(B) Consider the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c

The general form of a quadratic equation in x is , = 0 where a, b, c  Q & a  0 then;

ax2 + bx + c = 0 , where a , b , c  R & a  0. (i) If D > 0 & is a perfect square , then
RESULTS: roots are rational & unequal.
1. The solution of the quadratic equation , (ii) If  = p + q is one root in this case,
2
b  b 4ac (where p is rational & q is a surd)
ax² + bx + c = 0 is given by x =
2a then the other root must be the conjugate
2
The expression b – 4ac = D is called the of it i.e.  = p  q & vice versa.
discriminant of the quadratic equation.
4. A quadratic equation whose roots are  &  is
2. If  &  are the roots of the quadratic equation (x  )(x  ) = 0 i.e.
ax² + bx + c = 0, then; x2  (+ ) x +  = 0 i.e. x2  (sum of roots) x
 
(i)  +  = – b/a (ii)   = c/a + product of roots = 0.
(iii) –  = D /a . 5. Remember that a quadratic equation cannot have
three different roots & if it has, it becomes an
3. NATURE OF ROOTS:
identity.
(A) Consider the quadratic equation ax² + bx + c =
0 where a, b, c  R & a  0 then ; 6. Consider the quadratic expression ,

r
(i) D > 0  roots are real & distinct y = ax² + bx + c , a  0 & a , b , c  R then ;

Si
(unequal). (i) The graph between x , y is always a parabola
(ii) D = 0  roots are real & coincident . If a > 0 then the shape of the
(equal). parabola is concave upwards & if a < 0 then
(iii) D < 0  roots are imaginary . the shape of the parabola is concave
(iv) If p + i q is one root of a quadratic downwards.
.B
equation, then the other must be the (ii)  x  R , y > 0 only if a > 0 & b²  4ac <
conjugate p  i q & vice versa. (p , q  R 0 (figure 3) .
& i =  1 ). (iii)  x  R , y < 0 only if a < 0 & b²  4ac <
0 (figure 6) .
G
@

Carefully go through the 6 different shapes of the parabola given below.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3
y y y

a> 0
a> 0 a> 0 D<0
D>0 D=0

x1 O x2 x O x O x

Roots are real & distinct Roots are coincident Roots are complex conjugate

Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

y
y y

O x O x
a< 0
D>0 a< 0
x1 x2 a< 0
D=0 D<0
O x

Roots are real & distinct Roots are coincident Roots are complex conjugate

1
 11. THEORY OF EQUATIONS :
7. SOLUTION OF QUADRATIC If 1, 2, 3, ......n are the roots of the equation;
INEQUALITIES: f(x) = a0xn + a1xn-1 + a2xn-2 + .... + an-1x + an = 0
ax2 + bx + c > 0 (a  0). where a0, a1, .... an are all real & a0  0 then,
(i) If D > 0, then the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 a a
has two different roots x1 < x2.  1 =  1 ,  1 2 = + 2 , 1 2 3 = 
a0 a0
Then a > 0  x  (, x1)  (x2, )
a3 a
a < 0  x  (x1, x2) , ....., 1 2 3 ........n = (1)n n
a0 a0
(ii) If D = 0, then roots are equal, i.e. x1<>= x2.
In that case Note :
a > 0  x  (, x1)  (x1, ) (i) If  is a root of the equation f(x) = 0, then the
polynomial f(x) is exactly divisible by (x )
a < 0  x 
or (x ) is a factor of f(x) and conversely .
P (x )
(iii) Inequalities of the form 0 can be (ii) Every equation of nth degree (n 1) has exactly
Q (x )
quickly solved using the method of n roots & if the equation has more than n roots,
intervals. it is an identity.

8. MAXIMUM & MINIMUM VALUE of y = ax² + bx + (iii) If the coefficients of the equation f(x) = 0 are
all real and  + i is its root, then   i is

r
c occurs at x =  (b/2a) according as ;
also a root. i.e. imaginary roots occur in

