QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Single Type
1. The greatest value of f(x) = x3  3x if x4 + 36  13x2, is
(A) 18 (B) 2
(C) 2 (D) 18
Ans: (A)
f(x) = x3  3x  f (x) = 3x2  3
 x4  13x2 + 36  0
 x  [3, 2],  [2, 3]
 f(x) increases in the interval (, 1)  (1, )
Finding the values of f(x) at x = 3, 2, 2, 3.
We get f(3) = 18. which is greatest.

2. The set of values of real parameter 'b' for which the

inequality, 25x  b5x  b + 3  0 has at least one negative
solution, is
(A) (2, 3) (B) (1, 2)
(C) (0, 1) (D) (, )
Ans: (A)

1
 y

O x

t=0 t=1

25x  b 5x  b + 3  0
Let 5x = t (t > 0)
 t2  bt  b + 3  0
 t2 + 3  b(t + 1) (1)
Also for x < 0 t  (0, 1)
Let f(t) = t2 + 3 and g(t) = b(t + 1)
From (1) we see that f(t)  g(t)
t2  3
From (1) we have b  or b  (2, 3)
t 1
as t varies from 0 to 1.

3. If x2 + px  444p = 0 has integral roots, where p is a prime

number, then the value (s) of p is (are)
(A) 2 (B) 3
(C) 2, 3 and 37 (D) 37
Ans: (D)
 p  p 2  4  444p
The equation has integral roots hence x =
2
since p = 2 does not give the integral roots.
 D must be perfect square of on odd integer i.e.
2
 D2 = p2 + 1776p = p(p + 1776)
since D is a perfect square
 p + 1776 must be a multiple of p
 1776 must be a multiple of p
Now 1776 = 24.3.37 where p = 2 or 3 or 37
(i) p = 2 then p(p + 1776) = 2(2 + 1776) = 3556 = 4  7 
127
Which is not a perfect square
(ii) p = 3 then p(p + 1776) = 3(3 + 1776) = 5337 which is
not a perfect square as its last digit is 7.
(iii) p = 37 then p (p + 1776) = 37(37 + 1776) = 372.72 which
is odd. Hence p = 37.

4. The following statements are given for f(x) = x4  4x  1

(i) f(x) has exactly one positive real root
(ii) f(x) has exactly one negative real root
(iii) f(x) has exactly two real roots
The correct statement(s) is (are)
(A) (i) (B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (i), (ii) and (iii) (D) (iii)
Ans: (C)

3
 y

x
0 1

Let f(x) = x4  4x  1
 f (x) = 4x3  4 = 4(x  1) (x2 + x + 1),
so f(x) decreases in (, 1) and increases in (1, ). But f(1)
= 4, so f(x) = 0 has only two real roots in which one will be
positive and one will be negative (as f(0) is negative).

5. Let f(x) = x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 1, and  be a root of f(x) = 0,

then [] is (where [.] represents the greatest integer
function)
(A) 2 (B) 1
(C) 0 (D) 1
Ans: (B)

f(x)

(0, 1)


(1,6)

f(x) = x3 + 3x2 + 9x + 1
4
 f (x) = 3x2 + 6x + 9 = 0
= 3(x2 + 2x + 3) = 3((x + 1)2 + 2) > 0 for all x.
So f(x) is an increasing function  x.
Now f(0) = 1
f(1) = 1 + 3  9 + 1 = 6
So, from graph f(x) = 0 at x =  where 1 <  < 0
So, [] = 1

6. The value of 'a' for which ax2 + sin1(x2  2x + 2) + cos

(x  2x + 2) = 0 has real solution is
1 2

(A)  (B)  
2 2

(C) 2
(D)  2
 
Ans: (B)
Let P = x2  2x + 2 = (x  1)2 + 1  1
So sin1P & cos1P will be defined only for x = 1 as for
sin1 & cos1,   [1, 1]

So given equation reduces to a + = 0, a =  
2 2

7. If 'x' satisfies |x2  3x + 2| + |x  1| = x  3, then

(A) x   (B) x  [1, 2]
(C) x  [3, ) (D) x  (, )
Ans: (A)
|x2  3x + 2| + |x  1| = x  3

