x-coordinate

How to get the graph of the function Result : We expect the curve to move towards positive x-axis since we have added a positive quantity in x, But reverse will happen, the curve will move towards left. For example, graph we know now to generate the graph of

2.2.2 Subtraction change in x-coordinate

How to get the graph of function Result: We expect as earlier that we are adding positive towards right. For example, graph we know we got get the graph of ) , that shifts to the right (but we expect to the left because of to and expecting the curve to move towards left but the reverse will happen the curve will move

2.2.3 Addition change in y-coordinate

How to get the graph of function for example, our curve , here we make change in and expect the curve to move along positive y direction and that is what happens. if is tranformed to we expect the

2.2 Transformation of graphs

movement along positive x axis and that is the movement

11

2.2.4

Subtraction change in y-coordinate

can be created by moving the graph )

Similary the function by moving it along negative Let so the graph of

2.2.5

Multiplying by a constant to x-variable

where then we expect and when the graph to contract

So here we want to construct the graph of the graph to elongate along

but the reverse will happen as we are working with change in Let us see an example. and we want to see how is the graph of

12

2 QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS

2.2.6 Multiplying by a constant to y-variable

If we need graph of from by doing what we expect. The or new curve will elongate or contract (depending upon whether ) as we expect along y-axis. For example, and

2.2.7 Multiplying
function

with negative unity

how we can estimate the graph of the we see the resultant

We know the graph of function graph is reection of about

. On multiplying a function with

2.2.8 Taking modulus of a function

If we know the graph of a function then on taking the modulus the function's part below x-axis is reected above x-axis, but the part above x-axis remains above.

2.3 How quadratic expression explains quadratic equation?

Now we see the following example to see the power of transformations

13

Problem 10.
equation

If

and

then number of roots of the (whose graph is as under) has 2

Solution :

points of intersection with x-axis

(graph is in blue) has 3 points of intersection with x-axis

(graph in red) has 4 points of intersection with x-axis

we can guess that that function

graph will have 9 points of intersections

with x-axis. therefore there are 9 roots to the equation Now do you realise the power of transformations in JEE mathematics.

2.3 How quadratic expression explains quadratic equation?

A quadratic equation can be understood better using a quadratic expression. A quadratic equation can be separated as a system of two equations. Like this,

6
6 If

we have a system of equations

and

algebraically we can solve these

two equations in two unknowns plane. Right!

and nd their values. But if we try to solve these two

equations geometrically. Then the solution would be intersections of these two curves in

14

2 QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS

So the solution to this system of equations is same as the solution to the quadratic equation. and Now observe what this means, intersection of the curves (x-axis) are the roots of the corresponding quadratic

equation. Hence the location of the roots of a quadratic equation are the intersection of these two curves (as shown above).

2.4 Generation of new quadratic curves from the given

Not sure if this goes here or some other place in the ow of topics. Given two quadratic equations

Both the roots are common curves

In the graph beside Red and blue represent the curves and ) and green is

is a new quadratic

equation that passes through the same roots shared by the given quadratic and also has the same

Exactly one root is common then a family of quadratic curves) where

root common or in other words passes through the same common root (is

the family of curves passing through the common roots.

2.5 Graphs of quadratic expressions

Lets understand the characteristic of the constants &

2.5.1 Constant
Consider is concave upwards if is concave downwards if
For example, remember you solved system of linear equations in schools, say be intersection of these two lines to get the same solution as algebraically. So the important point we make here is  algebraic solution of a system of equation is same &

. And that was possible algebraically and geometrically. Geometrically this would

as getting the intersections of the curves geometrically (co-ordinate)

7 Quadratic

equation has roots in real space that can be visualised and intersection of & then are & This gives huge

Quadratic curve (expression) and x-axis. If the quadratic equation is having roots the points where the quadratic curve cuts the advantage of solving problems visually.

2.5 Graphs of quadratic expressions

15

Table 2: If one root is common then

represents a family of

quadratic curves passing through the same common root.

2.5.2

Constant
we get real roots roots points the equation has two identical real roots in exactly one point has no real curves curves the equation intersects the x-axis has real distinct in two distinct

We saw that from Nature of roots above,

intersects the x-axis, we get imaginary roots roots curves

the equation does not intersect the x-axis,

2.5.3 Combining behaviours of both

downwards. So the axis is parellel to y axis.

