4.3-Nature of Roots

4.3-Nature of Roots Important Formulae

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Grade 10 → Math → Quadratic Equations → 4.3-Nature of Roots

After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Examine the discriminant of quadratic equation in order to find out the nature of its roots.
  • Describe the nature of the roots of a quadratic equation in order to determine that whether a given situation is possible or not.

The nature of roots of a quadratic equation plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of the equation. A quadratic equation can be expressed in the standard form:

$ax^2 + bx + c = 0$

where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are constants, and $a \neq 0$. The nature of the roots of a quadratic equation is determined by the discriminant, denoted by $D$. The discriminant is given by the formula:

$D = b^2 - 4ac$

The value of the discriminant helps us categorize the roots into three distinct types:

  1. Two distinct real roots: If $D > 0$, the quadratic equation has two distinct real roots. This means the parabola intersects the x-axis at two points. For example, if $D = 9$, the roots can be calculated using the quadratic formula:
  2. $x = \frac{{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}}{2a}$

    For a specific case, consider the equation $x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0$. Here, $a = 1$, $b = -5$, and $c = 6$. Calculating the discriminant:

    $D = (-5)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 6 = 25 - 24 = 1 > 0$

    Since $D > 0$, the equation has two distinct real roots.

  3. One repeated real root: If $D = 0$, the quadratic equation has exactly one repeated real root. In this case, the parabola touches the x-axis at a single point (the vertex). For example, consider the equation $x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0$. Here, $D$ is calculated as follows:
  4. $D = (-4)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 = 16 - 16 = 0$

    Since $D = 0$, the equation has one repeated real root, which can be calculated as:

    $x = \frac{{-b}}{2a} = \frac{{4}}{2} = 2$

  5. Two complex roots: If $D < 0$, the quadratic equation has no real roots but has two complex roots. In this case, the parabola does not intersect the x-axis. For example, consider the equation $x^2 + 2x + 5 = 0$. Here, we calculate the discriminant:
  6. $D = 2^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 5 = 4 - 20 = -16 < 0$

    Since $D < 0$, the roots can be expressed in terms of complex numbers:

    $x = \frac{{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}}{2a} = \frac{{-2 \pm \sqrt{-16}}}{2} = \frac{{-2 \pm 4i}}{2} = -1 \pm 2i$

The nature of roots is fundamental in quadratic equations, impacting their graphical representation and applications in various fields. Understanding the discriminant allows one to predict the behavior of the equation without explicitly solving it.

In summary, the nature of roots provides insights into the solutions of quadratic equations, enhancing problem-solving techniques in mathematics.


Quadratic equation solution cases depending on sign of discriminant in quadratic formula.
Gupix87, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Find the nature of the roots of the following quadratic equations. If the real roots exist, find them:

(i) $2x^2–3x+5=0 $
(ii) $3x^2–4\sqrt{3}x+4=0$
(iii) $2x^2–6x+3=0$

Solution:

Nature of the roots of the following quadratic equations:
(i) $2x^2 – 3x + 5 = 0$
The discriminant is given by $D = b^2 - 4ac$
Here, $a = 2$, $b = -3$, and $c = 5$
$D = (-3)^2 - 4(2)(5) = 9 - 40 = -31$
Since $D < 0$, the roots are imaginary.

(ii) $3x^2 – 4\sqrt{3}x + 4 = 0$
The discriminant is given by $D = b^2 - 4ac$
Here, $a = 3$, $b = -4\sqrt{3}$, and $c = 4$
$D = (-4\sqrt{3})^2 - 4(3)(4) = 48 - 48 = 0$
Since $D = 0$, the roots are real and equal.
The roots are given by $x = \frac{-b}{2a} = \frac{-(-4\sqrt{3})}{2(3)} = \frac{4\sqrt{3}}{6} = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}$

(iii) $2x^2 – 6x + 3 = 0$
The discriminant is given by $D = b^2 - 4ac$
Here, $a = 2$, $b = -6$, and $c = 3$
$D = (-6)^2 - 4(2)(3) = 36 - 24 = 12$
Since $D > 0$, the roots are real and distinct.
The roots are given by $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}{2a} = \frac{-(-6) \pm \sqrt{12}}{2(2)} = \frac{6 \pm 2\sqrt{3}}{4} = \frac{3 \pm \sqrt{3}}{2}$

Find the values of k for each of the following quadratic equations, so that they have two equal roots.

(i) $2x^2 +kx+3=0$
(ii) $kx(x–2)+6=0$

Solution:

(i) $2x^2 + kx + 3 = 0$
The quadratic equation is $2x^2 + kx + 3 = 0$. For the equation to have two equal roots, the discriminant must be zero. The discriminant $\Delta$ of a quadratic equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ is given by: $$\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$$ Here, $a = 2$, $b = k$, and $c = 3$. Substituting these values into the discriminant formula: $$\Delta = k^2 - 4(2)(3)$$ $$\Delta = k^2 - 24$$ For equal roots, $\Delta = 0$: $$k^2 - 24 = 0$$ $$k^2 = 24$$ $$k = \pm \sqrt{24}$$ $$k = \pm 2\sqrt{6}$$ Thus, the values of $k$ are $k = 2\sqrt{6}$ and $k = -2\sqrt{6}$.

