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
- 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:
- 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:
- 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:
- 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:
$x = \frac{{-b \pm \sqrt{D}}}{2a}$
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.
$D = (-4)^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 4 = 16 - 16 = 0$
Since $D = 0$, the equation has one repeated real root, which can be calculated as:
$x = \frac{{-b}}{2a} = \frac{{4}}{2} = 2$
$D = 2^2 - 4 \cdot 1 \cdot 5 = 4 - 20 = -16 < 0$
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.