Example 2:: Find The Zeroes of The Quadratic Polynomial X
Example 2:: Find The Zeroes of The Quadratic Polynomial X
b − (Coefficient of x)
i.e., sum of zeroes = α + β = − = ,
a Coefficient of x2
c Constant term
product of zeroes = αβ = = .
a Coefficient of x 2
Let us consider some examples.
Example 2 : Find the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial x2 + 7x + 10, and verify the
relationship between the zeroes and the coefficients.
Solution : We have
x2 + 7x + 10 = (x + 2)(x + 5)
So, the value of x2 + 7x + 10 is zero when x + 2 = 0 or x + 5 = 0, i.e., when x = – 2 or
x = –5. Therefore, the zeroes of x2 + 7x + 10 are – 2 and – 5. Now,
−(7) – (Coefficient of x) ,
sum of zeroes = – 2 + (– 5) = – (7) = =
1 Coefficient of x 2
10 Constant term
product of zeroes = (− 2) × (− 5) = 10 = = ⋅
1 Coefficient of x 2
Example 3 : Find the zeroes of the polynomial x2 – 3 and verify the relationship
between the zeroes and the coefficients.
Solution : Recall the identity a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b). Using it, we can write:
(
x2 – 3 = x − 3 x + 3 )( )
So, the value of x2 – 3 is zero when x = 3 or x = – 3⋅
− (Coefficient of x) ,
sum of zeroes = 3− 3= 0 =
Coefficient of x2
Example 4 : Find a quadratic polynomial, the sum and product of whose zeroes are
– 3 and 2, respectively.
Solution : Let the quadratic polynomial be ax2 + bx + c, and its zeroes be α and β.
We have
−b ,
α+β= –3=
a
c.
and αβ = 2 =
a
If a = 1, then b = 3 and c = 2.
So, one quadratic polynomial which fits the given conditions is x2 + 3x + 2.
You can check that any other quadratic polynomial that fits these conditions will
be of the form k(x2 + 3x + 2), where k is real.
Let us now look at cubic polynomials. Do you think a similar relation holds
between the zeroes of a cubic polynomial and its coefficients?
Let us consider p(x) = 2x3 – 5x2 – 14x + 8.
1
You can check that p(x) = 0 for x = 4, – 2, ⋅ Since p(x) can have atmost three
2
zeroes, these are the zeores of 2x3 – 5x2 – 14x + 8. Now,
1 5 − (−5) − (Coefficient of x 2 )
sum of the zeroes = 4 + ( −2) + = = = ,
2 2 2 Coefficient of x 3
1 −8 – Constant term
product of the zeroes = 4 × ( −2) × = −4 = = .
2 2 Coefficient of x 3
However, there is one more relationship here. Consider the sum of the products
of the zeroes taken two at a time. We have
{4 × (− 2)} + (− 2) ×
1 1
+ × 4
2 2
−14 Coefficient of x
= – 8 −1+ 2 = −7 = = .
2 Coefficient of x3
In general, it can be proved that if α, β, γ are the zeroes of the cubic polynomial
ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, then
–b
α+β+γ=
,
a
c
αβ + βγ + γα = ,
a
–d
α β γ = .
a
Let us consider an example.
1
Example 5* : Verify that 3, –1, − are the zeroes of the cubic polynomial
3
p(x) = 3x3 – 5x2 – 11x – 3, and then verify the relationship between the zeroes and the
coefficients.
Solution : Comparing the given polynomial with ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, we get
a = 3, b = – 5, c = –11, d = – 3. Further
p(3) = 3 × 33 – (5 × 32) – (11 × 3) – 3 = 81 – 45 – 33 – 3 = 0,
p(–1) = 3 × (–1)3 – 5 × (–1)2 – 11 × (–1) – 3 = –3 – 5 + 11 – 3 = 0,
3 2
1 1 1 1
p − = 3 × − − 5 × − − 11 × − − 3 ,
3 3 3 3
1 5 11 2 2
= – − + −3=– + =0
9 9 3 3 3
1
Therefore, 3, –1 and − are the zeroes of 3x3 – 5x2 – 11x – 3.
3
1
So, we take α = 3, β = –1 and γ = − ⋅
3
Now,
1 1 5 −(−5) −b ,
α + β + γ = 3 + (−1) + − = 2 − = = =
3 3 3 3 a
1 1 1 −11 c ,
αβ + β γ + γ α = 3 × (−1) + (−1) × − + − × 3 = − 3 + − 1 = =
3 3 3 3 a
1 − ( −3) − d .