&

constants

represents a parabola which is either concave upwards or

Concave upwards & two distinct real roots Concave upwards & two identical roots Concave upwards & two imaginary roots

Concave downwards & two distinct real roots Concave downwards & two identical roots Concave downwards & two imaginary roots

This conclusions are going to help in solving lot of problems.

Problem 11.
prove that &

If the roots of the equation are roots of the equation

are

&

then

(IIT)

Problem. Method I
Roots of i.e. Now we need to prove that be proved in two ways 1. either by showing that the equation or 2. by showing that the equation having roots We show how to do both ways. Consider the equation, is has roots are roots of this can are &

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2 QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS
Other way is, we have the roots as & and we need to show that they are &

roots of the equation Lets construct the quadratic whose roots are

Method II
are roots of the equation Also Hence are roots of

Method III (Graphical method)

Given roots of Consider the curve that has roots are and viceversa. & this curve equation is below we get the equation whose roots and if we translate this equation with are roots of the equation means are

are roots of

2.6 Sign of Quadratic curves

A quadratic curves sign i.e. concluded using 1. If 2. If & can be investigated and

3. If

You can better understand the above three conditions from the below graph

2.7 Maxima and Minima of Quadratic curves

17

Problem 12.
interval? Solution:

If

where

is real the value of

lies in which

Here we get a quadratic in x and given this the roots to this equations are real Hence

takes only real values, that means

Problem 13.

For real

, the expression &

will assume all real

values if what condition is met between Solution : Let

Since x is real, the discriminant

Since y takes all real values above inequality holds i has to be positive and here)

(since the quadratic

or

depending upon whether

or

2.7 Maxima and Minima of Quadratic curves

attains maxima when

at

and maxima

attains minima when

at

and maxima

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3 INVESTIGATING NATURE OF ROOTS WITH QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS

Note here that the maxima or minima whatever exists

Problem 14.
having roots

Given two quadratic and such that and

and then prove that mininum are same

value of the expressions

Investigating Nature of roots with Quadratic expressions

3.1 Inequalities from location of roots

Nature of roots is inuenced by specic conditions on the coecients. Similarly location of roots with respect one or more constants too requires specic conditions on the coecients.

3.1.1 k lies between the roots

So we have a situation where lies on the other side of constant First necessary condition required is existence of the roots which lies, this is satised using . between The curve should rst intersect lies such that its roots

8 If

then the sign of the quadratic expression is same as the sign of

. This can be

understood as

So term inside the curly brace is always positive if same as sign of

and hence sign of the quadratic is

Above analysis talks about maxima and minima of any quadratic expressions. expression intersects the Let quadratic expression is . .

But we

can analyse the above max/min for equations which have real roots, i.e. the corresponding be the roots of a quadratic equation . So the corresponding

the min is attained at here is that if two equations value

and value of min is with roots and

. Now a very nice point with roots will have the same min

having dierence of their two roots constant i.e.

3.1 Inequalities from location of roots

Case 1. If

19

is concave upwards. So

Case 2. If

is concave downwards. So Here we can conclude both the cases in one go as condition So . This is required

3.1.2

k lies to the left or right of both the roots

to make sure the equation has real

In this situation, First condition that is required is roots

Case 1. If

is concave upwards and so

Case 2. If

is concave downwards, so So we can combine both states as so to dierentiate but this can also conclude that

9 both the case we separate them as follows

So summarising both the cases we have, If

If

Problem 15.
where

Let and

be real. If , then show that

has two real roots

Method I
, Let then we get the red curve below

given

So when

we get,

&

which can be combined

9 Note

which is mid point of roots

20

3 INVESTIGATING NATURE OF ROOTS WITH QUADRATIC EXPRESSIONS

as

Now if we take

, we get the same

Method II
Let & We need to prove Consider have roots &

If (since If If and Hence . ) and (since given ) & (since

3.2 Signicance of coecients , & in

For a quadratic equation following Roots are having we can conclude the

3.3 Geometric signicance of

&

21

1. Same magnitude opposite sign

Roots are

2. Reciprocals of each other 3. Both positive

4. Both negative

5. Both are of opposite sign

3.3 Geometric signicance of

1. is positive or negative : above. (a)

&

This signies if the graph of the quadratic

is concave upwards or downward, this is something which we have seen

: then the quadratic curve will go on contracting along or expanding along

(b)

: then the quadratic curve will go on expanding along or contracting along

2.

value changes : then it contributes to changing the position of the vertex

3.

value changes : (a) hence it gives us the point where intersects the (b) If . then one of the roots is Zero

These all above conditions might seem to be very obvious but will surely help in solution to problems

3.4 Are the roots real or complex, positive or negative Another way!

4
If

Polynomials in general
are roots of the polynomial equation then the roots are related to the coecients as below

22

4 POLYNOMIALS IN GENERAL

coe of coe of coe of coe of . . . coe of coe of

Problem 16.
of Solution :

If

be the roots of

then nd the value

By the given information, we have

Now we need to evaluate

Problem 17.

