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Top Careers & You

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EQUATIONS AND WORD PROBLEMS

General Theory of Equations


Polynomial equation:
A polynomial which is equal to zero is called a polynomial equation. For example, 2x + 5 = 0, x2 – 2x + 5 = 0,
2x2 – 5x2 + 1 = 0 etc. are polynomial equations.
Linear Equation: A linear equation is 1st degree equation. Its general form is ax + b = 0
Quadratic Equation: A quadratic equation is 2nd degree equation. The general form of a quadratic equation is
ax2 + bx + c = 0.

Root of a polynomial equation:


If f (x) = 0 is a polynomial equation and f ( α ) = 0, then α is called a root of the polynomial equation f (x) = 0.

Theorem: Every equation f (x) = 0 of nth degree has exactly n roots.

If f(x) is linear the number of roots will be one, if it is quadratic, then number of roots is two. If we draw the
graph of the expression y = x2 – 2x + 1, then we would note that the graph cuts the x-axis at two points. This is
because it has two real roots.

Factor Theorem:
If α is a root of equation f (x) = 0, then the polynomial f (x) is exactly divisible by x – α (i.e., remainder is
zero). For example, x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 is divisible by x – 2 because 2 is the root of the given equation.

Remainder Theorem:
If we divide polynomial f(x) by (x – α ) then f( α ) is the remainder.
For example, f(x) = x2 – 5x + 7 = 0 is divided by x – 2 the remainder is f(2) where f(2) = 22 – 5 × 2 + 7 = 1.

Linear Equation
b
A linear equation is 1st degree equation. It has only one root. Its general form is a x + b = 0 and root is – .
a

LINEAR EQUATION OF ONE AND TWO VARIABLES


Linear Equation: The equation which when reduced to its simplest form contains only the first power of the
variable is called linear equation or simple equation. In other words, a linear equation in one variable is an
equation of the type ax + b = 0, or ax = c, where a, b, c are constants (real numbers), a ≠ 0 and x is a variable.
b b
We know that the solution of ax + b = 0, a ≠ 0 is x = – . We say x = – is a root of the equation ax + b = 0.
a a
Linear Equation in two variables: A general linear equation in two variables x and y is usually written in the
following forms:
(i) ax + by + c = 0 where a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0; a, b, c are real constants

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(ii) ax + by = d where a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0; a, b, d are real constants

Any pair of values of x and y which satisfies ax + by + c = 0 is called its solution.

A pair of linear equations in two variables say x and y is said to form a system of simultaneous linear
equations in two variables.
The general form of a system of linear equations in two variables x and y is
a1x + b1y + c1 = 0
a2x + b2y + c2 = 0

Set of Equations

Consistent System Inconsistent System


means have solution means have no solution
a1 b1 c1
= ≠
a2 b2 c 2

Dependent system,
has infinitely many solutions
a b c
Condition: 1 = 1 = 1
a2 b2 c 2

Independent system:
Only one / Unique solution
Condition: a1 ≠ b1
a2 b 2

Word Problems
Questions based on word problems can be solved with the help of linear questions:

Examples:
1. Ten years ago, the average age of a family of four members was 25 years. Two children having been
born, the average age of the family is the same today. What is the age of the youngest child if they
differ in age by 2 years?
(A) 3 years (B) 2 years (C) 4 years (D) 8 years (E) 5 years
Sol. Present total age = 25 × 6 = 150;
Total age of 4 members 10 years ago = 25 × 4 = 100.
Total age of 4 members now = 100 + 40 = 140
Sum of ages of children = 150 – 140 = 10 years
Let x be the age of youngest child. ∴ x + x + 2 = 10
x = 4. Answer: (C)

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2. If the average age of three persons is 20 years. With the addition of one more person, average age of
all four becomes 21 years. Find the age of the fourth member.
(A) 24 years (B) 22 years (C) 21 years (D) 25 years (E) None of these
Sol. Sum of ages of three members = 20 × 3 = 60 years.
Let’s the age of fourth members = X
Now 60 + X = 21 × 4 = 84.
So age of fourth member (X) = 24 years. Answer: (A)

Quadratic Equation
Quadratic Equation in “x” is one in which the highest power of “x” is 2. The equation is generally satisfied by
two values of “x”, but these values may be equal to each other.
2
The quadratic form is generally represented by ax + bx + c = 0 where a ≠ 0, and a, b, c are constants.

e.g. x2 – 6x + 4 = 0
3x2 + 7x – 2 = 0

A quadratic equation in one variable has two and only two roots, which are

− b + b2 − 4ac − b − b2 − 4ac
x1 = & x2 =
2a 2a

Nature of Roots
The term (b2 – 4ac) is called the discriminant of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c and is denoted by D.
Rules:
1. if D > 0, x1 & x2 are real and unequal.
2. if D = 0, x1 & x2 are real and equal.
3. if D is a perfect square, x1 & x2 are rational and unequal.
4. if D < 0, x1 & x2 are imaginary, unequal, and conjugates of each other.

If x1 and x2 are the two roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0, then sum of roots = x1 + x2 = – b/a and product of
roots = x1 x2 = c/a.

Formation of equation from roots:


1. If x1 and x2 are the two roots, then (x – x1) (x – x2) = 0 is the required equation.
2. If (x1 + x2) and x1 × x2 are given then equation is x2 – (x1 + x2) x + x1 x2 = 0.
⇒ x2 – Sx + P = 0 where S = sum of roots, P = product of roots.

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