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If the sum as well as the product of the roots of the equation px 2- 6x + q = 0 is 6, then what is (p + q) equal to?

This question was previously asked in
CDS II 2021 General Knowledge Previous Year Paper (14-Nov-2021)
The correct answer is

7

Understanding the Quadratic Equation and its Roots

The given equation is \( px^2 - 6x + q = 0 \). This is a quadratic equation, which is generally represented in the standard form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), where \( a, b, \) and \( c \) are coefficients, and \( x \) is the variable.

For the given equation, by comparing it with the standard form, we can identify the coefficients:

  • Coefficient of \( x^2 \), \( a = p \)
  • Coefficient of \( x \), \( b = -6 \)
  • Constant term, \( c = q \)

Properties of Roots: Sum and Product

For a quadratic equation \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \), if \( \alpha \) and \( \beta \) are the roots, then:

  • The sum of the roots is given by \( \alpha + \beta = -\frac{b}{a} \)
  • The product of the roots is given by \( \alpha \beta = \frac{c}{a} \)

Solving for Coefficients p and q

We are given that the sum of the roots of the equation \( px^2 - 6x + q = 0 \) is 6.

Using the formula for the sum of roots and the coefficients we identified:

\( \text{Sum of roots} = -\frac{b}{a} \)

\( 6 = -\frac{(-6)}{p} \)

\( 6 = \frac{6}{p} \)

To find the value of \( p \), we can multiply both sides by \( p \) and divide by 6:

\( 6p = 6 \)

\( p = \frac{6}{6} \)

\( p = 1 \)

We are also given that the product of the roots of the equation \( px^2 - 6x + q = 0 \) is 6.

Using the formula for the product of roots and the coefficients:

\( \text{Product of roots} = \frac{c}{a} \)

\( 6 = \frac{q}{p} \)

We have already found that \( p = 1 \). Substituting this value into the equation for the product of roots:

\( 6 = \frac{q}{1} \)

\( 6 = q \)

So, we have found that \( p = 1 \) and \( q = 6 \).

Calculating (p + q)

The question asks for the value of \( (p + q) \). Now that we know the values of \( p \) and \( q \), we can calculate their sum:

\( p + q = 1 + 6 \)

\( p + q = 7 \)

Therefore, the value of \( (p + q) \) is 7.

Revision Table: Quadratic Equation Roots

Concept Formula Application to \( px^2 - 6x + q = 0 \)
Standard Form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \) \( a=p, b=-6, c=q \)
Sum of Roots (\( \alpha + \beta \)) \( -\frac{b}{a} \) \( -\frac{(-6)}{p} = \frac{6}{p} \)
Product of Roots (\( \alpha \beta \)) \( \frac{c}{a} \) \( \frac{q}{p} \)

Additional Information: Forming a Quadratic Equation

If the sum of the roots (\( S = \alpha + \beta \)) and the product of the roots (\( P = \alpha \beta \)) of a quadratic equation are known, the equation can be written as:

\( x^2 - (\text{Sum of roots})x + (\text{Product of roots}) = 0 \)

Or, \( x^2 - Sx + P = 0 \)

In this problem, the sum of roots is 6 and the product of roots is 6. So, the equation is \( x^2 - 6x + 6 = 0 \).

Comparing this with \( px^2 - 6x + q = 0 \):

  • If we divide the given equation by \( p \) (assuming \( p \neq 0 \)), we get \( x^2 - \frac{6}{p}x + \frac{q}{p} = 0 \).
  • Comparing \( x^2 - \frac{6}{p}x + \frac{q}{p} = 0 \) with \( x^2 - 6x + 6 = 0 \), we get:
  • \( -\frac{6}{p} = -6 \implies \frac{6}{p} = 6 \implies p = 1 \)
  • \( \frac{q}{p} = 6 \implies \frac{q}{1} = 6 \implies q = 6 \)

This confirms our values for \( p \) and \( q \), and the result \( p + q = 1 + 6 = 7 \).

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Important Questions from Quadratic Equation

  1. For what values of k, the roots of 9x 2 + 8kx + 16 = 0 are real and equal?

  2. If \(\rm \left( \frac{x}{x+1} \right)^2 -5 \left( \frac{x}{x+1} \right) +6=0 \) , then the value of  \(\rm \left( 1+\frac{1}{x} \right) \)  is equal to :
  3. If the roots of the equation (q – r)x 2+ (r – p)x + (p – q) = 0 are equal, then which of the following is true?

  4. Number of real roots of the quadratic equation 3x 2+ 4x + 25 = 0 is

  5. The value of m for which one of the root of x 2 - 3x + 2m = 0 is double of the root of x 2 - x + m = 0 is:

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