5
 x 3
x2  3x + 2 + x  1 = x  3
x2  3x + 4 = 0
2
 3
x   +4 9
=0
 2 4

 No solution

8. If , ,  are the roots of x3  px2 + qx  r = 0, then the

value of ( +   ) ( +   ) ( +   ) is
(A) p3  8r (B) 4pq  p3
(C) 4pq  p3  8r (D) 4pq  8r
Ans: (C)
  +  +  = p,  + +  = q,  = r
 ( +   ) ( +   ) ( +   )
= (p  2) (p  2) (p  2)
= p3  2( +  + )p2 + 4( + + )p  8
= p3 + 4pq  8r

9. The solution of the equation 5 + loga x

5 x loga 5 = 12 is
(A) 2 log5 a
(B) 3 log5 a

(C) 5 log5 a
(D) 2 loga 5

Ans: (A)
5  5x
log a x
= 12 log a 5

 x + 5 x = 12
loga 5 log a 5

6
 6. x = 12 loga 5

x = 2
loga 5

5 = 2
loga x

 log x = log 2
a 5

x= a log5 2 = 2 log5 a

10. Let D =a2 + b2 + c2, a, b being consecutive integers and c

=ab then D is
(A) Always an even integer
(B) Sometimes an odd integer and sometimes an even
integer.
(C) Always an odd integer
(D) Always irrational
Ans: (C)
D = a b c = a b 2 2 2 2 2
 a 2b2

Let b = a + 1
= a  a  1  a (a  1)
2 2 2 2

= a  2a  3a  2a  1
4 3 2

= (a  a)  2(a  a)  1 2 2 2

= (a2 + a + 1)
= a(a + 1) + 1
Always an odd integer
 a(a + 1) is even integer.

7
 Multiple Correct Type
11. In a triangle the length of two larger sides are 10 and 9
respectively. If the angles are A.P, The length of third
side can be.
(A) 5  6 (B) 5  6
(C) 6  5 (D) 6  5
Ans: (A, B)
A,B,C are in A.P LB=60
x 2  100  81 x 2  100  81
cos 60  cos 60 
20x 20x

x 2  10x  19  0
x  5 6

12. If  is a root of the equation 2x(2x + 1) = 1, then the other

root is
(A) 33 + 4 (B) 43  3
(C) –2( + 1) (D) None of these
Ans: (B, C)
Let ,  be the roots of
4x2 + 2x – 1 = 0
     2   1 and   
1
4 2 4

Also 42 + 2  1 = 0
1  2 4 2  2  2
Now 1
       = 2( + 1)
2 2 2

and  = 22 2 = (2(A) 2 = 43  3.

8
13. The value of m so that the equations 3x2 - 2mx - 4 = 0 and
x(x - 4m) + 2 = 0 may have a common roots is
(A) 1 (B)  1
2 2
1 1
(C) (D) -
2 2
Ans: (A, B)
Let  be the common root
Then 32 - 2m - 4 = 0 and 2 - 4m + 2 = 0
2  1
By cross-multiplication, we get  
4m  16m 4  6 12m  2m
2  2  1
  
1
   ; or 2m2 = 1;  m =  1
2m 10 10m 2m 1 m 2

14. If the equation x  ax  b  0 and x

2 2
 bx  a  0 have a common
root, then
(A) a  b (B) ab 0
(C) a  b  1 (D) a  b 1
Ans: (B, C)
If  be the common root, then
  a  b  0 and   b  a  0
2 2

Subtracting,   b  a    a  b   0
Or  a  b   1  0  a + b =0 or  =1
When   1, then from any a – b = 1

9
15. If ,  are the roots of the equation ax2 + 2bx + c = 0 and
 + h,  + h are the roots of the equation Ax2 + 2Bx + C
= 0, then
b B b 2  ac a2
(A) h  (B) 
a A B2  AC A 2
Ac  aC b 2  ac a
(C) h (D) 
Aa B  AC A
2

Ans: (A, B)
We have  +  =  2b and ( + h) + ( + h) =  2B
a A

 2h   2B  2b  h
b B

A a a A
4b 2 4c 4  b  ac 
2

Also      2
       4  2 
2

a a a2
4  B2  AC 
And      2
    h     h   
2

A2
4  b 2  ac  4  B2  AC  b 2  ac
Thus,   
a2
a2 A2 B2  AC A 2

16. If the , ,  are the roots of the equation x3 + bx2 + 3x –

1 = 0 (      , , ,  are in H.P.) then
(A) One of the roots must be 1
(B) One root is smaller than 1, other is greater than 1
(C) b  [3, )
(D) All the roots must be equal
Ans: (A, D)
2
 (HP)


    2  0 (A)

10
 x 3  bx 2  3x  1  0
      b (1)
      3 (2)

  1 (3)

From (A) and (2),   1

From (3),  = 1 and  =  =  = 1.

