2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

CBSE Previous Year Questions: Polynomials

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q1: What should be added from the polynomial x2 – 5x + 4, so that 3 is the zero of the resulting
polynomial? (2024)
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 4
(d) 5

Ans: (b)
Let, f(x) = x2 – 5x + 4
Let p should be added to f(x) then 3 becomes zero of polynomial.
So, f(3) + p = 0
⇒ (3)2 – 5 × (3) + 4 + p = 0
⇒ 9 + 4 – 15 + p = 0
⇒–2+p=0
⇒p=2
So, 2 should be added.

2
Q2: Find the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial x – 15 and verify the relationship between the zeroes and
the coefficients of the polynomial. (2024)

Ans:
x2 – 15 = 0
x2 = 15
x = ± √15
Zeroes will be α = √15 , β = – √15
2
Verification: Given polynomial is x – 15
On comparing above polynomial with
ax2 + bx + c, we have

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

a = 1, b = 0, c = –15
sum of zeros = α + β

Product of zeros = αβ

Hence, verified.

Previous Year Questions 2023

Q3: The graph of y = p(x) is given, for a polynomial p(x). The number of zeroes of p(x) from the graph is
(2023)

(a) 3
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 0

Ans: (b)
Here, y = p(x) touches the x-axis at one point
So, number of zeros is one.

Q4: If α, β are the zeroes of a polynomial p(x) = x2 + x - 1, then 1/α + 1/β equals to (2023)
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) -1
(d) -1/2

Ans: (a)
The polynomial is p(x) = x2 + x - 1.
Step 1: The relationships between the zeroes and coefficients:
b 1
Sum of zeroes (α + β): - = - = -1
a 1
c -1
Product of zeroes (αβ): = = -1
a 1
1 1
Step 2: Simplify + :
α β

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1 1 α+β
+ =
α β αβ
Substitute the values:
α + β -1
= =1
αβ -1
Final Answer: (a) 1

Q5: If α, β are the zeroes of a polynomial p(x) = x2 - 1, then the value of (α + β) is (2023)
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) -1
(d) 0

Ans: (d)
The polynomial is p(x) = x2 - 1.
b 0
Step 1: Sum of zeroes (α + β): - = -
a 1
Step 2: Simplify:
0
- =0
1
Final Answer: (d) 0

Q6: If α, β are the zeroes of a polynomial p(x) = 4x2 - 3x - 7, then (1/α + 1/β) is equal to (2023)
(a) 7/3
(b) -7/3
(c) 3/7
(d) -3/7

Ans: (d)
2
The polynomial is p(x) = 4x - 3x - 7.
Step 1: calculating sum and product of zeroes
b (-3) 3
Sum of zeroes (α + β): - = - =
a 4 4

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

c -7
Product of zeroes (αβ): =
a 4
1 1
Step 2: Simplify + :
α β
3
α+β 4 -3
= =
αβ -7 7
4
3
Final Answer: (d) -
7

Q7: If one zero of the polynomial p(x) = 6x2 + 37x – (k – 2) is reciprocal of the other, then find the value of k.
(CBSE 2023)

Ans: We have,
2
The polynomial is p(x) = 6x + 37x - (k - 2).
Step 1: The relationship between the product of zeroes and coefficients:
c -(k - 2)
Product of zeroes (αβ): =
a 6
It is given that αβ = 1. Substitute this:
-(k - 2)
=1
6
Step 2: Solve for k:
Multiply both sides by 6:
-(k - 2) = 6
Simplify:
k - 2 = -6
k = -4
Final Answer: k = - 4

Previous Year Questions 2022

2
Q8: If one of the zeroes of a quadratic polynomial ( k - 1 )x + kx + 1 is - 3 , then the value of k is (2022)
(a) 4/3
(b) -4/3

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

(c) 2/3
(d) -2/3

Ans: (a)
Given. -3 is a zero of quadratic polynomial (k - 1)2+ kx + 1.
2
∴ (k - 1) (-3) + k(-3) +1 = 0
⇒ 9k - 9 - 3k + 1 = 0 ⇒ 6k - 8 = 0
⇒ k = 8/6
⇒ k = 4/3

Q9: If the path traced by the car has zeroes at -1 and 2, then it is given by (2022)
(a) x2 + x + 2
2
(b) x - x + 2
(c) x2 - x - 2
2
(d) x + x - 2

Ans: (c)
The zeroes of the polynomial are -1 and 2.
Step 1: The polynomial with given zeroes is:
p(x) = a(x - α)(x - β)
Substitute the zeroes α = -1 and β = 2:
p(x) = a(x - (-1))(x - 2) = p(x) = a(x + 1)(x - 2)
Step 2: Expand the polynomial:
p(x) = a[(x)(x) + (x)(-2) + (1)(x) + (1)(-2)]
2
p(x) = a[x - x - 2]
Step 3: Assuming a = 1:
2
p(x) = x - x - 2
Final Answer: (c) x2 - x - 2

Q10: The number of zeroes of the polynomial representing the whole curve, is (2022)

(a) 4
(b) 3
(c) 2
(d) 1

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

Ans: (a)
Given curve cuts the x-axis at four distinct points.
So, number of zeroes will be 4 .

