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whether they are real or imaginary, rational or irrational, equal or unequal consider the solution of
Three constraints can be placed on the value of D (1) (2) (3) D>0 D<0 D=0
Note D = b2 4ac is called the Discriminant of the equation and it is used to determine the nature of roots of a quadratic equation.
1.
If b2 - 4ac > 0: We shall obtain two real and distinct roots of the equation
a>0
No real root x
Example Examining the diseriminant, describe the nature of roots of the following 1. 2. 3. Solution 1. 2x2 7x + 3 = 0 a = 2, b = -7, c = 3 D = b2 4ac D = (-7)2 4 2 3 = 49 24 D = 25 > 0 Hence the roots of the equation are real and distinct 2. x2 6x + 9 = 0 a = 1, b = - 6, c = 9 D = b2 4ac D = (-6)2 - 419 = 36 36 D=0 It has two equal roots. It is a perfect square 3. 2x2 + 3x +2 a = 2, b = 3, c = 2 D = b2 4ac D = 32 422 = 9 16 = 7>0 2x2 7x + 3 = 0 x2 6x + 9 = 0 2x2 3x + 2 = 0
Hence the roots are not real but imaginary or complex Example For what value(s) of r does the equation x2 (2+r)x + 25 = 0 have equal roots Solution For equal roots to exist b2 4ac = 0 a = 1, b = (2+r), c = 25 [ (2+r)]2 4125 = 0 4+4r+r2 100 = 0 r2 + 4r 96 = 0 (r+12) (r-8) = 0 r = -12 or r = 8 Example Find the value(s) k, if the equation (k+3)x2 (11k+1)x+k = 2(k 5) has equal roots Solution (k+3)x2 (11k+1)x + k 2 (k-5) = 0 a = (k+3), b = (11k + 1), c = k 2 (k 5) For equal roots to exist b2 4ac = 0 [ (11k+1)]2 4 (k+3) [k 2 (k 5)] = 0 (121k2 +22k + 1) 4 (k + 3) (10 k) = 0 121k2 + 22k +1 + 4k2 28k 120 = 0 125k2 6k 119 = 0 (125k+119) (k-1) k = 1 or k = Example Show that the roots of the equation x2 2 (h 2) x + 2h 10 = 0 are real if h be real Find the possible values of h, when the roots of equation differ by 6 Solution i. For the roots to be real, then b2 4ac > 0 a = 1, b = 2 (h-2), c = 2h 10 [2(h-2)]2 4 (1) (2h-10) > 0 4(h2 4h + 4) 4 (2h 10) > 0
h2 4h + 4 2h + 10 > 0 h2 6h + 14 > 0 (h 3)2 + 5 > 0 (Using complete the square method) i.e, if h be real, the square of real quantity is always positive
Adding (1) and (3) together 2 2 Subtract (3) from (1) 2 2 =2 (h 2) 6 = 2h 10 =h5 Substituting = h 2 and = 2h 10 (h +1) (h 5) = 2h 10 (h + 1) (h 5) = 2 (h 5) (h + 1) [(h+1) -2] = 0 (h 5) (h 1) = 0 h = 5 or h = 1 Example If a and b are real, prove that the roots of the equation (3a b)x2 + (b a) x 2a = 0 are real Solution (3a b)x2 + (b a)x 2a= 0 = h 5 into (2) = 6 + 2 (h 2) = 2h + 2 =h+1
For real root to exist (b a)2 4 (3a b) (2a) > 0 b2 2ab+a2 + 24a2 8ab > 0 b2 10ab + 25a2 > 0 (b -5a)2 > 0 If a and b are real, the square of any real number is always positive Example Prove that if a, b and c are real roots of the equation (a2+b2)x2 + 2(a2+b2+c2) x+(b2+c2) = 0 are also real Solution (a2+b2)x2+2(a2+b2+c2)x + (b2+c2) = 0 For real roots [2(a2+b2+c2)]2 4(a2+b2) (b2+c2) > 0 4(a4+b4+c4+2a2b2 + 2a2c2+2b2c2) 4[b4+ a2b2+a2c2+b2c2] > 0 a4+b4+c4+2a2b2+2a2c2+2b2c2 b4 a2b2 a2c2 b2c2> 0 a4+c4+a2b2+a2c2+b2c2 > 0 If a, b and c are real, the square of any real number is always positive Example For what values of the does the equation 10x2+4x+1 = 2kx (2 x) have real roots Solution 10x 2 + 4x + 1 = 4kx 2kx2 10x2+2kx2+4x 4kx+1=0 (10+2k)x2 + (44k)x +1 = 0 For real roots to exist (4-4k)2 4(10+2k) (1) > 0 16 32k +16k2 40 8k > 0 16k2 40k 24 > 0 2k2 5k 3 > 0 (k-3) (2k+1) > 0
We draw our table to show the signs of the individual factor which change sign at
and 3
k< k3 2k +1 +
<k < 3
+ +
k >3
(k-3)(2k+1)
or k > 3
For what values of h does the equation x2 (4+h)x + 9 = 0 have real roots Solution x2 (4+h)x + 9 = 0 For real root to exist [ (4+h)]2 4 (1) (9) > 0 16 + 8h + h2 36 > 0 h2 + 8h - 20 > 0 (h + 10) (h 2) > 0 We draw our table to show the sign of the individual factor which change sign at 10 and 2 h< - 10 (h + 10) (h -2) (h+10)(h 2) + -10 < h < 2 + h>2 + + +
For real roots to exist h < 10 or h > 2 QUADRATIC FUNCTION An algebraic expression of the form ax2+bx+c is called quadratic function of x, where a 0
a>0
a<0
Minimum
Maximum
If a > 0, e.g y = 5x2 + 2x 7, the function has a minimum at the bottom of the curve. If a < 0 , e.g y = 3x2 4x +2, the function has a maximum value at the top of the curve