Mathematics PRMO – Theory of Equations

1 Given that 2x2 –5x – a = 0is a quadratic equation in x, ‘a’ is a parameter. If the ratio of its two roots x1
: x2 = 2 : 3, find the value of x2 – x1
Solution:
Let x1 = 2t, x2 = 3t, where t is some real number. By Viete Theorem,
5 1
5t = x1 + x2 =  t = .
2 2
1
 x2 – x1 = t =
2
2 Given that the two roots of the equation x2 + px + q = 0 are 1 greater than the two roots of the
1
equation x 2 + 2qx + p = 0 respectively. Find the solutions to each of the two equations.
2
Solution:
Let x2 + px + q = 0 (i)
1
x2 + 2qx + p = 0, (ii)
2
and let ,  be the roots of (i), then the roots of (ii) are  - 1,  - 1.
By Viete Theorem,
 +  = -p (iii)
 = q, (iv)
 + - 2 = -2q (v)
1
( - 1) ( - 1) = p . (vi)
2
By (iii) – (iv)
-p + 2q = 2. (vii)
Then (iv) – (v) – (vi).
-p + 6q = 2. (viii)
Then (viii) – (vii) yields q = 0, p = –2, hence the equation (i) is x2 – 2x = 0, its roots  = 0,  = 2.
Similarly, the equation (ii) is x2 – 1 = 0, its roots are x1 = –1 =  – 1, x2 = 1 =  – 1.

3 , are the real roots of the equation x2 – px + q = 0. Find the number of the pairs (p, q) such that the
quadratic equation with roots 2, 2 is still x2 – px + q = 0
Solution:
Viete theorem produces
 +  = p,  = q, 2 + 2 = p, 22 = q.
From q2 = q, it follow that q = 0 or 1. Since p = ( + )2 – 2 = p2 – 2q,
When q = 0, then p = 0 or 1. So (p, q) = (0, 0) or (1, 0).
When q = 1, then p = -1 or 2. But x2 + x + 1 = 0 has no real root when p = -1, so p = 2 and (p, q) =
(2,1).
 Thus, there are three desired pairs for (p, q)
1
4 Given that the sum of squares of real roots to the equation 2x 2 + ax − 2a + 1 = 0 is 7 , find the value
4
of a.
Solution:
a −2a + 1 1
Let ,  be roots of the equation, then  +  = − ,  = , and  2 + 2 = 7 ,
2 2 4
1  −2a + 1  33
so (  +  ) = 7 + 2  = − 2a,
2

4  2  4
a 2 33
= − 2a ,
4 4
a + 8a – 33 = 0  (a – 3) (a + 11) = 0  a = 3 or –11.
2

Since  = a2 + 16a – 8  0, so
16 − 288 −16 + 288
a  −11, or a   0,
2 2
5 Given that  and  are the real roots of x2 – 2x – 1 = 0. Find the value of 54 + 123 .
Solution:
2 = 2 + 1 yields 4 = 42 + 4 + 1 = 12 + 5, and similarly 2 = 2 + 1, 3 = 22 +  = 5 + 2.
Viete Theorem give  +  = 2 and  = 1, thus,
54 + 123 = 5(12 + 5) + 12( + 2) = 60( + ) + 49
= 120 + 49 = 169.

6 Prove that if  and  are the roots of the equation x2 + px + 1 = 0, γ and δ are the roots of the equation
x2 + qx + 1 = 0, then (  −  )( −  )(  +  )( +  ) = q2 − p2
Solution:
Viete Thorem gives  +  = −p,  = 1,  +  = q,  = 1.
( −  )( −  )( + )( + ) = [( −  )( + )][( −  )( +  )]
= ( +  −  − )( +  −  −  )
= ( −  )( −  ) =  2 −  2  −  2  +  2
= 2 −  2 − 2 +  2 = (  +  ) − 2  − (  +  ) − 2 
2 2
   
= ( q 2 − 2 ) − ( p2 − 2 ) = q 2 − p2 .
7 What are the co-efficient of x4 and x3 in (x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3) (x – 4) (x – 5)?
Solution:
Coefficient of x4 = – (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5) = –15
Coefficient of x3 = (1  2 + 1  3 + 1  4 + 1  5) + (2  3 + 2  4 + 2  5) + (3  4 + 3  5) + (4  5)
= A (Say)
Observe,
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5)2 = 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + 52 + 2A
2A = 225 – 55 ⇒ A = 85
 1 1
8 If  and  are the roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0, find the value of: +
a + b a + b
Solution:
Given  and  are roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0
a 2 + b + c = 0
−c
 a + b =