Q11: The distance between C and G is (2022)

(a) 4 units
(b) 6 units
(c) 8 units
(d) 7 units

Ans: (b)
The distance between point C and G is 6 units.

Q12: The quadratic polynomial, the sum of whose zeroes is -5 and their product is 6. (2022)
2
(a) x + 5x + 6
2
(b) x - 5x + 6
(c) x2 - 5 x - 6
2
(d) - x + 5x + 6

Ans: (a)
Let α, β be the zeroes of required polynomial p(x).
Given, α + β=-5 and α.β=6
2 2
∴ p(x)=k[x - (-5)x + 6] = k[x + 5x + 6]
2
Thus, one of the polynomial which satisfy the given condition is x + 5x + 6

Previous Year Questions 2021

2
Q13: If one zero of the quadratic polynomial x + 3x + k is 2 then find the value of k. (2021)

2
Ans: Given, polynomial is f(x) =x + 3x + k
Since, 2 is zero of the polynomial f(x).
∴ f(2) = 0

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2
⇒ f(2) =(2) + 3 x 2 + k
⇒ 4+6+k=0
⇒ k = -10

Previous Year Questions 2020

Q14: The degree of polynomial having zeroes -3 and 4 only is (2020)
(a) 2
(b) 1
(c) more than 3
(d) 3

Ans: (a)
Since, the polynomial has two zeroes only. So. the degree of the polynomial is 2.

2
Q15: If one of the zeroes of the quadratic polynomial x + 3x + k is 2. then the value of k is (2020)
(a) 10
(b) - 10
(c) -7
(d) -2

Ans: (b)
Given, 2 is a zero of the polynomial
2
p(x) = x + 3x + k
∴ p (2) = 0
2
⇒ (2) + 3(2) + k = 0
⇒4+6+k=0
⇒ 10 + k = 0
⇒ k= -10

Q16: The quadratic polynomial, the sum of whose zeroes is -5 and their product is 6 is ________. (2020)
(a) x2 + 5x + 6
2
(b) x - 5x + 6
2
(c) x - 5x - 6
(d) -x2 + 5x + 6

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

Ans: (a)
Let α, β be the zeroes of required polynomial p(x)
Given, α+ β = -5 and αβ = 6
2
p(x) = k[x - (- 5)x + 6]
2
= k[x + 5x + 6]
2
Thus, one of the polynomial which satisfy the given condition is x + 5x + 6.

Q17: Form a quadratic polynomial, the sum and product of whose zeroes are (-3) and 2 respectively. (CBSE
2020)

Ans: Let α, β be the zeroes of required polynomial Given, α + β = -3 and αβ = 2

2 2
∴ p(x) = k[x - (-3)x + 2] = k(x + 3x + 2)
2
For k = 1 , p (x) = x + 3x + 2
Hence, one of the polynomial which satisfy the given condition is x2 + 3x + 2.

2
Q18: The zeroes of the polynomial x – 3x – m(m + 3) are:
(a) m, m + 3
(b) –m, m + 3
(c) m, – (m + 3)
(d) –m, – (m + 3) (CBSE 2020)

Ans: (b)
Given:
2
x − 3x − m(m + 3) = 0
Let's find the zeroes by applying the quadratic formula:

Substitute into the formula:

Simplify under the square root:

Taking the square root:

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 2/5/25, 10:59 AM Class 10 Maths Previous Year Questions - Polynomials

So, the zeroes are –m and m + 3.

Thus, the correct answer is (b) –m, m + 3.

Previous Year Questions 2019

Q19: Find the value of k such that the polynomial x2 - (k + 6)x + 2(2k - 1) has sum of its zeroes equal to half
of their product. [Year 2019, 3 Marks]

Ans: 7
2
The given polynomial is x -(k + 6)x + 2(2k - 1)
According to the question
Sum of zeroes = 1/2(Product of Zeroes ):
⇒ k + 6 = 1/2 x 2 (2k - 1)
⇒ k + 6 = 2k - 1
⇒k=7

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