We have seen that the b2 - 4ac portion of the quadratic formula, called the discriminant, can tell us the type of roots of a quadratic equation. The quadratic formula can also give us information about the relationship between the roots and the coefficient of the second term and the constant of the equation itself. Consider the following:

Given a quadratic equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0

By the quadratic formulas, the two roots can be represented as roots1

Sum of the Roots, r1 + r2:

roots2

Product of the Roots, r1 r2:

roots3

The sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is equal to the negation of the coefficient of the second term, divided by the leading coefficient.     roots8

The product of the roots of a quadratic equation is equal to the constant term (the third term),
divided by the leading coefficient.    roots9
You will discover in future courses, that these types of relationships also extend to equations of higher degrees.

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We can also see these relationships emerge from factoring the quadratic equation.
The roots will be represented as r1 and r2.

Starting with ax2 + bx + c = 0;    a ≠ 0
Create a leading coefficient of 1: roots4
Express the factors of the equation: roots5
Multiply and compare the equations: roots6
Conclusion: root7

Let's put this new information to work:

roots11
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Yes, this question can be answered by simply multiplying the factors formed by these roots:   
  
roots10

But, let's put our new formulas to use and apply the relationship between the roots and the coefficients and constants.

The sum of the roots is roots12
So the coefficient of the second term is
roots13
The product of the roots is roots14

roots15

roots17

See Creating Quadratic Equations to see why this may not be the only possible equation.

 

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