Algebra Questions

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation
If the equation $\displaystyle 5x^{5}-25x^{4}+ax^{3}+bx^{2}+cx-5=0$ has five positive roots, then the value of $2a + 3b + 2c$ is 
  1. 60

  2. 300

  3. 0

  4. cannot be determine

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If a polynomial has five positive roots, by Vieta's formulas, the coefficients must satisfy specific relations. For 5x^5 - 25x^4 + ax^3 + bx^2 + cx - 5 = 0, the product of roots is 5/5 = 1. If all roots are positive, the sum of roots is 25/5 = 5. Using these, the coefficients a, b, c are determined, and 2a + 3b + 2c evaluates to 0.

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

The condition for the equation $\displaystyle ax^{2}+bx+c= 0$ to have one root $n$ times the other, is:

  1. $\displaystyle na^{2}= bc\left ( n+1 \right )^{2}$
  2. $\displaystyle nb^{2}= ac\left ( n+1 \right )^{2}$
  3. $\displaystyle nb^{2}= ac\left ( n-1 \right )^{2}$
  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Given that the roots of the equation $ ax^2+bx+c=0 $ be such that one root is $n$ times the other. 
Let one root be $\alpha$, then the other root will be $n\alpha$ by given condition.
Sum of roots $=$ $ \displaystyle S= \alpha +n\alpha = -\frac{b}{a}$ 
$  \Rightarrow  \alpha = -\dfrac{b}{a\left ( 1+n \right )}$.....(1)
Product of roots $=  n\alpha ^{2}= \dfrac{c}{a}$ 
$ \Rightarrow  \alpha ^{2}= \dfrac{c}{an}$ ....(2)
From (1) and (2), we have
$ \Rightarrow   \dfrac{c}{an}= \dfrac{b^{2}}{a^{2}\left ( 1+n \right )^{2}} $
$ \Rightarrow  \displaystyle \therefore nb^{2}= ac\left ( n+1 \right )^{2}$

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

One root is three times the other, find the condition for a general quadratic equation

  1. $\displaystyle 3b^{2}= 16ac$
  2. $\displaystyle 3b^{2}= ac$
  3. $\displaystyle b^{2}= 16ac$
  4. $\displaystyle 9b^{2}= 16ac$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

General Quadratic equation is $ax^2+bx+c=0$
Given one root is three times the other.
i.e $\alpha,3\alpha$ are the roots.
Sum of the roots $=\displaystyle\frac{-b}{a}$
$\Rightarrow 4\alpha=\displaystyle\frac{-b}{a}$ ---(1)
Product of roots $=\displaystyle\frac{c}{a}$
$\Rightarrow 3\alpha^2=\displaystyle\frac{c}{a}$---(2)
From (1) and (2), we have
$3\left(\displaystyle\frac{-b}{4a}\right)^2=\displaystyle\frac{c}{a}$
$\therefore 3b^2=16ac$
Hence, option A is correct.

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

Roots of the equation $\displaystyle (x+1)(x+2)(x+2)(x+3)(x+6)=15x^{2}$ are

  1. all real & rational

  2. all non real

  3. two rational and two imaginary

  4. two imaginary and two irrational

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rearranging the equation (x+1)(x+6) * (x+2)(x+3) = 15x^2 leads to (x^2 + 7x + 6)(x^2 + 5x + 6) = 15x^2. Dividing by x^2 gives (x + 6/x + 7)(x + 6/x + 5) = 15. Let y = x + 6/x. Then (y+7)(y+5) = 15, so y^2 + 12y + 20 = 0. Roots are y = -2, -10. Solving x + 6/x = -2 and x + 6/x = -10 yields two imaginary and two irrational roots.

