
Quadratic-Equations
Quadratic Equations
If p(x) is a quadratic polynomial, then p(x) = 0 is called a quadratic equation.
The general or standard form of a quadratic equation, in the variable x, is given by ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b, c are real numbers and a ≠ 0.
The value of x that satisfies an equation is called the zeroes or roots of the equation.
A real number α is said to be a solution/root of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 if aα2 + bα + c = 0.
A quadratic equation has at most two roots.
Graphically, the roots of a quadratic equation are the points where the graph of the quadratic polynomial cuts the x-axis.
Consider the graph of a quadratic equation x2 – 4 = 0:
Graph of a Quadratic Equation
In the above figure, -2 and 2 are the roots of the quadratic equation x2−4=0
Note:
The standard form of a quadratic equation is ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b and c are real numbers and a ≠ 0.
‘a’ is the coefficient of x2. It is called the quadratic coefficient. ‘b’ is the coefficient of x. It is called the linear coefficient. ‘c’ is the constant term.
Step 1: Find the product ac.
Step 2: Find the factors of ‘ac’ that add to up to b, using the following criteria:
Step 3: Split the middle term into two parts using the factors obtained in the above step.
Step 4: Factorize the quadratic equation obtained in the above step by grouping method. Two factors will be obtained.
Step 5: Equate each of the linear factors to zero to get the value of x.
Step 1: Make the coefficient of x2 unity.
Step 2: Express the coefficient of x in the form 2 × x × p.
Step 3: Add and subtract the square of p.
Step 4: Use the square identity (a + b)2 or (a – b)2 to obtain the quadratic equation in the required form (x + a)2 – b2 = 0 or (x – a)2 + b2 = 0.
Step 5: Take the constant term to the other side of the equation.
Step 6: Take the square root on both the sides of the obtained equation to get the roots of the given quadratic equation.
The roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (a ≠ 0) can be calculated by using the quadratic formula:
−b+√b2−4ac2a and −b−√b2−4ac2a where b2 – 4ac ≥ 0
If b2 – 4ac < 0, then equation does not have real roots.
The quadratic formula is used to find the roots of a quadratic equation. This formula helps to evaluate the solution of quadratic equations replacing the factorization method. If a quadratic equation does not contain real roots, then the quadratic formula helps to find the imaginary roots of that equation. The quadratic formula is also known as Shreedhara Acharya’s formula. In this article, you will learn the quadratic formula, derivation and proof of the quadratic formula, along with a video lesson and solved examples.
An algebraic expression of degree 2 is called the quadratic equation. The general form of a quadratic equation is ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b and c are real numbers, also called “numeric coefficients” and a ≠ 0. Here, x is an unknown variable for which we need to find the solution. We know that the quadratic formula used to find the solutions (or roots) of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is given by:
Here,
a, b, c = Constants (real numbers)
a ≠ 0
x = Unknown, i.e. variable
The above formula can also be written as:
x=−b2a±√b2−4ac4a2
or
x=−b2a±√(b2a)2−ca
What is the Quadratic Formula used for?
The quadratic formula is used to find the roots of a quadratic equation and these roots are called the solutions of the quadratic equation. However, there are several methods of solving quadratic equations such as factoring, completing the square, graphing, etc.
Roots of Quadratic Equation by Quadratic Formula
We know that a second-degree polynomial will have at most two zeros, and therefore a quadratic equation will have at most two roots.
In general, if α is a root of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a ≠ 0; then, aα2 + bα + c = 0. We can also say that x = α is a solution of the quadratic equation or α satisfies the equation, ax2 + bx + c = 0.
Note: Roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are the same as zeros of the polynomial ax2 + bx + c.
One of the easiest ways to find the roots of a quadratic equation is to apply the quadratic formula.
Quadratic formula:
x=−b±√b2−4ac2a
Here, b2 – 4ac is called the discriminant and is denoted by D.
The sign of plus (+) and minus (-) in the quadratic formula represents that there are two solutions for quadratic equations and are called the roots of the quadratic equation.
Root 1:
x1=−b+√b2−4ac2a
And
Root 2:
x2=−b−√b2−4ac2a
We can derive the quadratic formula in different ways using various techniques.
Derivation Using Completing the Square Technique
Let us write the standard form of a quadratic equation.
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Divide the equation by the coefficient of x2, i.e., a.
x2 + (b/a) x + (c/a) = 0
Subtract c/a from both sides of this equation.
x2 + (b/a) x = -c/a
Now, apply the method of completing the square.
Add a constant to both sides of the equation to make the LHS of the equation as complete square.
Adding (b/2a)2 on both sides,
x2 + (b/a) x + (b/2a)2 = (-c/a) + (b/2a)2
Using the identity a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2,
[x + (b/2a)]2 = (-c/a) + (b2/4a2)
[x + (b/2a)]2 = (b2 – 4ac)/4a2
Take the square root on both sides,
Shortcut Method of Derivation
Write the standard form of a quadratic equation.
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Multiply both sides of the equation by 4a.
4a (ax2 + bx + c) = 4a(0)
4a2x2 + 4abx + 4ac = 0
4a2x2 +4abx = -4ac
Add a constant on sides such that LHS will become a complete square.
