5: ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION

The general form of a quadratic equation b c

a +b =- and ab = .
We have grown accustomed to recognising a a a
quadratic equation in the form 𝑎𝑥 # + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0. In We can now make a general statement about the roots
this section, we will be introduced to a new format of a quadratic.
for such a quadratic equation. This format would
express the quadratic in the form of its roots. It is a For the quadratic equation
convenient form to know and it allows us the ax 2 + bx + c = 0 ,
flexibility to switch from this form to the standard
b
form. the sum of the roots = - and
a

m
c
Roots of a quadratic equation (∝ 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜷) the product of the roots = .
a

co
A quadratic equation in x is of the general form
Example 1
ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , where a, b and c are constants.
If a and b are the roots of the quadratic

.
hs
If we divide each term by a, then the quadratic equation x 2 - 3x + 2 = 0 , determine
equation can be expressed in an equivalent form with (i) the sum of the roots and
the coefficient of x2 is equal to one as shown below. (ii) the product of the roots.
ax 2 + bx + c = 0
b
x2 + x + = 0
c at Solution
m
(1)
a a In the quadratic equation x 2 - 3x + 2 = 0
Now consider ∝ and 𝛽 as the roots of the quadratic. a =1, b = −3 and c = 2.
s
We can now rewrite the quadratic in the form: b
(i) The sum of the roots, a + b = -
as

( x - a )( x - b ) = 0. a
By expanding we get, - ( -3)
a +b = =3
x - (a + b ) x + ab = 0 . (2) 1
sp

c
Equation (2) is an equivalent form of equation (1). In (ii) The product of the roots, ab =
fact, any quadratic equation, in x, can always be a
.fa

expressed in the form of its roots. 2

ab = = 2.
We can replace ( a + b ) by the ‘sum of the roots’ and 1
ab by the ‘product of the roots’, to obtain the
w

Example 2
following form for a quadratic equation. The quadratic equation x 2 - 4 x + 3 = 0 has roots a
w

and b .
x2 - (sum of roots ) x + product of roots = 0 a) Obtain the equation whose roots are a + 1 and
w

b +1.
Sum and product of the roots of a quadratic
b) Obtain the equation whose roots are a 2 and b 2 .
equation
Equations (1) and (2) above are two equivalent forms
of a quadratic equation. Solution
Equating both forms we get: If the equation x 2 - 4 x + 3 = 0 has roots a and b ,
b c
x 2 + x + = x 2 - (a + b ) x + ab then 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −4 and 𝑐 = 3. Hence,
a a
(a + b ) = 4 and ab = 3
When we equate coefficients, the following is
To obtain an equation whose roots are 𝛼 + 1 and
obtained:

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𝛽 + 1, we can substitute these roots in the following −∝# − 4 ∝= 1 − 2 ∝
equation: ∝# + 2 ∝ +1 = 0
(∝ +1)(∝ +1) = 0
x2 - (sum of roots ) x + product of roots = 0
∝= -1
x 2 - [(a + 1) + ( b + 1)]x + [(a + 1) ( b + 1)] = 0 The value of k: k = 1- 2α = 1-2(-1)= 3
x 2 - [(a + b ) + 2)]x + [ab + (a + b ) + 1] = 0 \ Roots are -1 and -1 + 4
The roots are -1 and 3.
x 2 - ( 4 + 2 ) x + ( 3 + 4 + 1) = 0
x2 - 6 x + 8 = 0 Alternative Method
This is the required equation. If we let α be the smaller real root, then the other will
be (α + 4).
Part b) To obtain an equation whose roots are 𝛼 # Hence the quadratic equation may be expressed as

m
and 𝛽# , we substitute these roots in: ( x - a ) ( x - (a + 4 ) ) = 0
x - (sum of roots ) x + product of roots = 0
2
( x - a )( x - a - 4 ) = 0

co
x 2 - ( a 2 + b 2 ) x + (a 2 ´ b 2 ) = 0 x 2 - a x - ax + a 2 - 4 x + 4a = 0
x 2 - ( a 2 + b 2 ) x + (a 2 b 2 ) = 0 x 2 + ( -2a - 4 ) x + (a 2 + 4a ) = 0

.
hs
Equating coefficient of x, we obtain
[Recall: (a + b ) = a 2 + b 2 + 2ab ]
2

-2a - 4 = k - 5
(
x 2 - (a + b ) - 2ab x + (ab ) = 0
2
) 2
-2a - 4 = k - 5

x2 - {( 4 )
2
}
- 2 ( 3) x + ( 3) = 0
2
at
k = 1 - 2a
1- k
m
\a =
x 2 - 10 x + 9 = 0 2
This is the required equation. Equating constant terms, we obtain
s
a 2 + 4a = -k
Example 3
as

2
æ1- k ö æ 1- k ö
Given that x + ( k - 5) x - k = 0 has real roots
2 \ç ÷ + 4ç ÷ = -k
è 2 ø è 2 ø
which differ by 4, determine
1 - 2k + k 2
sp

i. the value of each root + 2 - 2k + k = 0

ii. the value of k. 4
1 - 2 k + k 2 + 8 - 8k + 4 k = 0
.fa

Solution k 2 - 6k + 9 = 0
If we let α be the smaller real root, then the other will
( k - 3)
2
=0
be (α + 4).
w

Then the sum of the roots is : α + (α + 4) = 2α +4 k =3

The product of the roots is α(α+4). 1- 3
When, k = 3, a = = -1
w

2
From the given equation x2 + ( k - 5) x - k = 0 , \ Roots are -1 and -1 + 4
w

The sum of the roots is: -(k-5) The roots are -1 and 3.
The product of the roots is: -k
Equating coefficients, we have:

Sum of roots Product of roots

2α +4 = -(k-5) α(α+4) = -k
2α +4 = - k +5 𝑘 = −𝛼(𝛼 + 4) (2)
k = 1- 2α (1)

Equating equations (1) and (2) to eliminate k, we

have:

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