Example 1 : Solve the equation x2 – 7x + 12 = 0

consider x2 – 7x + 12 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
the coefficients are a = 1, b = –7 & c = 12

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
The roots are given by x =
2a
Substituting the values a = 1, b = –7 and c = 12

− (−7) ± (−7) 2 − 4(1)(12)

x=
2 x1

7 ± 49 − 48
x=
2

7± 1
Simplify x =
2
7 +1 7 −1
x = or x =
2 2
8 6
x = or x =
2 2
Roots are x = 4 or x = 3

Example 2 : Solve the equation 2p2 – p = 15

Consider 2p2 – p = 15
2p2 – p – 15 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
The coefficients are a = 2, b = –1 and c = –15

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
The roots are given by x=
2a
Substituting the values a = 2, b = –1 and c = –15

− (−1) ± (−1) 2 − 4(2)(−15)

p =
2(2)

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 + 1 ± 1 + 120
p =
4

1± 121
p =
4

1± 11
p =
4
1+ 11 1− 11
p = or p =
4 4
12 − 10
p = or p =
4 4

−5
p = 3 or p =
2

Example 3 : Solve the equation 2k2 – 2k – 5 = 0

Consider 2k2 – 2k – 5 = 0
This is in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
The coefficients are a = 2, b = –2 and c = –5

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
The roots are given by x =
2a
Substituting the values a = 2, b = –2 and c = –5

− ( −2) ± ( −2) 2 − 4( 2)( −5)

k =
2( 2)

2± 4 + 40 2± 44
k = =
4 4

k =
2 ± 2 11
=
(
2 1 ± 11 )
4 4

1+ 11 1− 11
∴ The roots are k = or k =
2 2
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 c q
ii) Product of the roots mn = =
a 1
∴ mn = q
If one root is (m) then twice the root is (2m)
∴ m = m and n = 2m
m+n = 6
m + 2m = 6
3m = 6
6
∴ m = ∴ m = 2
3
We know that q = mn
q = m(2m)
q = 2m2
q = 2(2)2
q = 8
∴ q = 8

Example 7 : Find the value of k so that the equation x2 – 2x + (k + 3) = 0 has one

root equal to zero.
Consider the equation x2 – 2x + (k + 3) = 0
The coefficients are a = 1, b = –2, c = k + 3
Let ‘m’ and ‘n’ are the roots
Product of the roots = mn
c
∴ mn =
a
k +3
mn =
1
∴ mn = k + 3
Since ‘m’ and ‘n’ are the roots, and one root is zero then
m = m and n = 0 mn = k + 3
∴ m(0) = k + 3
∴ 0 = k + 3
∴ k = –3

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Exercise : 5.8
A. Form the equation whose roots are
3 2 3
1) 3 and 5 2) 6 and –5 3) –2 and 4) and
2 3 2
5) 2 + 3 and 2 – 3 6) –3 + 2 5 and –3 – 2 5

B.
1) If ‘m’ and ‘n’ are the roots of the equation x2 – 6x + 2 = 0 find the value of
1 1
i) (m + n) mn ii) +
m n

2) If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are the roots of the equation 3m2 = 6m + 5 find the value of
a b
i) + ii) (a + 2b) (2a + b)
b a

3) If ‘p’ and ‘q’ are the roots of the equation 2a2 – 4a + 1 = 0 Find the value of
i) (p + q)2 + 4pq ii) p3 + q3
p q
4) Form a quadratic equation whose roots are and
q p
5) Find the value of ‘k’ so that the equation x2 + 4x + (k + 2) = 0 has one root equal
to zero.
6) Find the value of ‘q’ so that the equation 2x2 – 3qx + 5q = 0 has one root which
is twice the other.
7) Find the value of ‘p’ so that the equation 4x2 – 8px + 9 = 0 has roots whose
difference is 4.
8) If one root of the equation x2 + px + q = 0 is 3 times the other prove that 3p2 = 16q

Graphical method of solving a Quadratic Equation

Let us solve the equation x2 – 4 = 0 graphically,
x2 – 4 = 0
∴ x2 = 4
let y = x2 = 4
∴ y = x2
and y = 4

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Step 1: Form table of
corresponding values y = x2
of x and y x=0 y = 02 y=0
Satisfying the equation x=1 y = 12 y=1
y = x2 x=2 y = 22 y=4
Step 2: Choose the scale on x = –1 y = (–1)2 y=1
x axis, 1 cm = 1 unit x = –2 y = (–2)2 y=4
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 3: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on graph
sheet.
Step 4: Join the points by a
smooth curve.
Step 5: Draw the straight line
y = 4 Parallel to x-axis
Step 6: From the intersecting
points of the curve and
the line y = 4, draw
perpendiculars to the
x axis
Step 7: Roots of the equations are x = +2 or x = –2

The graph of a quadratic polynomial is a curve called ‘parabola’

Example 1 : Draw a graph of y = 2x2 and find the value of 3 , using the graph.
Step 1: Form the table of
corresponding values of
x and y satisfying the
equation y = 2x2
Step 2: Choose the scale on x x 0 1 –1 2 –2 3
y 0 2 2 8 8 6
axis, 1 cm = 1 unit and
(x, y) (0, 0) (1, 2) (–1, 2) (2, 8) (–2, 8) ( 3 ,6)
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
Step 3: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 2) (–1, 2); (2, 8) and
(–2, 8) on graph sheet.