Adding b2 on both sides,
4a2x2 + 4abx + b2 = b2 – 4ac
(2ax) 2 + 2(2ax)(b) + b2 = b2 – 4ac
Using algebraic identity a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b) 2,
(2ax + b) 2 = b2 – 4ac
Taking square root on both sides,
2ax + b = ± √(b2 – 4ac)
2ax = -b ± √(b2 – 4ac)
x = [-b ±√(b2 – 4ac)]/2a
Based on the value of the discriminant, D = b2 − 4ac, the roots of a quadratic equation can be of three types.
Case 1: If D>0, the equation has two distinct real roots.
Case 2: If D=0, the equation has two equal real roots.
Case 3: If D<0, the equation has no real roots.
The number of roots of a polynomial equation is equal to its degree. So, a quadratic equation has two roots. Some methods for finding the roots are:
Factorization method
Quadratic Formula
Completing the square method
All the quadratic equations with real roots can be factorized. The physical significance of the roots is that at the roots of an equation, the graph of the equation intersects x-axis. The x-axis represents the real line in the Cartesian plane. This means that if the equation has unreal roots, it won’t intersect x-axis and hence it cannot be written in factorized form. Let us now go ahead and learn how to determine whether a quadratic equation will have real roots or not.
The graph of a quadratic polynomial is a parabola. The roots of a quadratic equation are the points where the parabola cuts the x-axis i.e. the points where the value of the quadratic polynomial is zero.
Now, the graph of x2 + 5x + 6 = 0 is:
In the above figure, -2 and -3 are the roots of the quadratic equation
x2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
For a quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c,
If a > 0, the parabola opens upwards.
If a < 0, the parabola opens downwards.
If a = 0, the polynomial will become a first-degree polynomial and its graph is linear.
The discriminant, D = b2 − 4ac
Nature of graph for different values of D.
If D > 0, the parabola cuts the x-axis at exactly two distinct points. The roots are distinct. This case is shown in the above figure in a, where the quadratic polynomial cuts the x-axis at two distinct points.
If D = 0, the parabola just touches the x-axis at one point and the rest of the parabola lies above or below the x-axis. In this case, the roots are equal.
This case is shown in the above figure in b, where the quadratic polynomial touches the x-axis at only one point.
If D < 0, the parabola lies entirely above or below the x-axis and there is no point of contact with the x-axis. In this case, there are no real roots.
This case is shown in the above figure in c, where the quadratic polynomial neither cuts nor touch the x-axis.
For the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a ≠ 0, the expression b2 – 4ac is known as discriminant.
And the speed of stream is y km/h
Then the speed of boat downstream will be (x + y) km/h and in upstream it will be (x − y) km/h.
Important Questions
Multiple Choice questions-
1. Which of the following is not a quadratic equation
(a) x² + 3x – 5 = 0
(b) x² + x3 + 2 = 0
(c) 3 + x + x² = 0
(d) x² – 9 = 0
2. The quadratic equation has degree
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 3
3. The cubic equation has degree
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
4. A bi-quadratic equation has degree
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
5. The polynomial equation x (x + 1) + 8 = (x + 2) {x – 2) is
(a) linear equation
(b) quadratic equation
(c) cubic equation
(d) bi-quadratic equation
6. The equation (x – 2)² + 1 = 2x – 3 is a
(a) linear equation
(b) quadratic equation
(c) cubic equation
(d) bi-quadratic equation
7. The quadratic equation whose roots are 1 and
(a) 2x² + x – 1 = 0
(b) 2x² – x – 1 = 0
(c) 2x² + x + 1 = 0
(d) 2x² – x + 1 = 0
8. The quadratic equation whose one rational root is 3 + √2 is
(a) x² – 7x + 5 = 0
(b) x² + 7x + 6 = 0
(c) x² – 7x + 6 = 0
(d) x² – 6x + 7 = 0
9. The equation 2x² + kx + 3 = 0 has two equal roots, then the value of k is
(a) ±√6
(b) ± 4
(c) ±3√2
(d) ±2√6
10. The sum of the roots of the quadratic equation 3×2 – 9x + 5 = 0 is
(a) 3
(b) 6
(c) -3
(d) 2
Very Short Questions:
Short Questions :
(i) √2×2 + 7x + 5√2 = 0 (ii) 2×2 – x + 18 = 0
(i) 2x2 + x – 4 = 0
(ii) 4x2 + 4√3x + 3 = 0
(i) 2x2 – 7x + 3 = 0
(ii) 4x2 + 4√3x + 3 = 0
p2x2 + (p2 – q2) x – q2 = 0
(i) 3x2 – 4√3x + 4 = 0) (ii) 2x2 – 6x + 3 = 0
(i) 2x2 + kx + 3 = 0
(ii) kx (x – 2) + 6 = 0
Long Questions :
abx2 + (b2 – ac) x – bc = 0
(2p + 1)x2 – (7p + 2)x + (7p – 3) = 0 has equal roots. Also find these roots.
Case Study Question:
Assertion Reason Questions-
Assertion: The product of two successive positive integral multiples of 5 is 300, then the two numbers are 15 and 20.
Reason: The product of two consecutive integrals is a multiple of 2.
Assertion: The roots of the quadratic equation x2 + 2x + 2 = 0 are imaginary.
Reason: If discriminant D = b2 – 4ac < 0 then the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are imaginary.