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Positive Roots of Quadratic Equations

The document discusses finding the range of k given that the quadratic equation x^2 + (k + 2)x + (k + 5) = 0 has two positive roots. It determines that for the roots α and β to both be positive, -2 < k < -5 based on applying Vieta's formulas. However, it notes that having a positive sum and product of roots does not guarantee the roots are real. The range is then correctly identified as -5 < k < -4 to ensure the discriminant is positive, making the roots real.

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Siddharth Acharya
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140 views2 pages

Positive Roots of Quadratic Equations

The document discusses finding the range of k given that the quadratic equation x^2 + (k + 2)x + (k + 5) = 0 has two positive roots. It determines that for the roots α and β to both be positive, -2 < k < -5 based on applying Vieta's formulas. However, it notes that having a positive sum and product of roots does not guarantee the roots are real. The range is then correctly identified as -5 < k < -4 to ensure the discriminant is positive, making the roots real.

Uploaded by

Siddharth Acharya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Positive Roots of Quadratic Equations

Yue Kwok Choy


Question

Given that the quadratic equation x2 + (k + 2)x + (k + 5) = 0 has two positive roots,
find the range of k .

"Solution"

Let , be the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + (k + 2)x + (k + 5) = 0 .


Since , are both positive, therefore + > 0 and > 0 .
By Vieta's Theorem, we have :

# + = (k + 2) > 0 #k < 2
" "
! ! = k + 5 > 0 !k > 5
The range of k is 5 < k < 2 .

Analysis

" + > 0 and > 0" does not imply that the quadratic equation has positive roots.
The reason is that the quadratic equation may have complex roots (not real roots). In this case, the
sum and product of roots can still be positive. Take an example, if k = 3 which is within the
range, the quadratic equation becomes x2 x + 2 = 0 .

The discriminant = (1)2 4(1)(2) = 7 < 0, the equation has complex roots:
1 7i
x=
! 2

Solution

Let , be the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + (k + 2)x + (k + 5) = 0 .


By Vieta's Theorem, we have :

$ = (k + 2 )2 4(k + 5) > 0 $(k + 4 )(k 4 ) > 0 $k < 4 or k > 4


! ! !
# + = (k + 2) > 0 # k < 2 # k < 2
! = k + 5 > 0 ! k > 5 ! k > 5
" " "
!

The range of k is 5 < k < 4 .

Lessons

Given , be the roots of the quadratic equation :


ax2 + bx + c = 0 (*) , a 0, a, b, c are real numbers.
$
! = b 2 4ac > 0
!! b
#+ = > 0
! a
c
! = > 0
! a
1. (*) has positive roots ! "

$
! = b 2 4ac > 0
!! b
#+ = < 0
! a
c
! = > 0
! a
2. (*) has negative roots ! "

#b 0
"
3. (*) has exactly one zero root ! !c = 0

#b = 0
"
c=0
4. (*) has two zero roots !!

$! = b 2 4ac > 0
# = c < 0
! a
5. (*) has one positive root and one negative root !"

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