NATURE OF ROOTS Nature of roots has to deal with the type of roots the equation has, i.e.

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

The graph of ax2 + bx + c = 0 crosses the x axis at two distinct points

a>0

2. has complex roots or imaginary roots

If b24ac<0, we shall obtain no real root or the equation

No real root x

No real root 3. If b2 4ac = 0: The roots are real and equal.

The equation can be said to form a perfect square

The roots are equal to

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)

So the value(s) of k to have real roots is k < Example

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

The graph of such function is a parabola

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