2.

2
x + 7 x +12=0 ; x1=−3 , x 2=−4

2 3
2 x −3 x −20=0 ; x 1=−2.5∨ , x 2=4
2
3.

Quadratic Equation Sum of Roots Product of Roots

2
x + 7 x +12=0 -7 12
2
2 x −3 x −20=0 1.5 or 3/2 -10

4. What do you observe about the sum and the product of the roots of each quadratic equation in
relation to the values of a, b, and c?

For the first equation, whose a = 1, the sum of the roots is equal to -b. Meanwhile, the product of the
roots is equal to c. We can summarize as follows:

for a=1,
b=−( x 1 + x 2)

c=x 1∗x 2

The second equation is trickier. The sum and products of the roots doesn’t seem to be related to the
equation at first glance. However, if we examine the two closely, the relation is as follows:

If we are to divide the whole quadratic equation by a, we’ll get

2 x 2−3 x−20
=0
2
2 3x
x− −10=0
2
We’ll get new values for a, b and c:

3
a=1 , b= ∨1.5 , c=−10
2
We can see that the observation for the first equation also holds true, after dividing the whole
equation by the original a.

a=1 ,
3
b= ∨1.5=negative of the ∑ of roots , c=−10= product of roots
2
5. Do you think a quadratic equation can be determined given its roots or solutions? Justify your
answer by giving 3 examples.
Yes. The quadratic equation can be generated once we substitute the roots into the formula below,
and expand it

( x−x 1 ) ( x−x 2 )=0

Example 1:
Roots: 8 and 7

(x−8)( x−7)=0
Using the FOILmethod :
2
x −7 x−8 x +56=0
2
x −15 x+56=0
Roots : 4∧−5
(x−4)(x +5)=0
Using the FOILmethod :
2
x + 5 x−4 x−20=0
2
x + x−20=0
Roots :3∧20
(x−3)(x−20)=0
Using the FOILmethod :
2
x −20 x−3 x+ 60=0
2
x −23 x+ 60=0

6. Do you think a quadratic equation can be determined given the sum and product of its roots?
Justify your answer by giving 3 examples.
Yes. From our observations at number 4, we can come up with the following formula:

x 2+ b x+ c=0
Plug in a=1 , b=−( x 1 + x 2 ) , c=x1∗x 2.

We’ll get:
2
x −( x 1 + x2 ) x + ( x 1∗x 2 )=0
This is how we can generate quadratic equations.
Examples:
Roots :12∧3

Product : 36 , ∑ :15
2
x −15 x+ 36=0

Roots :6∧6

Product : 36 , ∑ :12
2
x −12 x+36=0

Roots :−3∧−2

Product : 6 , ∑ :−5

x 2+ 5 x +6=0