αβγ = 3 × ( −1) × − = 1 = =
3 3 a
EXERCISE 2.2
1. Find the zeroes of the following quadratic polynomials and verify the relationship between
the zeroes and the coefficients.
(i) x2 – 2x – 8 (ii) 4s2 – 4s + 1 (iii) 6x2 – 3 – 7x
(iv) 4u2 + 8u (v) t2 – 15 (vi) 3x2 – x – 4
2. Find a quadratic polynomial each with the given numbers as the sum and product of its
zeroes respectively.
1, 1
(i) −1 (ii) 2, (iii) 0, 5
4 3
1, 1
(iv) 1, 1 (v) − (vi) 4, 1
4 4
Example 9 : Find all the zeroes of 2x4 – 3x3 – 3x2 + 6x – 2, if you know that two of
its zeroes are 2 and − 2 .
2 x2 – 3 x + 1
x2 – 2 2x4 – 3 x3 – 3 x2 + 6x – 2 2x4
First term of quotient is 2
= 2 x2
2 x4 – 4 x2 x
– +
–3x 3 + x2 + 6 x – 2 −3x3
Second term of quotient is = − 3x
–3x3 + 6x x2
+ –
2
x –2 x2
x 2
–2 Third term of quotient is 2 = 1
x
– +
0
Now, by splitting –3x, we factorise 2x 2 – 3x + 1 as (2x – 1)(x – 1). So, its zeroes
1
are given by x = and x = 1. Therefore, the zeroes of the given polynomial are
2
1
2, − 2, , and 1.
2
EXERCISE 2.3
1. Divide the polynomial p(x) by the polynomial g(x) and find the quotient and remainder
in each of the following :
(i) p(x) = x3 – 3x2 + 5x – 3, g(x) = x2 – 2
(ii) p(x) = x4 – 3x2 + 4x + 5, g(x) = x2 + 1 – x
(iii) p(x) = x4 – 5x + 6, g(x) = 2 – x2
2. Check whether the first polynomial is a factor of the second polynomial by dividing the
second polynomial by the first polynomial:
(i) t2 – 3, 2t4 + 3t3 – 2t2 – 9t – 12
(ii) x2 + 3x + 1, 3x4 + 5x3 – 7x2 + 2x + 2
(iii) x3 – 3x + 1, x5 – 4x3 + x2 + 3x + 1
5 5
and – ⋅
3. Obtain all other zeroes of 3x4 + 6x3 – 2x2 – 10x – 5, if two of its zeroes are
3 3
4. On dividing x3 – 3x2 + x + 2 by a polynomial g(x), the quotient and remainder were x – 2
and –2x + 4, respectively. Find g(x).
5. Give examples of polynomials p(x), g(x), q(x) and r(x), which satisfy the division algorithm
and
(i) deg p(x) = deg q(x) (ii) deg q(x) = deg r(x) (iii) deg r(x) = 0
4. If two zeroes of the polynomial x4 – 6x3 – 26x2 + 138x – 35 are 2 ± 3 , find other zeroes.
5. If the polynomial x4 – 6x3 + 16x2 – 25x + 10 is divided by another polynomial x2 – 2x + k,
the remainder comes out to be x + a, find k and a.
2.5 Summary
In this chapter, you have studied the following points:
1. Polynomials of degrees 1, 2 and 3 are called linear, quadratic and cubic polynomials
respectively.
2. A quadratic polynomial in x with real coefficients is of the form ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, c
are real numbers with a ≠ 0.
3. The zeroes of a polynomial p(x) are precisely the x-coordinates of the points, where the
graph of y = p(x) intersects the x -axis.
4. A quadratic polynomial can have at most 2 zeroes and a cubic polynomial can have
at most 3 zeroes.
5. If α and β are the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c, then
b c
α +β = − , αβ = .
a a
6. If α, β, γ are the zeroes of the cubic polynomial ax3 + bx2 + cx + d, then
−b ,
α +β + γ =
a
c,
αβ+ β γ + γ α =
a
−d .
and αβγ =
a
7. The division algorithm states that given any polynomial p(x) and any non-zero
polynomial g(x), there are polynomials q(x) and r(x) such that
p(x) = g(x) q(x) + r(x),
where r(x) = 0 or degree r(x) < degree g(x).