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Quadratic Equations appeared 24 times across 3 years — 2.8% of Mathematics. This question is from Location of Roots.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 9 10 5 24

Let the set of all values of p in R , for which both the roots of the equation x² - (p + 2)x + (2p + 9) = 0 are negative real numbers, be the interval (α, β] . Then β - 2α is equal to

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

For both roots of a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0 to be negative real numbers, three mandatory rules must be met simultaneously:

  • D ≥ 0 (Real roots)
  • Sum of roots = -b/a < 0
  • Product of roots = c/a > 0
Core Logic

From the given quadratic equation x² - (p + 2)x + (2p + 9) = 0:

Condition 1: Discriminant D ≥ 0

D = [-(p + 2)]² - 4(1)(2p + 9) ≥ 0 p² + 4p + 4 - 8p - 36 ≥ 0 p² - 4p - 32 ≥ 0 (p - 8)(p + 4) ≥ 0 p in (-∞, -4] [8, ∞) (i)
Step 1: Evaluate Sum and Product Conditions

Location of Roots diagram for Q64 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Location of Roots diagram for Q64 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
Condition 2: Sum of roots < 0

α + β = p + 2 < 0 p < -2 (ii)

Condition 3: Product of roots > 0

αβ = 2p + 9 > 0 p > -(9)/(2) (iii)
Step 2: Find Intersection Domain

Take the operational intersection across all three parameters: (i), (ii), and (iii):

  • From (ii) and (iii): p in (-(9)/(2), -2)
  • Intersecting this with (i) limits the range cleanly to:
p in (-(9)/(2), -4]

Thus, α = -(9)/(2) and β = -4.

Step 3: Final Value Calculation

Calculate the requested target expression:

β - 2α = -4 - 2(-(9)/(2)) = -4 + 9 = 5
Pattern Recognition

Remember that if roots are strictly real and matching signs, managing product rules before analyzing spatial configurations saves major compute overhead during intersection evaluation.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations

Reference Study Guides

More Quadratic Equations Previous-Year Questions — Page 2

Q8 jee_main_2026_23_january_morning Roots of Equations
If α and β (α < β) are the roots of the equation (- 2 + √(3)) (| √(x) - 3 |) + (x - 6 √(x)) + (9 - 2 √(3)) = 0, x ≥ 0, then √((β)/(α)) + √(αβ) is equal to:
  • A. 8
  • B. 9
  • C. 10
  • D. 11

Solution

Core Logic

Restructure the equation to form a quadratic in |√(x) - 3|. Notice that (x - 6√(x) + 9) = (√(x) - 3)² = |√(x) - 3|². Rewrite the given equation:

(x - 6√(x) + 9) - (2 - √(3))|√(x) - 3| - 2√(3) = 0 |√(x) - 3|² - (2 - √(3))|√(x) - 3| - 2√(3) = 0
Step 1: Solve the Quadratic

Let u = |√(x) - 3|. The equation is u² - (2 - √(3))u - 2√(3) = 0. Factorizing gives:

(u - 2)(u + √(3)) = 0

So, u = 2 or u = -√(3). Since u = |√(x) - 3| cannot be negative, we reject u = -√(3). Thus, |√(x) - 3| = 2.

Step 2: Find x (Roots)

Solve |√(x) - 3| = 2:

√(x) - 3 = 2 or √(x) - 3 = -2 √(x) = 5 or √(x) = 1

Squaring gives x = 25 or x = 1. Given α < β, we have α = 1 and β = 25.

Step 3: Evaluate Target Expression

Now compute √((β)/(α)) + √(αβ):

= √((25)/(1)) + √(1 · 25) = 5 + 5 = 10
Pattern Recognition

Grouping algebraic terms (like x - 6√(x)) and a lone constant (+9) to form perfect squares is a hallmark of radical equations disguised as quadratics.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations

Q7 jee_main_2026_23_january_evening Logarithmic Equations
The sum of all the real solutions of the equation (x+3)(6x²+28x+30)=5-2 (6x+10)(x²+6x+9) is equal to:
  • A. 2
  • B. 1
  • C. 0
  • D. 4

Solution

Related Formula
ₐ(bc) = ₐ b + ₐ c b(aⁿ) = n b a ₐ b = (1)/( b a)
Core Logic

Factor the arguments in the logarithmic equation: 6x² + 28x + 30 = (x+3)(6x+10) x² + 6x + 9 = (x+3)²

Substitute these into the equation:

(x+3)[(x+3)(6x+10)] = 5 - 2 (6x+10)(x+3)² 1 + (x+3)(6x+10) = 5 - 4 (6x+10)(x+3)
Step 1: Variable Substitution

Let A = (x+3)(6x+10). The equation transforms to:

1 + A = 5 - (4)/(A) A + (4)/(A) = 4 A² - 4A + 4 = 0 (A - 2)² = 0 A = 2

Substitute A = 2 back:

(x+3)(6x+10) = 2 6x + 10 = (x+3)² 6x + 10 = x² + 6x + 9 x² = 1 x = ± 1
Step 2: Checking Domain Validity

For x = 1: Base x+3 = 4 > 0, ≠ 1. Base 6x+10 = 16 > 0, ≠ 1. Valid solution.

For x = -1: Base x+3 = 2 > 0, ≠ 1. Base 6x+10 = 4 > 0, ≠ 1. Valid solution.

Sum of all real roots = 1 + (-1) = 0.