Si
 4 ac  b 2  conjugate pairs.
a < 0 or a > 0 . y   ,  if a > 0 & y
 4a  (iv) If the coefficients in the equation are all rational
 4 ac  b 2  &  +  is one of its roots, then   is
  ,  if a < 0 . also a root where ,   Q &  is not a
 4a 
.B
perfect square.
9. COMMON ROOTS OF 2 QUADRATIC
(v) If there be any two real numbers 'a' & 'b'
EQUATIONS [ONLY ONE COMMON
such that f(a) & f(b) are of opposite signs,
ROOT] :
G

then f(x) = 0 must have atleast one real

Let  be the common root of ax² + bx + c = 0 root between 'a' and 'b' .
& ax2 + bx + c = 0 . Therefore
a ² + b+ c = 0 ; a² + b + c = 0. By (vi) Every equation f(x) = 0 of degree odd has
@

atleast one real root of a sign opposite to that

Cramer’s Rule 2  1
  of its last term.
bc  bc a c  ac ab  a b
ca ca bcbc 12. LOCATION OF ROOTS:
Therefore,  =  .
a ba b a cac Let f (x) = ax2 + bx + c, where a > 0 & a, b, c
So the condition for a common root is (ca   R.
ca)² = (ab ab)(bc bc). (i) Conditions for both the roots of f (x) = 0 to be
10. The condition that a quadratic function f (x , y) greater than a specified number ‘d’ are
= ax² + 2 hxy + by² + 2 gx + 2 fy + c may be b2  4ac  0; f (d) > 0 & ( b/2a) > d.
resolved into two linear factors is that ; (ii) Conditions for both roots of f (x) = 0 to lie
abc + 2 fgh  af2  bg2  ch2 = 0 on either side of the number ‘d’ (in other
words the number ‘d’ lies between the roots
a h g
of f (x) = 0) is f (d) < 0.
OR h b f = 0.
(iii) Conditions for exactly one root of f (x) = 0
g f c
to lie in the interval (d , e) i.e. d < x < e are
b2  4ac > 0 & f (d) . f (e) < 0.
(iv) Conditions that both roots of f (x) = 0 to be

2
 confined between the numbers p & q are
(p < q). b2  4ac  0; f (p) > 0; f (q) > 0 &
p < ( b/2a) < q.

13. LOGARITHMIC INEQUALITIES

(i) For a > 1 the inequality 0 < x < y & loga x
< loga y are equivalent.
(ii) For 0 < a < 1 the inequality 0 < x < y & loga
x > loga y are equivalent.
(iii) If a > 1 then loga x < p  0 < x < ap
(iv) If a > 1 then logax > p  x > ap
(v) If 0 < a < 1 then loga x < p  x > ap
(vi) If 0 < a < 1 then logax > p  0 < x < ap

r
Si
.B
G
@

3
1. If the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + px + q = 10. If a, b  R, a  0 and the quadratic equation ax2–
0 are tan 30º and tan 15º respectively, then the value bx + 1 = 0 has imaginary roots then a + b + 1 is
of 2 + q – p is (A) positive (B) negative
(A) 3 (B) 0 (C) zero (D) depends on the sig
(C) 1 (D) 2
11. If both roots of the quadratic equation (2 – x) (x +
2. The roots of the equation 1) = p are distinct & positive, then p must lie in the
(b – c) x2 + (c – a) x + (a – b) = 0 are interval
(A) (2, ) (B) (2, 9/4)
ca a b
(A) ,1 (B) ,1 (C) (––2) (D) (–)
bc b c
12. If the equation k (6x2 + 3) + rx + 2x2 – 1 = 0 and 6k
b c ca (2x2 + 1) + px + 4x2 – 2 = 0 have both roots com-
(C) ,1 (D) ,1
a b a b mon, then the value of (2r – p) is
(A) 0 (B) 1/2
3. If (1 – p) is root of quadratic equation x2 + px +
(C) 1 (D) None of these
(1 – p) = 0, then its roots are
(A) 0, 1 (B) –1, 1 13. If the quadratic equations 3x2 + ax + 1 = 0 and
(C) 0, –1 (D) –1, 2 2x2 + bx +1 = 0 have a common root, then the
value of the expression 5ab – 2a2 – 3b2 is
4. If the roots of the equation x2 + 2ax + b = 0 are real
(A) 0 (B) 1

r
and distinct and they differ by at most 2m, then b
(C) –1 (D) None of these
lies in the interval