If

be the roots of

then nd the equation

whose roots are Solution : Given to us,

23

Now we know the roots of the required equation which would look like

Now lets nd the required coecients

Using the formula

10

Now

10

24

4 POLYNOMIALS IN GENERAL
So the required equation is

Method II and roots of this equation are equation whose roots are like and similarly for others. So let be the root of the required equation. So . We need to nd the

Substiuting in the equation we get

Using the usual notation to write a polynomial replace required polynomial.

by

we get the

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Part II

Problems and approaches for them

4.1 Given equation we nd the roots
1. If be the roots of . Hence or otherwise prove that then show that

2. The roots of

are reciprocal to each other if

(a) (b) (c) (d)

3. If the value of is

has roots equal in magnitude but opposite in sign then

(a)

(b) (c) (d)

4. If the dierence between the roots of the equation that then the set of possible values of is ?

is less

4.2 Given roots nd the equations

1. If one root of the equation prove that is the square of the other,

2. If roots of the equation prove that 3. If be the roots of the equation in for which ,

are of the form

and

and are connected by the relation and

be the two values of

and

then nd the equation whose roots are

26

4.3 Nature of roots

1. If roots of the equation opposite in sign then prove that product of the roots is are equal in magnitude and and hence show that the

2. Prove that if the roots of lie between and

are imaginary then

must

4.4 Roots of two quadratic equations 4.5 Quadratic Expressions 4.6 Graph of quadratic expressions
1. Draw the graph of following curves and mention the regions where they are positive and negative (a) (b) (c)

4.7 Transformation of Quadratic graphs

1. If the quadratic equation (a) roots of i. real roots ii. imaginary roots iii. both roots between & & has has real roots then

iv. both roots on other side of (b) roots of i. real roots ii. imaginary roots iii. both roots between & has

iv. both roots on other side of

&

4.8 Signicance of and for graphical understanding of Quadratic equations 4.9 Sign of Quadratic curves
1. For what values of the parameter in the inequality the inequality is satised for all real values of x?

4.10 Maxima, Minima of Quadratic expressions

27

4.10 Maxima, Minima of Quadratic expressions 4.11 Location of roots

1. Find all values of has roots Solution : Here let Since we have i.e. i.e. i.e. 2. The equation Determine the range for m has atleast one root. or and for which the equation, satisfying the condition

Solution : Method I :

We need to nd what are the possible values of expression looks like this

such that the given

equation has atleast one positive root. So the typical curve of the quadratic

So the green graph represent the posibility of getting both positive roots or exactly one is positive and other negative.
Case I : Both roots are positive

So for both roots to be positive we require

Case II : One root is positive and other is negative

For this we required to satisfy the condition So combining both the conditions we get

Method II:

28

If roots exist i.e. If both the roots are positive then

If one root is positive and other negative then

So using the above information we have : both positive roots if with the condition we get

One root is positive and other negative if also check for

and we

Method III
i.e.

we get the roots are opposite in sign.

If we need atleast one positive root then the complement problem is (no roots) or (both negative) or { or { & i.e. i.e. i.e. So the problem to get atleast one positive root is complement of the given problem 3. If are the roots of and lie between and is positive . Find all values of such

that both Since We have, i.e.

Solution :

and we have coecient of and and

4.12 Polynomials in general

1. If is as factor of the expression , then (a) (b) (c) (d) None of these

4.13 Miscellaneous problems

29

4.13 Miscellaneous problems

1. Solve the equation 2. If and then nd the value of

3. Prove that identity

is an

4. If which takes real values

then nd all real values of

for

5. Solve

6. If

then the value of and

lies in the interval. and for that we need

Solution : Hint : we need to generate range for to make use of expansion

References
[1] Hall & Knight - Higher Algebra [2] Bernard & Child - Higher Algebra [3] Vidyalankar notes