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

If two roots $\alpha,\beta$ of the equation $x^{4}-5x^{3}+11x^{2}-13x+6=0$ are connected by the relation $2\alpha+3\beta=7$, then the roots of the equation are

  1. $-1,3,1\pm i\sqrt{2}$
  2. $-1,3,1\pm i\sqrt{3}$
  3. $2, 1,1\pm i\sqrt{2}$
  4. $2, 1,1\pm i\sqrt{3}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let $\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ,\delta $ are roots of $x^{ 4 }-5x^{ 3 }+11x^{ 2 }-13x+6=0$
${ s } _{ 1 }=\alpha +\beta +\gamma +\delta =5\ { s } _{ 4 }=\alpha \beta \gamma \delta =6$


For $\gamma ,\delta =1\pm i\sqrt { 2 } $ or $1\pm i\sqrt { 3 } \quad $
${ s } _{ 1 }\Rightarrow \alpha +\beta +2=5\Rightarrow \alpha +\beta =3$
Solving this with $2\alpha +3\beta =7$ we get
$\alpha =2$ and $\beta =1$

Now for $\gamma ,\delta =1\pm i\sqrt { 2 } $
$\alpha \beta \gamma \delta =2\left( 1+2 \right) =6$

And for $\gamma ,\delta =1\pm i\sqrt { 3 } $
$\alpha \beta \gamma \delta =2\left( 1+3 \right) =8$, not possible

Therefore, roots are $2, 1, 1\pm\sqrt{2}$
Hence, option 'C' is correct.

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

lf the difference of the squares of the roots of equation ${x}^{2} -6x+q=0$ is $24$, then the value of ${q}$ is:

  1. $ -7$
  2. $8$
  3. $5$
  4. $4$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let $\alpha,\beta$ are roots of ${x}^{2}-6x+q=0,$ then

${ S } _{ 1 }=\alpha +\beta =6$
And ${ S } _{ 2 }=\alpha \beta =q$

Given ${ \alpha  }^{ 2 }-{ \beta  }^{ 2 }=24$
Now from ${ \left( \alpha -\beta  \right)  }^{ 2 }={ \left( \alpha +\beta  \right)  }^{ 2 }-4\alpha \beta $
$\Rightarrow { \left( \alpha -\beta  \right)  }^{ 2 }=36-4q\Rightarrow \left( \alpha -\beta  \right) =\sqrt { 36-4q } $

As ${ \alpha  }^{ 2 }-{ \beta  }^{ 2 }=24\Rightarrow \left( \alpha -\beta  \right) \left( \alpha +\beta  \right) =24$
$\Rightarrow \sqrt { 36-4q } \left( 6 \right) =24\Rightarrow \sqrt { 36-4q } =4$
$\Rightarrow 36-4q=16\Rightarrow 4q=20\Rightarrow q=5$

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

If the equation $\mathrm{a} _{\mathrm{n}}\mathrm{x}^{\mathrm{n}}+\mathrm{a} _{\mathrm{n}-1}\mathrm{x}^{\mathrm{n}-1}+\ldots\ldots+\mathrm{a} _{1}\mathrm{x}=0,\ \mathrm{a} _{1}\neq 0,\ \mathrm{n}\geq 2$, has a positive root $\mathrm{x}=\alpha$, then the equation $\mathrm{n}\mathrm{a} _{\mathrm{n}}\mathrm{x}^{\mathrm{n}-1}+(\mathrm{n}-1)\mathrm{a} _{\mathrm{n}-1}\mathrm{x}^{\mathrm{n}-2}+\ldots..+\mathrm{a} _{1}=0$ has a positive root, which is 

  1. greater than $\alpha$
  2. smaller than $\alpha$
  3. greater than or equal to $\alpha$
  4. equal to $\alpha$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

=$ \because { a } _{ n }{ x }^{ 2\  }+{ a } _{ n }+{ x }^{ n-1 }+............+{ a } _{ 1 }x=\quad 0\quad \quad \quad { a } _{ 1 }\neq 0\quad n\ge 2 $

= has the root $x=\infty$ 
= ${ f }^{ 1 }(x)=\quad x{ a } _{ n }{ x }^{ n-1 }+\quad (x-1)\quad { a } _{ n-1 }{ x }^{ n-2 }+.......{ a } _{ n }$
= $\because f(x)=0$
Let us take an example to see 
Let a quadratic equation ${ x }^{ 2 }+2x-3=0$
${ x }^{ 2 }+3x-x-3=0$
$x(x+3)-1(x+3)=0 ........(i)$
$x=1\quad x=-3$
Now ${ f }^{ 1 }(x)=\quad 2x+1$
${ f }^{ 1 }(x)=\quad 0\quad =>\quad x=\quad -\cfrac { 1 }{ 2 } ..........(ii) $
From (i) and (ii) we can see that
The root of ${ f }^{ 1 }(x)$ is always less than the root of $f(x)$
Hence we can conclude
for $n{ a } _{ n }{ x }^{ n-1 }+(n-1){ a } _{ n-1 }{ x }^{ n-2 }+......{ a } _{ 1 }$
has roots always less than $\alpha $ for the value of $\alpha$.


Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

lf the sum of the roots of the equation $ax^2+bx+c=0$ is equal to sum of their squares, then

  1. $ab+b^2+2ac=0$
  2. $ab+a^2+2ac=0$
  3. $ab+{b}^{2}-2ac=0$
  4. $ab+{a}^{2}-2ac=0$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let $\alpha, \beta$ are roots of $\displaystyle a{ x }^{ 2 }+bx+c=0$, then


$\displaystyle \alpha +\beta =-\frac { b }{ a } $

$\displaystyle \alpha \beta =\frac { c }{ a } $

As sum of roots is equal to sum of their square, then 
$\displaystyle \alpha +\beta ={ \alpha  }^{ 2 }+{ \beta  }^{ 2 }$

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow \alpha +\beta ={ \left( \alpha +\beta  \right)  }^{ 2 }-2\alpha \beta $

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow -\frac { b }{ a } ={ \left( -\frac { b }{ a }  \right)  }^{ 2 }-2\left( \frac { c }{ a }  \right) $

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow -\frac { b }{ a } =\frac { { b }^{ 2 } }{ { a }^{ 2 } } -\frac { 2c }{ a } $

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow -ab={ b }^{ 2 }-2ac$

$\displaystyle \Rightarrow { b }^{ 2 }+ab-2ac=0$ 

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

If the sum of two roots of the equation  $x^{4}-x^{3}+2x^{2}+kx+17=0$ equals to the sum of the other two, then $k $ is equal to

  1. $\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}$
  2. $-\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}$
  3. $\displaystyle \frac{9}{8}$
  4. $-\displaystyle \frac{9}{8}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Let $\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma ,\delta $ be the roots of ${ x }^{ 4 }-{ x }^{ 3 }+2{ x }^{ 2 }+kx+17=0$
Such that $\alpha +\beta =\gamma +\delta $
Then ${ s } _{ 1 }=\alpha +\beta +\gamma +\delta =1\Rightarrow \alpha +\beta =\cfrac { 1 }{ 2 } $ 
${ s } _{ 2 }=\alpha \beta +\alpha \gamma +\alpha \delta +\beta \gamma +\beta \delta +\gamma \delta =2\Rightarrow { \left( \alpha +\beta  \right)  }^{ 2 }+\alpha \beta +\gamma \delta =2$
$\Rightarrow \alpha \beta +\gamma \delta =2-\cfrac { 1 }{ 4 } =\cfrac { 7 }{ 4 } $   ...(1)
${ s } _{ 3 }=\alpha \beta \gamma +\alpha \beta \delta +\alpha \gamma \delta +\beta \gamma \delta =-k\Rightarrow \left( \alpha +\beta  \right) \left( \alpha \beta +\gamma \delta  \right) =-k$
$\Rightarrow \left( \alpha \beta +\gamma \delta  \right) =-2k$   ...(2)
From (1) and (2), we have
$-2k=\cfrac { 7 }{ 4 } \Rightarrow k=-\cfrac { 7 }{ 8 } $

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

If two roots of the equations $x ^ { 3 } - p x ^ { 2 } + q x - r = 0$ are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign, for

  1. pr = q

  2. qr = p

  3. pq = r

  4. $p ^ { 2 } q ^ { 2 } = r$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
let those are m, -m
now sum of three roots = p
hence third root will be p
now 
m*(-m) + m*p + (-m)*p = q
hence  –m2 = q
now m*( –m) * p = r
 –m2 p  = r
put value of  –m2 = q
hence  pq = r

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

If the equation ${x}^{4}-4{x}^{3}+a{x}^{2}+bx+1=0$ has four positive roots, then the value of $(a+b)$ is:

  1. $-4$
  2. $2$
  3. $6$
  4. cannot be determined

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Given, $x^4 - 4x^3 + ax^2 + bx + 1 = 0$

let the root of equation be $\alpha, \beta, \gamma, \sigma$
$\alpha + \beta + \gamma + \sigma = 4$ ...(i)
$\alpha \beta \gamma \sigma = 1$ ... (ii)
$\dfrac{1}{4} (\alpha + \beta + \gamma + \sigma) = 1$
$\Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{4} (\alpha + \beta + \gamma + \sigma) = (\alpha \beta \gamma \sigma) \dfrac{1}{4}$
$\therefore A. M. = a. m.$
$\therefore \alpha = \beta = \gamma = \sigma$
$4 \alpha = 4$
$\therefore \alpha = 1$
$1 - 4 + a + b + 1 = 0$
$\therefore a + b = 2$

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

The value of $'a'$ for which the equation ${ x }^{ 3 }+ax+1=0$ and ${ x }^{ 4 }+a{ x }^{ 2 }+1=0$, have a common root is

  1. $a=2$
  2. $a=-2$
  3. $a=0$
  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Consider the following equation
$x^{4}+ax^{2}+1=0$
$x^{3}+ax+1=0$
Subtracting equation (ii) from (i), we get 
$x^{4}-x^{3}+a(x^{2}-x)=0$
$x^{3}(x-1)+ax(x-1)=0$
$(x-1)(x^{3}+ax)=0$
$x(x-1)(x^{2}+a)=0$
Hence, we get $x=0$ $x=1$ and $x^{2}=-a$
Now out of the above two, $x=0$ is not a root of the following two equations.
We do not know the nature of '$a$'. 

Hence, we cannot determine that $x^{2}=-a$ will have real or imaginary roots.
Hence, we get $x=1$ as a common root for the above two equations.
Now for both the equations to have $x=1$ as a common root, 
$f(1)=0$
$1+a+1=0$
$a=-2$
Similarly substituting in the second equation, we get $a=-2$.
Hence, the required value of $a$ is $-2$.

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

Coordinates of a point P are $(a, b)$ where $a$ is a root of the equation 

$x^{2}+x-42=0$ 
and $b$ is an integral root of the equation
$x^{2}+ax+a^{2}-37=0$. 
The coordinates of P can be

  1. $(6, 4)$
  2. $(-7, 4)$
  3. $(-7, 3)$
  4. $(6, -3)$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,C Correct answer
Explanation

$a^{2}+a-42=0\Rightarrow a=-7$ or $a=6.$
Since b is a root of $x^{2}+ax+a^{2}-37=0$
For $a=-7,$ we have $x^{2}-7x+49-37=0$
$\Rightarrow x^{2}-7x+12=0\Rightarrow x=4, 3 , so, b=4$ or $3.$
So the coordinates of P can be $(-7, 4)$ or $(-7, 3)$, 

For $a=6,$ we have $x^{2}+6x-1=0$ which does not give an integral value, so $a\neq 6.$

Multiple choice maths algebraic functions, equations and inequalities descartes rule sign of quadratic expression sum and product of the roots of a polynomial equation

lf the difference of the roots of the equation $x^{2}-bx+c=0$ is equal to the differecne of the roots of the equation ${x}^{2}-{c}x+b=0$ and $b\neq c$, then $b+c=$

  1. $ 0$
  2. $2$
  3. $4$
  4. $-4$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Let $(\alpha, \beta )$ and $ (\gamma, \delta )$ be the roots of the first equation and second equation respectively. 

Then, for the first equation
$ \alpha +\beta =b$ and $ \alpha \beta =c$
Now $ (\alpha +\beta )^{ 2 }={ b }^{ 2 }$
$ \Rightarrow (\alpha -\beta )^{ 2 }+4\alpha \beta ={ b }^{ 2 }$
$ \Rightarrow (\alpha -\beta )^{ 2 }={ b }^{ 2 }-4\alpha \beta $
$ \Rightarrow |\alpha -\beta |=\sqrt { { b }^{ 2 }-4c } $
Similarly for the second equation
$ |\gamma -\delta |=\sqrt { { c }^{ 2 }-4b } $
As per the given condition,
$ \sqrt { { b }^{ 2 }-4c } =\sqrt { { c }^{ 2 }-4b } $
$\Rightarrow { b }^{ 2 }-4c={ c }^{ 2 }-4b$
$\Rightarrow { b }^{ 2 }-{ c }^{ 2 }=-4(b-c)$
$ \Rightarrow (b+c)(b-c)=-4(b-c)$
Therefore, option D is correct.