5.
(A) (a2 – m2, a2)
2 2
(C) (a , a + m ) 2
(B) [a2 – m2, a2)
(D) None of these Si
The value of a for which the sum of the squares of
the roots of the equation x2 – (a – 2)x – a – 1 = 0
14. The equations x3 + 5x2 + px + q = 0 and x3 + 7x2 +
px + r = 0 have tworoots in common. If the third
root of each equation is represented by x1 and x2
respectivley, then the ordered pair (x1, x2) is
(A) (–5, –7) (B) (1, –1)
assume the least value is
.B
(C) (–1, 1) (D) (5, 7)
(A) 2 (B) 3
(C) 0 (D) 1 15. If  are the roots of the equation x4 – Kx3 +
Kx2 + Lx + M = 0, where K, L & M are real num-
6. Let a > 0, b > 0 and c > 0. Then both the roots of bers, then the minimum value of 2 + 2 + 2 +2 is
G

the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0

(A) 0 (B) –1
(A) are real and negative (C) 1 (D) 2
(B) have negative real parts
@

(C) are rational numbers

6 x2  5 x  3
(D) have positive real parts 16. If  4 , then least and the highest val-
x2  2x  6
7. If  are the roots of quadratic equation x2 + px + ues of 4x2 are
q = 0 and  are the roots of x2 + px – r = 0, then (A) 0 & 81 (B) 9 & 81
( – ) . ( – ) is equal to (C) 36 & 81 (D) None of these
(A) q + r (B) q – r
(C) – (q + r) (D) –(p + q + r) 17. Which of the following graph represents expres-
sion f(x) = ax2 + bx + c (a  0) when a > 0, b < 0 &
8. Let a, b and c are real numbers such that 4a + 2b + c<0?
c = 0 and ab > 0. Then the equation ax2 + bx + c =
0 has
(A) real roots (B) imaginary roots
(C) exactly one root (D) None of these
9. The expression y = ax2 + bx + c has always the
same sign as of ‘a’ if (A)
(A) 4ac < b2 (B) 4ac > b2
(C) ac < b2 (D) ac > b2

4
 23. If  are roots of the equation 2x2 – 35 x + 2 = 0,
then the value of(2 – 35)3. (2  – 35)3 is equal to-
(A) 1 (B) 8
(C) 64 (D) None of these
24. Let  be the roots of (x – a)(x – b)(x – c) = d,
(B) d  0 then the roots of the eduation (x – ) (x – )
(x – ) + d = 0 are
(A) a + 1, b + 1, c + 1 (B) a, b, c
a b c
(C) 1 – 1, b – 1, c – 1 (D) , ,
b c a

25. Consider the equation x2 + 2x – n = 0, where n 

N and n  [5, 100]. Total number of different val-
ues of ‘n’ so that the given equation has integral
(C) roots, is
(A) 4 (B) 6
(C) 8 (D) 3
26. If roots of the equation
ax2 + 2 (a + b) x + (a + 2b + c) = 0 are imagi-

r
nary, then roots of the equation

(D)
Si
27.
ax2 + 2bx + c = 0 are -
(A) rational
(C) equal
Roots of the equation
(B) irrational
(D) complex

( a + b – c) x2 – 2ax+ ( a – b + c) = 0, ( a,b,c Q) are

.B
(A) rational (B) irrational
(C) complex (D) None of these
18. The entire graph of the expression y = x2 + kx – x
+ 9 is strictly above the x–axis if and only if 28. If coefficients of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 
(A) k < 7 (B) –5 < k < 7 0 are real and roots of the equation are non– real
G

(C) k > –5 (D) None of these complex and a + c + b < 0, then

(A) 4a + c> 2b (B) 4a + c < 2b
19. If  are the roots of the quadratic equation x2 – (C) 4a + c = 2b (D) None of these
@

2p (x – 4) – 15 = 0, then the set of values of p for

which one roots is less than 1 & the other root is 29. If one of the factors of ax2 + bx + c and bx2 + cx +
greater than 2 is a is common, then-
(A) (7/3, ) (B) (–, 7/3) (A) a = 0
(C) x R (D) None of these (B) a3 + b3 + c3 = 3 abc
(C) a = 0 or a3 + b3 + c3 = 3abc
20. If  be the roots of 4x2 –16x +  = 0, where  (D) None of these
R such that 1 <  < 2 and 2 <  < 3, then the
number of integral solutions of  is 30. The condition for a2x4 + bx3 + cx2 + dx + f2 may be
perfect square is
(A) 5 (B) 6
(A) 2a2c = a3f (B) 4a2c – b2 = 8a3f
(C) 2 (D) 3 3 3
(C) 4a c = 8a f (D) None of these
21. Number of values ‘p’ for which the equation (p2 –
31. If y = –2x2 – 6x + 9, then
3p + 2) x2 – (p2 – 5p + 4)x + p – p2 = 0 possess
(A) maximum value of y is –11 and it occurs at
more than two roots, is
x=2
(A) 0 (B) 1
(B) minimum value of y is –11 and it occurs at
(C) 2 (D) None of these x=2
22. If product of roots of the equation mx2 + 6x + (C) maximum value of y is 13.5 and it occurs at
(2m – 1) = 0 is – 1, then m equals x = –1.5
(A) – 1 (B) 1 (D) minimum value of y is 13.5 and it occurs
(C) 1/3 (D) – 1/3 atx = –1.5