(ii) kx(x – 2) + 6 = 0
The quadratic equation is $kx(x - 2) + 6 = 0$. Expanding the equation: $$kx^2 - 2kx + 6 = 0$$ For the equation to have two equal roots, the discriminant must be zero. The discriminant $\Delta$ of the quadratic equation $kx^2 - 2kx + 6 = 0$ is given by: $$\Delta = (-2k)^2 - 4(k)(6)$$ $$\Delta = 4k^2 - 24k$$ For equal roots, $\Delta = 0$: $$4k^2 - 24k = 0$$ $$4k(k - 6) = 0$$ So, $k = 0$ or $k = 6$. Thus, the values of $k$ are $k = 0$ and $k = 6$.

Is it possible to design a rectangular mango grove whose length is twice its breadth, and the area is 800 m$^2$? If so, find its length and breadth.

Solution:

Is it possible to design a rectangular mango grove whose length is twice its breadth, and the area is 800 m$^2$? If so, find its length and breadth.

Let the breadth of the rectangular mango grove be $b$ meters. Then, the length of the mango grove is $2b$ meters, as given in the problem.

The area of a rectangle is given by the formula:

Area = Length $\times$ Breadth

Substituting the values, we get:

Area = $2b \times b = 800$

This simplifies to:

$2b^2 = 800$

Now, divide both sides by 2:

$b^2 = 400$

Taking the square root of both sides:

$b = \sqrt{400}$

$b = 20$ meters

Since the length is twice the breadth, the length is:

Length = $2b = 2 \times 20 = 40$ meters

Therefore, the breadth of the mango grove is 20 meters, and the length is 40 meters.

Is the following situation possible? If so, determine their present ages. The sum of the ages of two friends is 20 years. Four years ago, the product of their ages in years was 48.

Solution:

Problem:

The sum of the ages of two friends is 20 years. Four years ago, the product of their ages in years was 48. Is this situation possible? If so, determine their present ages.

Solution:

Let the present ages of the two friends be $x$ and $y$ years.

According to the first condition, the sum of their ages is 20 years:

$x + y = 20$

According to the second condition, four years ago, the product of their ages was 48 years:

$(x - 4)(y - 4) = 48$

Expanding the second equation:

$xy - 4x - 4y + 16 = 48$

$xy - 4x - 4y = 32$

Now, substitute $x + y = 20$ into the equation:

Since $x + y = 20$, we can write $4x + 4y = 80$. Substituting this into the equation:

$xy - 80 = 32$

$xy = 112$

We now have the system of equations:

1) $x + y = 20$

2) $xy = 112$

This is a quadratic equation in terms of $x$ and $y$. The quadratic equation can be written as:

$t^2 - (x + y)t + xy = 0$

Substitute $x + y = 20$ and $xy = 112$ into the quadratic equation:

$t^2 - 20t + 112 = 0$

Now, solve this quadratic equation using the quadratic formula:

$t = \frac{-(-20) \pm \sqrt{(-20)^2 - 4(1)(112)}}{2(1)}$

$t = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{400 - 448}}{2}$

$t = \frac{20 \pm \sqrt{-48}}{2}$

Since the discriminant is negative ($\sqrt{-48}$), the quadratic equation has no real solutions.

Therefore, this situation is not possible.

Is it possible to design a rectangular park of perimeter 80 m and area 400 m$^2$? If so, find its length and breadth.

Solution:

Is it possible to design a rectangular park of perimeter 80 m and area 400 m²? If so, find its length and breadth.

Let the length of the rectangular park be $l$ meters and the breadth be $b$ meters.

We are given the perimeter of the rectangle as 80 m and the area as 400 m². The formulas for perimeter and area of a rectangle are:

Perimeter, $P = 2(l + b)$

Area, $A = l \times b$

From the given data:

1. $P = 80 \Rightarrow 2(l + b) = 80 \Rightarrow l + b = 40$

2. $A = 400 \Rightarrow l \times b = 400$

Now, solve these two equations:

From equation (1), $l + b = 40$, we can express $l$ as:

$l = 40 - b$

Substitute this value of $l$ into equation (2):

$(40 - b) \times b = 400$

$40b - b^2 = 400$

Rearrange the terms:

$b^2 - 40b + 400 = 0$

This is a quadratic equation. Solve it using the quadratic formula:

$b = \frac{-(-40) \pm \sqrt{(-40)^2 - 4(1)(400)}}{2(1)}$

$b = \frac{40 \pm \sqrt{1600 - 1600}}{2}$

$b = \frac{40 \pm \sqrt{0}}{2}$

$b = \frac{40}{2} = 20$

Therefore, the breadth of the park is $b = 20$ meters.

Now, substitute $b = 20$ into $l + b = 40$:

$l + 20 = 40 \Rightarrow l = 40 - 20 = 20$

Thus, the length of the park is $l = 20$ meters.

The length and breadth of the park are both 20 meters.