−c
Similarly, a + b =

1 1 − − b
+ = + =
a + b a + b c c ac

9 If ,  are the roots of x2 + ax + b = 0, then prove that / is a root of the equation: bx2 + (2b – a2)x +
b = 0.
Solution:

Now, putting x = in bx 2 + ( 2b − a 2 ) x + b , we get

2 
b 2 + ( 2b − a 2 ) + b
 
b 2 + ( 2b − a 2 )  + b2
=
2
b( 2 + 2 ) + ( 2b − a 2 ) 
=
2
b(a 2 − 2b) + ( 2b − a 2 ) b
=
2
=0

x= is a root

10 If ,  be the roots of x3 + 2px2 – qx + 2r = 0 such that  = –2 and r  0, then
Option:
(a) r2 + 2pr = 2 – q (b) r2 + pr = q – 1 (c) r2 + 2pr = q – 2
(d) None of these
Answer: (a)
Solution:
Let ,  and  be the roots of x3 + 2px2 – qx + 2r = 0
 .. = −2r
( −2). = −2r
=r
So, r is one of the root of equation
 Thus, x3 + 2px2 – qx + 2r = 0
r (r2 + 2pr – q + 2) = 0
So, r2 + 2pr = q − 2
a 20 − 2a18
11 Let  and  be the roots of x2– 3x – 2 = 0 with >. If an = n – n for n  1, then is
3a19
Option:
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 6 (d) 2
3
Answer: (a)
Solution:
Given, ,  are roots of x2– 3x – 2 = 0
So,  2 − 3 − 2 = 0
 2 − 2 = 3
Similarly  − 2 = 3
2

also,  +  = 3
 = −2
Now,
a 20 − 2a18 ( 20 + 20 ) − 2(18 + 18 )
=
3a19 3(19 + 19 )
18 (2 − 2) + 18 (2 − 2)
=
3(19 + 19 )
3(19 + 19 )
=
3(19 + 19 )
=1

12 If , , ,  are roots of x4 – 3x2 + x + 2 = 0 then equation having roots:

 + +   +  +   ++ ++
, , and is
   

Option:
(a) x3–1 = 0 (b) (x–1)3 = 0 (c) (x+1)4 = 0 (d) x3–3 = 0
Answer: (c)
Solution:
Given, , , ,  are roots of x4 – 3x2 + x + 2 = 0
Thus,  +  +  +  = 0
or  +  +  = −
 ++   +  +  ++ +  +
= −1 = = =
   
 Roots of required equation will be -1, -1, -1, -1
 Thus equation (x + 1)4 = 0
13 Given that the real numbers s & t, satisfy 19s2 + 99s + 1 = 0 , t2 + 99t + 19 = 0 and st  1 . Find the value
st + 4s + 1
of
t
Solution:
2
1 1
Changing the second equality in the form of 19   + 99   + 1 = 0 , it follows that s and 1/t both are
t t

roots of the equation 19x2 + 99x + 1 = 0.

Therefore, by Viete Theorem,
1 99 s 1
s + = − , and = .
t 19 t 19

st + 4s + 1 1 s 99 4
 = s + + 4 = − + = −5.
t t t 19 19

14 Given p + q = 198, find the integer solutions of the equation x2 + px + q = 0

Solution:
Let (x1, x2) be an integer solution of the given solution. Then x1 + x2 = -p, x1x2 = q, so
198 = p + q = -(x1 +x2) + x1x2 = (x1 – 1)(x2 – 1) –1 ,

 (x1 – 1)(x2 – 1) = 199 = 1.199 = (–1)  (–199).

Letting x1 x2, then x1 – 1 = 1, x2 – 1 = 199 or x1 – 1 = –199, x2 – 1 = –1, so the solution are

(x1, x2) = (2, 200) or (–198, 0)

15 Given that a, b are integers with a > b and the two roots ,  of the equation 3x2 + 3( a + b ) x + 4ab = 0
satisfy the relation  (  + 1) +  ( + 1) = (  + 1)( + 1) Find all the pairs (a, b) of two integers.
.
Solution:
4
First of all,  +  = -(a + b) and  = ab.
3
The condition ( + 1) +  ( + 1) = ( + 1)( + 1) implies
2 + 2 –  = 1, i.e. ( + )2 – 3 = 1,
 (a + b)2– 4ab = 1, i.e. (a – b)2 = 1, so
a – b = 1.
 0 implies 3(a + b)2 16ab = 4[(a + b)2 - (a - b)2] = 4[(a + b)2 - 1],
so (a + b)2 4, i.e.
−2  a + b  2.
Since a – b = 1 so -1  2a  3, i.e. a = 0 or 1. Hence
(a, b) = (0, –1) or (1, 0)
By checking, the two solution satisfy the requirement. Thus there are two desired pairs for (a, b).