5
 39. Let  and  be the roots of equation px2 + qx + r =
2x
32. Consider y = , where x is real, then the 1 1
1  x2
0, p  0. If p, q, r are in A.P. and   4 then
range of expression y2 + y – 2 is  
(A) [–1, 1] (B) [0, 1] the value of | – | is [AIEEE - 2014]
(C) [–9/4, 0] (D) [–9/4, 1]
61 2 17
33. The diagram shows the graph of y = ax2 + bx + c. (A) (B)
9 9
Then -
34 2 13
(C) (D)
9 9

40. Let  and  be the roots of equation x2 – 6x –2 = 0.

a10  2a8
If an = n – n, then the value of is equal
2a9
to : [AIEEE -2015]
(A) 3 (B) –3
(A) a > 0 (B) b2 – 4ac < 0 (C) 6 (D) –6
(C) c > 0 (D) b2 – 4ac = 0 41. The roots of the quadratic equation (a + b – 2c) x2

r
34. Let a, b, c be real, if ax2 + bx + c = 0 has two real – (2a – b – c) x + (a – 2b + c) = 0 are -
roots  and , where  < –2 and  > 2, then

(A) 4 
2b c
 0
a a

2b c
(B) 4 
2b c
 0
a a

2b c
Si (A) a + b + c & a – b + c
(B) 1/2 & a – 2b + c
(C) a – 2b + c & 1/(a + b – 2c)
(D) none of these

(C) 4   0 (D) 4   0 42. If the A.M. of the roots of a quadratic equation is

.B
a a a a
8 8
and A.M. of their reciprocals is , then the
35. 2
If both roots of the quadratic equation x + x + p = 5 7
0 exceed p, where p  R, then p must lie in the quadratic equation is -
interval (A) 5x2 – 8x + 7 = 0 (B) 5x2 – 16x + 7 = 0( C )
G

(A) (– , 1) (B) (– , –2) 7x2 – 16x + 5 = 0 (D) 7x2 + 16x + 5 = 0

(C) (– , –2) (0, 1/4) (D) (–2, 1)
43. A quadratic equation with rational coefficients one
FG  IJ
@

36. If a2 + b2 + c2 = 1, then ab + bc + ca lies in the

interval of whose roots is tan
H 12K is -

1  (A) x2 – 2x + 1 = 0 (B) x2 – 2x + 4 = 0 (C)

(A)  , 2 (B) [–1, 2]
2  x2 – 4x + 1 = 0 (D) x2 – 4x – 1 = 0

 1   1 44. If x, y are rational number such that x + y + (x –

(C)   ,1 (D)  1, 
 2   2 2y) 2 = 2x – y + (x – y – 1) 6 , then
(A) x and y connot be determined
37. The quadratic equations x2 – 6x + a = 0 a n d x2 –
cx + 6 = 0 have one root in common. The other (B) x = 2, y = 1
roots of the first and second equations are integers (C) x = 5, y = 1
in the ratio 4 : 3. Then the common root is [AIEEE- (D) none of these
2008]
45. The smallest integer x for which the inequality
(A) 4 (B) 3
(C) 2 (D) 1 x5
2 > 0 is satisfied is given by -
2
x  5x 14
38. If  and  are the roots of the equation x – x + 1 =
(A) – 7 (B) – 5
0, then 2009 + 2009 = [AIEEE - 2010]
(C) – 4 (D) – 6
(A) –2 (B) –1
(C) 1 (D) 2