17. If 5x2 + 2x + 11  A(x – (A)2 + B(x – (B)2 where A, B, a, b

are integer constants, then
(A) A = 3, B = 1 (B) A = 2, B = 3
(C) A = 3, B = 2 (D) A = 4, B = 1
Ans: (B, C)
On comparing coefficients, we get A + B = 5, 2aA – 2bB =
2, Aa2 + Bb2 + Bb2 = 11
Choice (A) is clearly ruled out since A + B = 5.
For choice (B) equations are
2a + 3b = 1, 2a2 + 3b2 = 11  8
a  , a  2
5

For a = 2, b = 1  (B) is correct.

Similarly for choice (C), a = 1, b = 2. For choice (D) the
equations become
4a + b = 1, 4a2 + b2 = 11
 10a2 + 4a – 5 = 0 which does not have integer roots.
Choice (D) is not possible.

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18. If a < 0 then the value (s) of x satisfying x  2a | x  a | 3a 2 2
0

(A) x  a(1  2) (B) x  a(1  2)

(C) x  a(1  6) (D) x  a(1  6)
Ans: (A, C)
x 2  2a  x  a   3a 2  0

x 2  2ax  5a 2  0 x 2  2ax  a 2  0
2a  24a 2 2a  8a 2
x
2
x
2

 1  6 a  
 1 2 a 
 1  6  a 1  2  a
  1  6  a 1  2  a .

19. If b  4ac for the equation ax4 + bx2 + c = 0 then all the
2

roots of the equation will be real if

(A) b > 0, a < 0, c > 0 (B) b < 0, a > 0, c > 0
(C) b > 0,a > 0, c > 0 (D) b > 0, a < 0, c < 0
Ans: (B, D)
Put x2 = y. The given equation becomes
f(y)  ay2 + by + c = 0 (1)
The given equation will have four real roots if (1) has two
non-negative roots.
a
This can happen if   0 , af  0   0, b2  4ac  0
b

 ab  0, ac  0 [ b2 – 4ac  0 is given]

Thus a and b must have opposite sign whereas a, b and c
must have the same sign.
 a > 0, b < 0, c > 0 or a < 0, b > 0, c < 0.
12
20. Let A, G and H are the AM, GM and HM respectively
of two unequal positive integers. Then the equation Ax2
– |G|x – H = 0 has
(A) At least one root which is an integer
(B) Exactly one positive root
(C) At least one root which is a negative fraction
(D) Both roots as fraction
Ans: (B, C)
Let  ,  be the roots.   
|G|
,   H .
A A
As A > |G| > H,
    Positive fraction …(1)
and   negative fraction …(2)
Also AH | G | , D | G | 4AH  0  roots are real and unequal.
2 2

From (2), at least one root is a fraction and of the two roots
one root is positive while the other is negative. Also, (1) 
the positive

Numeric Type
21. The solution of the equation log 7 log 5  
x5  x 0 is
Ans: (4)
log 7 log 5  x5  x 0 
log5  x  5  x 1 
x5  x =5
x 5 5 x

13
 x  5  25  x  10 x

10 x  20

x 2 x  4

22. If x  mx  1  0 and (b  c) x  (c  a) x  (a  b)  0 have both the roots

2 2

common, then product of roots is

Ans: (1)
x  mx  1  0
2
…(1)
(b  c) x  (c  a) x  (a  b)  0
2
….(2)
Note x  1 satisfies (2)
 x  1 satisfies (1)

Thus 1 m 1  0  m  2
Therefore, (1) becomes x  2 x  1  0  ( x  1)  0
2 2

Thus, two roots of (1) are 1, 1.

