Sum and Product of the roots

Steps:
1. Set the equation equal to 0
2. Determine a,b and c

b
S
a

c
P
a

Sum of the
roots!

Product of
the roots!

3. Use appropriate formula

Page 3
For the given quadratic equations, find
#4:

a) sum of the roots and

a4
b 1
c 3

b) product of the roots.

#2:

x2 9x 5 0

a 1
b9
c5

b
S
a

9
S
1

9
S
9
1

4x2 x 3 0

c
P
a

b
S
a

c
P
a

5
P
1

1
S
4

3
P
4

P5

1
S
4

Page 3
#10:

2m 2 5m
5m 5m
2

Write a quadratic equation given the

sum and the product. To do this, we
use the equation:

2m 2 5m 2 0
a2
b 5
c2

x 2 Sx P 0

b
S
a

c
P
a

5
S
2

2
P
2

5
S
2

P 1

Sum of
roots
#14:

Product
of roots

sum 16, product 80

x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 16 x 80 0
x 2 16 x 80 0

Notice the sign of the sum changes!

The sign of the product stays the same!

#16:

sum 6, product 8
x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 6 x 8 0
x2 6x 8 0

5
r1 r2 , r1r2 1
2

#18:

x 2 Sx P 0
5
2
x x 1 0
2
5
2
x x 1 0
2
You may not see this answer
written this way on a test, so
lets rewrite it.

5
2 x 2 x 21 2 0
2
2

2x 2 5x 2 0

Page 3

Write a quadratic equation whose

roots are given:
#20:

Page 3

2,10

sum 2 10 12
product 2 10 20
x Sx P 0
2

x 2 12 x 20 0

x 2 12 x 20 0

Steps:
1. Find the sum of the roots (by
adding them)
2. Find product of the roots (by
multiplying them)
3. Use sum/product equation to
write the equation

#22:

8,8
sum 8 8 0

product 8 8 64

x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 0 x 64 0

x 2 64 0

#24:

3, 3

Page 3

sum 3 3 0
product 3 3 9 3

x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 0 x 3 0

x2 3 0

#30:

2 i ,2 i

#32:

Page 3

2 3 ,2 3

sum 2 i 2 i 4

sum 2 3 2 3 4

product 2 i 2 i 5

product 2 3 2 3 1

x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 4 x 5 0

x2 4x 5 0

x 2 Sx P 0

x 2 4 x 1 0

x2 4x 1 0

For the given equation, one root is

given. Find the other root.
#38:

x 2 11x k 0, r1 5
Remember the equation:

The sum is
the number
with the x
term, and
remember
that the
sign
changes!

Page 3
#42:

x 2 kx 16 0, r1 8
x 2 Sx P 0

x Sx P 0

x 2 kx 16 0

x 2 11x k 0

S k , P 16

S 11, P k

5 r2 11

If we know that one

root is 5, and the sum
of the roots is 11,
then:

r2 6

SO

8 r2 16
r2 2

Remember, some roots always come

in pairs:

r1 3 2i
What does root 2 have to be?
It has to be the conjugate of root 1.

The same is true for the

following:

r1 1 3
r2 1 3

r2 3 2i

Imaginary roots and radical roots always come in pairs!!

Homework

Page 3
#3,6,9,13,15,17,19,29
,33,39,41