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Step 4: Join the points by a
smooth curve

Step 5: Draw the straight line

y = 6 Parallel to x-axis.

Step 6: From the intersecting

points of the curve and
the line y = 6, draw
perpendiculars to the
x-axis.

Step 7: Value of 3 = ± 1.7

x = –1.7 or x = + 1.7

Example 2 : Draw a graph of y = x2 and y = 2-x and hence solve the equation
x2 + x – 2 = 0
Step 1: Form the table of x 0 1 –1 2 –2
corresponding values of y 0 1 1 4 4
x and y satisfying the (x, y) (0, 0) (1, 1) (–1, 1) (2, 4) (–2, 4)
equation y = x2
x 0 1 –1 2 –2
Step 2: Form the table of
corresponding values of y 2 1 3 0 4
x and y satisfying the (x, y) (0, 2) (1, 1) (–1, 3) (2, 0) (–2, 4)
equation y = 2 – x.
Step 3: Choose the scale on x
axis 1 cm = 1 unit and
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 4: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 5: Join the points by a
smooth curve.
Step 6: Plot the points (0, 2) ;
(1, 1); (–1, 3); (2, 0)
and (–2, 4) on graph
sheet
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Step 7: Join the points to get a line.
Step 8: From the intersecting
Curve and the line, draw
perpendiculars to the
x-axis
Step 9: Roots of the equation are ∴ x = 1 or x = –2

Example 3 : Solve the equation

Method I : x2 – x – 2 = 0 x 0 1 –1 2 –2

Split the equation y 2 1 1 4 4

y = x2 and y = 2 + x (x, y) (0, 0) (1, 1) (–1, 1) (2, 4) (–2, 4)

Step 1: Form the table of

corresponding values x
and y satisfying the x 0 1 2 –1 –2
equation y = x2 y 2 3 4 1 0
Step 2: Form the table of (x, y) (0, 2) (1, 3) (2, 4) (–1, 1) (–2, 0)
corresponding values x
and y satisfying the
equation y = 2 + x
Step 3: Choose the scale on
x axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
y axis, 1 cm = 1 unit
Step 4: Plot the points (0, 0);
(1, 1); (–1, 1); (2, 4)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 5: Join the points by a
smooth curve
Step 6: Plot the points (0, 2);
(1, 3) (2, 4); (–1, 1) and
(–2, 0) on the graph
sheet.
Step 7: Join the points to get a
straight line
Step 8: From the intersecting
points of Curve and the
line, draw the perpendi-
culars to the x-axis.
Step 9: Roots of the equation are x = –1 or x = 2

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Method II : x 0 1 –1 2 –2
Step 1: Form the table of y –2 –2 0 0 4
corresponding values of (x, y) (0, –2) (1, –2) (–1, 0) (2, 0) (–2, 4)
x and y satisfying
equation y = x2 – x – 2.
Step 2: Choose the scale on x
axis 1 cm = 1 unit and
y axis 1 cm = 1 unit.
Step 3: Plot the points (0, –2);
(1 –2); (–1, 0); (2, 0)
and (–2, 4) on the graph
sheet.
Step 4: Join the points to form
a smooth curve
Step 5: Mark the intersecting
points of the curve and
the x – axis.
Step 6: Roots of the equations are x = –1 or x = 2

Exercise : 5.9
A. 1) Draw the graph of y = x2 and find the value of 7
2) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and find the value of 3
1 2
3) Draw the graph of y = x and find the value of 10
2
B. 1) Draw the graph of y = x2 and y = 2x + 3 and hence solve the equation
x2 – 2x – 3 = 0
2) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and y = 3 – x and hence solve the equation
2x2 + x – 3 = 0
3) Draw the graph of y = 2x2 and y = 3 + x and hence solve the equation
2x2 – x – 3 = 0

C. Solve graphically
1) x2 + x – 12 = 0 2) x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 3) x2 + 2x – 8 = 0
4) x2 + x – 6 = 0 5) 2x2 – 3x – 5 = 0 6) 2x2 + 3x – 5 = 0

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