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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 5

Q28 jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Modulus Equations
The number of real solutions of the equation x(x² + 3|x| + 5|x - 1| + 6|x - 2|) = 0 is
Numerical Answer. Answer: 1 to 1

Solution

Related Formula
Zero Product Property: A · B = 0 A = 0 or B = 0
Core Logic

Given equation:

x(x² + 3|x| + 5|x - 1| + 6|x - 2|) = 0

This factors into two possibilities:

  • x = 0
  • x² + 3|x| + 5|x - 1| + 6|x - 2| = 0
Step 1: Evaluating the Modulus Term

Look at the second factor: f(x) = x² + 3|x| + 5|x - 1| + 6|x - 2|. Notice that all terms inside are strictly non-negative:

  • x² ≥ 0
  • 3|x| ≥ 0
  • 5|x - 1| ≥ 0
  • 6|x - 2| ≥ 0
  • For the sum to be 0, every single term must be simultaneously zero. x² = 0 x = 0 However, if x = 0, then 5|x-1| = 5(1) = 5 ≠ 0. Therefore, there is no real value of x that makes this entire second factor equal to zero.

Step 2: Conclusion

The only valid solution to the equation is x = 0 from the first factor. Thus, there is exactly 1 real solution.

Pattern Recognition

A sum of absolute values and squares set to 0 requires all individual components to hit 0 concurrently. If they have different zero-nodes (0, 1, 2), the sum can never be 0.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations

Q22 jee_main_2024_31_jan_evening Roots of Quadratic Equation
Let a, b, c be the length of three sides of a triangle satisfying the condition (a² + b²)x² - 2b(a + c)x + (b² + c²) = 0. If the set of all possible values of x is the interval (α, β) then 12(α² + β²) is equal to
Numerical Answer. Answer: 36 to 36

Solution

Core Logic

Given equation: (a²+b²)x² - 2b(a+c)x + b²+c² = 0. Expand and rearrange into perfect squares:

(a²x² - 2abx + b²) + (b²x² - 2bcx + c²) = 0 (ax - b)² + (bx - c)² = 0

Since squares must be non-negative, each term is zero:

ax - b = 0 x = (b)/(a) bx - c = 0 x = (c)/(b)

Thus, b = ax and c = bx = ax². Since a,b,c form a triangle, the triangle inequality holds:

  • a + b > c a + ax > ax² x² - x - 1 < 0 1-√(5)2 < x < 1+√(5)2
  • a + c > b a + ax² > ax x² - x + 1 > 0 (Always true for real x)
  • b + c > a ax + ax² > a x² + x - 1 > 0 x > -1+√(5)2 or x < -1-√(5)2.
  • Taking the intersection (and noting x > 0 since sides are positive):

√(5)-12 < x < √(5)+12

So, α = √(5)-12 and β = √(5)+12. Calculate 12(α² + β²):

12 ( 6-2√(5)4 + 6+2√(5)4 ) = 12 ( (12)/(4) ) = 36
Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations Class 11 Maths: Straight Lines

Q1 jee_main_2024_31_jan_morning Nature of Roots
For 0 < c < b < a, let (a + b - 2c)x² + (b + c - 2a)x + (c + a - 2b) = 0 and α ≠ 1 be one of its root. Then, among the two statements (I) If α in (-1,0), then b cannot be the geometric mean of a and c (II) If α in (0,1), then b may be the geometric mean of a and c
  • A. Both (I) and (II) are true
  • B. Neither (I) nor (II) is true
  • C. Only (II) is true
  • D. Only (I) is true

Solution

Related Formula
Sum of coefficients = 0 x = 1 is a root.
Core Logic

Given f(x) = (a + b - 2c)x² + (b + c - 2a)x + (c + a - 2b) = 0. Substituting x = 1:

f(1) = a + b - 2c + b + c - 2a + c + a - 2b = 0

Thus, one root is 1. Let the other root be α.

Step 1: Find the other root

Product of roots = (c + a - 2b)/(a + b - 2c). Since one root is 1, we have:

α · 1 = (c + a - 2b)/(a + b - 2c) α = (c + a - 2b)/(a + b - 2c)
Step 2: Analyze Statement (I)

If -1 < α < 0:

-1 < (c + a - 2b)/(a + b - 2c) < 0

This implies b > (a + c)/(2) and b + c < 2a. Therefore, b cannot be the Geometric Mean of a and c. Statement (I) is true.

Step 3: Analyze Statement (II)

If 0 < α < 1:

0 < (c + a - 2b)/(a + b - 2c) < 1

This gives b > c and b < (a + c)/(2). Therefore, b may be the Geometric Mean between a and c. Statement (II) is true.

Pattern Recognition

When coefficients in a quadratic equation are cyclic and sum to 0, one root is always 1. The other root is directly c/a.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations Class 11 Maths: Sequences and Series

Q20 jee_main_2024_31_jan_morning Sign of Quadratic Expressions
Let S be the set of positive integral values of a for which (ax² + 2(a + 1)x + 9a + 4)/(x² - 8x + 32) < 0, x in R. Then, the number of elements in S is:
  • A. 1
  • B. 0
  • C. ∞
  • D. 3

Solution

Core Logic

For the denominator x² - 8x + 32, D = 64 - 128 < 0 and a = 1 > 0. Thus, x² - 8x + 32 > 0 x in R.

Step 1: Constraint on Numerator

Since the denominator is always positive, the numerator must be strictly negative for all x in R.

ax² + 2(a + 1)x + 9a + 4 < 0 x in R

This requires a < 0 and D < 0.

Step 2: Conclusion

Since a must be strictly less than 0, there are no positive integral values of a that satisfy the condition. Hence, S is an empty set. Number of elements is 0.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Maths: Quadratic Equations

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