 Product of roots = 1

23. The harmonic mean of the roots of the equation

(5  2) x  (4  5) x  8  2 5  0 is
2

Ans: (4)
Let ,  be the roots the given equation
4 5 82 5
Then    and  
5 2 5 2

Let H be harmonic mean of  and , then

2 2(8  2 5) 4(4  5)
H   4
  4 5 4 5

14
24. If  7  4 3   
x2 2 x2 2
 74 3  14 , then the positive integral value
of x is
Ans: (1)
Let  7  4 3 
x2 2
a

 a
1
 14  a2 – 14a + 1 = 0
a
14  196  4
 a 74 3
2

 7  4 3  
x 2 2
74 3  x2  2  1 x 3

& 7  4 3   x2 – 2 = 1  x = ± 1
x2 2
74 3

 Positive value of x is 1.

25. The real value of a for which the sum of the squares of
the roots of the equation x2 – (a – 2)x – a – 1 = 0 assume
the least value is
Ans: (1)
Discriminant of the equation is (a – 2)2 + 4(a + 1) = a2  4a
+ 4 + 4a + 4=
= a2 + 8 > 0 as a  R
 Roots of the equation are real. Let these roots e  and .
Then  +  = a – 2,  =   a  1
We have 2 + 2 = ( + )2 - 2 = (a – 2)2 + 2(a + 1)
= a2 – 4a + 4 + 2a + 2 = a2 – 2a + 6
= (a – 1)2 + 5
Thus, 2 + 2 is least when a = 1.

15
26. If the roots of the equation  b  c  x   c  a  x   a  b   0 be equal
2

and a  c  kb . Then the value of k =

Ans: (2)
put x = 1
(b – c) + (c – a) + (a – b) =0
so x = 1 is the root by (b – c) x2 + (c – a) x + (a – b) = 0
roots are equal.
product of roots = ab  bc  1
a–b=b–c;  a + c= 2b then k = 2

27. If the product of the roots of the equation

x  2 2kx  2e
2
 1  0 is 31, then the roots of the equation are
2ln k

real for k =
Ans: (4)
2e2log k  1  31  2k 2  32  k  4

But k  0 there fore k = 4

Now D  0  8k  8e  4  8k
2 2log k 2
 8k 2  4  0

for all k, Hence k = 4

28. Given that  ,  are roots of the equation Ax 2

 4x  1  0 and  ,
are the roots of the quation Bx  6x  1  0 , if 2
 ,  , and  are
in H.P. then find the value of B
Ans: (8)
1 1 1 1
 ,  ,  ,  , are in H.P. , , , are in A.P.
   

16
 a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d, replacing x by 1x we get the
1 1 1 1
equation where roots are , , ,
   
etc. x2  4 x  A  0 has roots a
– 3d, a + d and x  6x  B  0 has roots a – d, a + 3d.
2

sum = 2(a – d) = 4,
2(a + d) = 6
5 1
 a  ,d 
2 2

product = (a – 3d)(a +d) =A =3

(a – d)(a +3d) = B =8

29. The number of real roots of ( x  3)4  ( x  5) 4  16 is

Ans: (2)
35
Put y  x  x4
2
The equation (1) becomes ( y  1)4  ( y  1)4  16

 2[ y 4
 6 y 2  1]  16  y4  6 y2  7  0

 (y 2
 7)( y 2  1)  0  y 2  7 or y2  1

 y   7i or y  1  x  4  7i or x  4 1  5 or -3
Thus, the given equation has two real roots.

30. The number of integral values of a for which the

inequality 3  x  a  x is satisfied by at least one negative
2

x, must be equal to
Ans: (6)
Given inequality is

17
3  x  a  x2 ….(i)
 x  a  3  x2

Or 3  x 2  x  a   3  x 2 

Or x  x  a  3  0 ….(ii)
2

And x  x   a  3  0 …(iii)
2

If ,       be the real and unequal roots of the

corresponding, equation of eq. (i) for all x   ,  . Since Eq.
(i) will have at least one negative solution. The
corresponding equation of (ii) and (iii) are
x  x a 3  0
2
….(iv)
And x  x   a  3  0 ….(v)
2

Respectively.
Both eqs. (iv) and (v) should have real and unequal roots,
then
1  4.1.  a  3  0 and 1  4.  a  3  0

i.e. a
13
and a
13
…..(vi)
4 4
1 13  4a 
Roots of eq. (iv) are
2
One of these will be negative provided
13  4a  1
i.e. a  3
And roots of eq. (v) are
1 13  4a 

2
So, it has one negative root.

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Combining eqs. (vi) and (vii), we get
13
 a3
4
 Integral values of a are –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2.
Total number = 6

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