How to Solve Quadratic Equation?

Tips & Tricks

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Neeraj Mishra (/user/neeraj-mishra-i-a81536c3-552d-11e5-81a7-

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i- SHARED INFO Aug 12 Bank & Insurance

How to Solve Quadratic Equation? Tips & Tricks

Dear Aspirants,
When we deal with Quadratic Equations problem in Quantitative Aptitude, we
should use time saving tricks. The ideal & fast way to proceed, including the tricks,
is given below:-
1. Write down the table (given below) before exam starts, in your rough sheet, for
use during exam, Analyse the (+, -) signs in the problem, and refer to the table of
signs,
2. Write down the new (solution) signs, and see if a solution is obtained instantly.
If not, then go to step 3.
3. Obtain the two possible values for X & Y, from both the equations,
4. Rank the values and get the solution,
STEP 1
Firstly, when you enter the exam hall, you need to write down the following
master table in your rough sheet instantly (only the signs):-

(https://gs-blog-images.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/blogs/wp-
content/uploads/2016/02/20115437/Quadratic.jpg)
NOTE: The above table should be entered before the exam starts, in rough sheet.
Because, this will save time, and you can refer to it instantly later on.
STEP 2
Try solving the question instantly if possible, by checking whether + or - values
can bring us to a conclusion.
See an example No. 1:-
x2 + 7x + 12 = 0
y2 - 5y + 6 = 0
The signs of Xs equation are + and +, which means their solution is - and -. Both
negative values. (Refer to the table)
The signs of Ys equation are - and +, which means their solution values are + and
+. Both positive values.
Obviously, Xs possible values are both negative... And Ys possible values are
both positive.
Obviously, solution is X < Y. We found out just by looking at the signs which will
take hardly 5 seconds.
So, any question with signs as +, + and -, + can be instantly solved, (unless its
an unsolvable exception like x2 - 6x + 16 = 0, which can have no real integer as
answer. But this is a very rare occasion).
See another example, Example No. 2:-
x2 + 21x - 32 = 0
y2 + 7y - 12 = 0
The questions signs are + and -, for both X & Y equations. Which means X and Ys
values can be both positive or negative, as per master table.... Answer is an instant
CND (Can Not Determine). This takes hardly 5 seconds.
Similarly, any questions 2 equations with all 4 symbols as negative (-, -), will have
each variables value either a positive or negative, so its again a CND.
STEP 3
If you visit Step 3, it means the question is not an instantly solved in Step 2. Here,
we write the 2 possible signs of each variable anyways, as plus or minus, in our
rough sheet.
We must nd the possible values of the variables. Remember, from the 2 symbols
(+ or -) derived from the master table, the rst symbol connects to the bigger
value, and second symbol connects to the smaller value, numerically.
Example 3:-
x2 - 12x + 32 = 0
y2 - 7y + 12 = 0
The questions symbols are -, + which means both values will be positive for each
variable, x and y.
x2 - 4x - 8x + 32 = 0
X (x - 4) - 4 (x - 8) = 0
X = 4, X = 8
y2 - 7y + 12 = 0
y2 - 4y - 3y + 12 = 0
y (y - 4) - 3 (y - 4) = 0
Y= 4, Y = 4
So, X >= Y
This is a very basic example. Lets move on to fractional example.
Example 4 is given below:-
2x2 + 3x - 9 = 0
2y2 - 11y + 15 = 0
+, - means X will be (-) or (+).
-, + means Y will be (+) or (+)
We have to solve it as we cant decide instantly.
Now, due to a variation of a factor attached to squared values, the change in
method is that well have to multiply variable less value (9) with factor of the
squared variable (2), to get 18 for Xs equation.
We factorize 18 as 2 x 3 x 3 and reduce it to 2 values (which add/subtract to 3)
which is 6 x 3.... Now, divide both values by 2, because that is factor of x2.
So, x = -6/2 or +3/2... In other words, x = -3 or 1.5.
Similarly for Y, we know the signs are + and -, which means both values are
positive.
And 15 x 2 = 30. (Again, this is done because y2 has a multiplying factor of 2)
30 = 2 x 3 x 5. (well have to multiply 2 values of these, to arrive at nal 2 values
which add upto 11, which are 6 and 5)
11 = 6 + 5. Now, Divide both 6 and 5 by 2 each, to get respective possible values
of y.
So, x = -6/2, 5/2
y = 3 or 2.5.
STEP 4
Rank all the 4 values carefully, considering - as lower values and + as higher, as
they normally are in mathematics.
For example,
-5 will get rank 4,
-0.8 will get rank 3,
0.4 will get rank 2,
and 4 will get rank 1.
Write the ranks in your rough sheet, besides the values. Check the ranks and see
what conclusion can be derived.
If theres no tie up/ draw among the ranks, then the answer is easy to nd...