6
46. The number of positive integral solutions of the 55. The set of values of ‘a’ for which the inequality (x –
2 3 4 3a) (x – a – 3) < 0 is satisfied for all x in the interval
x (3 x  4 ) (x  2) 1x3
inequation  0 is -
(x  5 )5 (2 x  7)6 (A) (1/3, 3) (B) (0, 1/3)
(A) 2 (B) 0 (C) (–2, 0) (D) (–2, 3)
(C) 3 (D) 4 56. If the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + 6 = 0 does not
x2  2x  1 have two distinct real roots, then the least value of
47. The expression lies in the interval ; 2a + b is -
x2  2x  7
(A) 2 (B) – 3
(x  R) -
(C) – 6 (D) 1
(A) [0, –1] (B) ( , 0]  [1 , )
(C) [0, 1) (D) none of these 57. If p & q are distinct reals, then 2 {(x – p) (x – q) +
(p – x) (p – q) + (q – x) (q – p)} = (p – q)2 + (x – p)2
48. If the roots of the equation x2 – 2ax + a2 + a – 3 = 0 + (x – q)2 is satisfied by -
are real & less than 3 then - (A) no value of x
(A) a < 2 (B) 2  a  3 (B) exactly one value of x
(C) 3  a  4 (D) a > 4 (C) exactly two values of x
(D) infinite values of x
49. The number of integral values of m, for which the
roots of x2 – 2mx + m2 – 1 = 0 will lie between – 2 58. The value of 'a' for which the expression y = x2 +
and 4 is - 2a a 2  3 x + 4 is perfect square, is -

r
(A) 2 (B) 0 (A) 4
(C) 3 (D) 1
50. If the roots of the equation, x3 + Px2 + Qx – 19 = 0
are each one more than the roots of the equation,
x3 – Ax2 + Bx – C = 0, where A, B, C, P & Q are
constants then the value of A + B + C =
Si
59.
(B) ± 3
(C) ± 2
(D) a  (–, – 3 ]  [ 3 , )
Set of values of 'K' for which roots of the quadratic
(A) 18 (B) 19
.B
x2 – (2K – 1)x + K(K – 1) = 0 are -
(C) 20 (D) none
(A) both less than 2 is K  (2, )
51. Number of real solutions of the equation x4 + 8x2 (B) of opposite sign is K  (–, 0)  (1, )
+ 16 = 4x2 – 12x + 9 is equal to -
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) of same sign is K  (–, 0)  (1, )
G

(C) 3 (D) 4 (D) both greater than 2 is K  (2, )

(One question multiple - 52) (One question multiple -60)
1 1 1 60. If 1<2<3 < 4 < 5 < 6, then the equation (x
@

52. If the roots of the equation   are –1)(x–3)(x–5)+3(x – 2)(x – 4)(x – 6)=0 has
xp xq r
-
equal in magnitude and opposite in sign, then -
(A) three real roots
(A) p + q = r
(B) no real root in (–, 1)
(B) p + q = 2r
(C) one real root in (1, 2)
1 2 (D) no real root in (5, 6)
(C) product of roots =  (p  q 2 )
2
61. The value(s) of 'b' for which the equation, 2log1/
(D) sum of roots = 1 (bx + 28) = – log5 (12 – 4x – x2) has coincident
25
53. If a, b, c are real distinct numbers satisfying the roots, is/are -
condition a + b + c = 0 then the roots of the (A) b = –12
quadratic equation 3ax2 + 5bx + 7c = 0 are - (B) b = 4
(A) positive (C) b = 4 or b = –12
(B) negative (D) b = –4 or b = 12
(C) real and distinct 62. For every x  R, the polynomial x8 – x5 + x2 – x
(D) imaginary + 1 is -
(A) positive
54. If x2 + Px + 1 is a factor of the expression ax3 + bx (B) never positive
+ c then - (C) positive as well as negative
(A) a2 + c2 = – ab (B) a2 – c2 = – ab (D) negative
2 2
(C) a – c = ab (D) none of these

7
1. A 2. B 3. C 4. B 5. D 6. B 7. C 8. A 9. B 10. A 11. B 12. A 13. B
14. A 15. B 16. A 17. B 18. B 19. B 20. D 21. B 22. C 23. C 24. B 25. C 26. D
27. A 28. B 29. C 30. B 31. C 32. C 33. C 34. D 35. B 36. C 37. C 38. C 39. D
40. A 41. D 42. B 43. C 44. B 45. D 46. C 47. C 48. A 49. C 50. A 51. A 52. BC
53. C 54. C 55. B 56. B 57. D 58. C 59. C 60. ABC61. B 62. A

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