Pattern Recognition

When dealing with logarithms containing polynomial bases and arguments, always check if they are directly factorable into each other. A substitution like A + B/A = C will often emerge.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations Class 11 Maths: Functions

Q20 jee_main_2026_24_january_morning Absolute Value Equations
The number of the real solutions of the equation : x|x+3|+|x-1|-2=0 is
  • A. 3
  • B. 2
  • C. 5
  • D. 4

Solution

Related Formula
|f(x)| = cases f(x), & f(x) ≥ 0 -f(x), & f(x) < 0 cases
Core Logic

Modulus critical points visualization
Modulus critical points visualization
Critical points are x = -3 and x = 1. The real number line is split into three cases.

Step 1: Case 1 (x > 1)

For x > 1: x(x+3) + (x-1) - 2 = 0 x² + 3x + x - 3 = 0 ⇒ x² + 4x - 3 = 0 x = -4 ± √(16 + 12)2 = -2 ± √(7) Since √(7) ≈ 2.64, x = -2 + 2.64 = 0.64, which is not > 1. Both rejected.

Step 2: Case 2 (-3 <= x <= 1)

For -3 ≤ x ≤ 1: x(x+3) - (x-1) - 2 = 0 x² + 3x - x + 1 - 2 = 0 ⇒ x² + 2x - 1 = 0 x = -2 ± √(4 + 4)2 = -1 ± √(2) √(2) ≈ 1.41. x = -1 + 1.41 = 0.41 (Accepted) x = -1 - 1.41 = -2.41 (Accepted) (2 solutions)

Step 3: Case 3 (x < -3)

For x < -3: x(-x-3) - (x-1) - 2 = 0 -x² - 3x - x + 1 - 2 = 0 ⇒ -x² - 4x - 1 = 0 ⇒ x² + 4x + 1 = 0 x = -4 ± √(16 - 4)2 = -2 ± √(3) x = -2 + 1.732 = -0.268 (Rejected, not < -3) x = -2 - 1.732 = -3.732 (Accepted, < -3) (1 solution) Total valid real solutions = 2 + 1 = 3.

Pattern Recognition

Modulus equations involving polynomials are best resolved by strictly zoning the number line via critical points, verifying root validity against the respective zone boundaries.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations

Q18 jee_main_2026_24_january_evening Location of Roots
The smallest positive integral value of a, for which all the roots of x⁴ - ax² + 9 = 0 are real and distinct, is equal to
  • A. 9
  • B. 3
  • C. 4
  • D. 7

Solution

Related Formula
For a quadratic At² + Bt + C = 0 to have distinct positive roots: D > 0, -(B)/(2A) > 0, (C)/(A) > 0
Core Logic

Substitute x² = t. The equation becomes a quadratic in t:

t² - at + 9 = 0 (2)

For the original quartic equation x⁴ - ax² + 9 = 0 to have 4 real and distinct roots, the quadratic equation in t must have 2 distinct positive real roots (since x = ± √(t) requires t > 0).

Step 1: Discriminant Condition

Condition 1: Roots must be real and distinct (D > 0)

D = a² - 4(1)(9) > 0

a² - 36 > 0

a in (-∞, -6) (6, ∞)
Step 2: Location of Roots Condition

Condition 2: Sum of roots must be positive (since both roots are positive)

-(-a)/(1) > 0 a > 0

Condition 3: Product of roots must be positive

f(0) > 0 9 > 0 (This is always true, a in R)
Step 3: Intersection and Conclusion

Taking the intersection of all conditions: a in (-∞, -6) (6, ∞) AND a > 0.

Intersection yields: a in (6, ∞).

The smallest positive integral value in this interval is 7.

Pattern Recognition

Bi-quadratic equations x⁴ + Bx² + C = 0 map cleanly to t² + Bt + C = 0. The nature of x roots depends entirely on the signs of t roots. 4 real distinct x roots ≡ 2 positive distinct t roots.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations

Q57 jee_main_2025_03_april_evening Nature of Roots
Let the equation x(x + 2)(12 - k) = 2 have equal roots. Then the distance of the point (k, (k)/(2)) from the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0 is
  • A. 15
  • B. 5√(3)
  • C. 15√(5)
  • D. 12

Solution

Related Formula

For a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0 to have equal roots, its discriminant must be zero:

D = b² - 4ac = 0

Perpendicular distance of point (x₀, y₀) from line Ax + By + C = 0 is:

d = |Ax₀ + By₀ + C|√(A² + B²)
Core Logic

Let's expand the given equation:

(x² + 2x)(12 - k) = 2

Let λ = 12-k. The quadratic equation is:

λ x² + 2λ x - 2 = 0 (λ ≠ 0)
Step 1: Finding k

Set the discriminant to zero:

D = (2λ)² - 4(λ)(-2) = 0 4λ² + 8λ = 0 4λ(λ + 2) = 0

Since λ ≠ 0 (otherwise it is not quadratic and has no roots): λ = -2

Thus:

12 - k = -2 k = 14
Step 2: Calculating perpendicular distance

The point of interest is:

(k, (k)/(2)) = (14, 7)

Distance from the line 3x + 4y + 5 = 0:

d = |3(14) + 4(7) + 5|√(3² + 4²) = (|42 + 28 + 5|)/(5) = (75)/(5) = 15
Pattern Recognition

In quadratic equation analysis, substitution of variable coefficients with parameter λ keeps calculations clean and helps identify constraints such as λ ≠ 0 at early stages.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations Class 10 Mathematics: Coordinate Geometry

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