(https://gs-blog-images.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/blogs/wp-
content/uploads/2016/02/20121504/Quadratic-2.jpg)
So, as you can see from the table above, when all 4 values are different, and if the
ranks 1 and 2 are together, they make it a senior variable, otherwise, we cant
determine and it becomes a CND.
When they are tied up, then well have to work it out on rank to rank comparison
basis to nd a nal solution, like below. But this we do only in mind:-
Lets carry Example 3 from the Step 3 mentioned before...
X = -8, -4
Y = -4, -3
Xs ranks would be 4,2
Ys ranks would be 2,1. (assuming that ranks 2 & 3 are combined to get rank 2)
We compare them by Best vs Worst method this way:-

(https://gs-blog-images.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/blogs/wp-
content/uploads/2016/02/20121715/Quadratic-3.jpg)
If we ever have to combine a X>Y with X<Y, then its obviously CND. Rest you
guys can gure out. Remember to do this Step 4 in mind itself, writing only the
ranks
(/) on rough sheet and nothing else. Dont make such tables there when the
clock is running out...
Lets solve Example 4 further from where we left:-
x = -6/2, 5/2
y = 3 or 2.5.
Xs ranks are= 4, 2
Ys ranks are= 1, 2.
We compare best to worst, and solve it in mind itself to get Y >= X.
Now let us check some special cases of inequality.
SPECIAL CASES:-
1. SQUARES -Let us take few examples of non equation values. See example No.
5:-
x2 = 1600
y2 = 1600
Answer is CND. Because, a square would always mean possibility of a positive as
well as negative value,
x = 40, -40
y = 40, -40
Hence, any 2 squares or their variations are always CND, irrespective of the
values.
NOTE: Root of a positive value is always positive. If you have to root a negative
value, then the question is wrong, and hence, answer is a CND.
See example No. 6:-
x2 - 243 = 468
y2 + 513 = 1023
Dont touch the pen. Its a CND. Because, ultimately well get a perfect/ imperfect
square, which is always a CND.
2. LINEAR MIXED VARIABLE EQUATIONS
Example 7:-
5x + 4y = 82
4x + 2y = 64
(/) way to proceed is to equate either the Xor Y part of both equations by
One
multiplication any one equation with a positive integar.
Here, best way would be to double the second equation to form 8x + 4y = 128.
We can now substract second equation from rst,
8x + 4y = 128
- 5x + 4y = 82
------------------------
3x = 36
removing 4y from both sides easily to get X=12,
4y = 82 - 5x = 82 - 60 = 22,
y = 5.5,
Theres mostly no positive negative confusion in these cases. So, X > Y is right
here.
In PO & SO examinations in the past, weve had 5-10 questions on this topic. At
the end, remember to practice more and more on this topic, because it can score
some badly needed or easily earned scores within seconds.

Thanks
Team GradeUp

Tags : Bank & Insurance (/banking-insurance)

LIC AAO & ADO 2015 (/banking-insurance/lic-aao-ado)

Quantitative Aptitude (/banking-insurance/quantitative-aptitude)

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Tamjeed (/user/tamjeed-i-f40d2183-6dfd-11e6-8e20-7adc7da43980) Nov 15

(/user/tamjeed-
i- Clerk me ye equations aate h
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Mohd Shahid (/user/mohd-shahid-i-e98053b0-a4eb-11e6-b57e-

(/user/mohd-
shahid- 6905bd35116e) Nov 16
So intelligent
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Vandana Sharma (/user/vandana-sharma-i-1167caa0-ab10-11e6-884a-

(/user/vandana-
sharma-4e35b2132efa) Nov 16
vry nce it's hlp me a lot but rank method is confusng
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(/user/ Firoz
roz- (/user/ roz-i-25be8474-0d21-11e6-bafb-aba1864accfe) Nov 18
i- @Viswanath (/user/viswanath-i-e6c6d212-6172-11e6-a479-
27cb2bf3877c)Vanamala (/user/vanamala-i-e6c6d212-6172-11e6-a479-
27cb2bf3877c)
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Divya Pandey (/user/divya-pandey-i-0ce9bfc7-70e3-11e6-b830-2ddc6c0bbf93)

(/user/divya-
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@chirag tomar (/user/chirag-tomar-i-bec0b9f3-70f7-11e6-ad24-
c18730dbac89)
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Thatsana Devi (/user/thatsana-devi-i-1c830900-b16d-11e6-9497-

(/user/thatsana-
devi- 0bef0f20dd70) Nov 23
1.6q^2+1/2=7/2q,2.12p^2+2=10p. Plz ans this sum
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 Pradeep Kaur (/user/pradeep-kaur-i-fd081100-9552-11e6-88bf-
(/user/pradeep-
kaur- 5e34445cb830) Nov 23
(/) Some mistake in the last mixed variable type
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Thatsana Devi (/user/thatsana-devi-i-1c830900-b16d-11e6-9497-

(/user/thatsana-
devi- 0bef0f20dd70) Nov 23
No sir sbi po 20.08.2000 qus
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Imtiyaz Ali Baig (/user/imtiyaz-ali-baig-i-29293bf0-68e0-11e6-890b-

(/user/imtiyaz-
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Super
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(/user/- . (/user/-i-8e9bc850-b51a-11e6-bc0e-2e0d2003c8b2) Nov 29

i- Useful but factorization is little confusion
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