Name: ______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Period: _______
Ch 5-7.
Chapter 5: Quadratics
Topic 7: Sum and Product of the Root
Sum & Product of the Roots – General
Recall: The ROOTS of an equation are what we get when the equation is set equal to zero and we solve. Also
known as the x-intercepts, the zeros, or the solutions.
We will sometimes be asked to find the sum of the roots and/or the product of the roots.
To find the sum of the roots, we could solve the equation and add together the two solutions.
To find the product of the roots, we could solve the equation and multiply the two solutions.
OR… We can take a shortcut…
Given the standard form:
Sum of the Roots =
Product of the Roots =
Examples: Identify a, b, c. Write the formula. Plug in and reduce.
1. 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 11 = 0
2. 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 = −7 Prove it to yourself! For question #2, factor, solve & find sum
and product by hand. Are they the same?
Multiple Choice Practice:
3. What are the sum(s) and product (p) of the roots the equation 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 27 = 0.
(1) 𝑠 = 3, 𝑝 = 27 (3) 𝑠 = −27, 𝑝 = 2
(2) 𝑠 = −3, 𝑝 = −27 (4) 𝑠 = −27, 𝑝 = −3
4. What is the product of the roots of the equation −8𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 0?
1
(1) – 4 (2) 2
3
(3) 16 (4) −2
Name: ______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Period: _______
Ch 5-7.
Standard equation modified for Sum & Product:
𝒙𝟐 − (𝒔𝒖𝒎)𝒙 + (𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕) = 𝟎
Two very important things to notice:
Write an Equation: Given the SUM & PRODUCT
Two options could happen…
If you’re given integers, just plug in:
5. The sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is 12 and the product is −4. Write a quadratic equation.
If you’re given fractions, get an LCD, plug in, and multiply to clear the denominators:
6. Write a quadratic equation, with integral coefficients whose roots have the following sum and
products:
−3 −1
𝑠𝑢𝑚 = 4
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 2
You try, in your notebook: Write a quadratic equation whose roots have the following sum and product. All
equations must have integral coefficients
7. 𝑠𝑢𝑚 = 4, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = −9
4 2
8. 𝑠𝑢𝑚 = 5 , 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 3
−1 1
9. 𝑠𝑢𝑚 = 6
, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 3
4
10. 𝑠𝑢𝑚 = −3, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 5
Name: ______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Period: _______
Ch 5-7.
Write an Equation: Given the ROOTS
Take the original sum & product equation:
𝑥 2 − 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑥 + 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 0
Think about what sum (addition) and product (multiplication) mean.
If we call the two roots "𝑟1 " and "𝑟2 ", then the sum is 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 , and the product is 𝑟1 ⋅ 𝑟2. We can rewrite the
equation as:
Examples:
11. Write a quadratic formula whose roots are −3 and 7.
Write the formula
Calculate sum
Calculate product
Plug in & simplify
3 1
12. Write a quadratic equation with integral coefficients whose roots are 4 and 2.
Write the formula
Calculate sum
Calculate product
Rewrite with LCD
Plug in & simplify
You try, in your notebook. Write the quadratic equation with integral coefficients which have the following
roots:
2 4
13. Roots: and
5 3
2 5
14. Roots: 3
and 6
15. Roots: (3 + √5) and (3 − √5)
Hint for 18 & 19:
16. Roots: (2 + 3√2) and (2 − 3√2)
Look at the previous examples… what is the relationship
17. Roots: (3 + 4𝑖) and (3 − 4𝑖) between the roots when they are irrational or imaginary?
18. One root of (5 + 6𝑖) __________________ ____________
19. One root of 4 + √7 Use that to determine the second root!
Name: ______________________________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Period: _______
Ch 5-7.
Given an incomplete equation and one root… find the missing value and second root
Example:
20. If a root of the equation 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 is 4, find the second root and the missing value.
Collect the pieces that we know:
𝑎= 𝑏= 𝑐=
Plug in as much as we can…
SUM: PRODUCT:
𝑏 𝑐
− 𝑎 = 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 𝑎
= 𝑟1 ⋅ 𝑟2
Final answer: 𝒌 = 𝒓𝟐 =
21. Given the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑘𝑥 + 18 = 0 with one root of 6, find the second root and the missing value.
Collect the pieces that we know:
𝑎= 𝑏= 𝑐=
Plug in as much as we can…
SUM: PRODUCT:
𝑏 𝑐
−𝑎 = 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 𝑎
= 𝑟1 ⋅ 𝑟2
Final answer: 𝒌 = 𝒓𝟐 =
You try, in your notebook. For these equations, one root is given. Find the second root and the missing value.
22. 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 𝑟1 = −4
23. 2𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 − 15 = 0 𝑟1 = 3
−5
24. 3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 𝑟1 =
3
