JEE Main · Mathematics ↑ Rising

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

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 9 10 5 24

If the set of all a in R, for which the equation 2x² + (a - 5)x + 15 = 3a has no real root, is the interval (α, β), and X = x in Z : α < x < β, then Σx in X x² is equal to

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

For a quadratic equation Ax² + Bx + C = 0 to have no real roots, its discriminant must be strictly negative:

D = B² - 4AC < 0
Core Logic

Rearranging the given equation into standard quadratic form:

2x² + (a - 5)x + (15 - 3a) = 0

Here, A = 2, B = a - 5, and C = 15 - 3a. Setting the discriminant less than zero:

(a - 5)² - 4(2)(15 - 3a) < 0 (a² - 10a + 25) - 8(15 - 3a) < 0 a² - 10a + 25 - 120 + 24a < 0 a² + 14a - 95 < 0
Step 1: Solve for the Interval

Factorizing the quadratic inequality:

(a + 19)(a - 5) < 0

Thus, a in (-19, 5). This gives α = -19 and \beta = 5.

Step 2: Calculate the Sum of Squares

The set X consists of integers strictly between -19 and 5:

X = -18, -17, , 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 Σx in X x² = (-18)² + (-17)² + + 4² = (1² + 2² + 3² + 4²) + (1² + 2² + + 18²) = (4 × 5 × 9)/(6) + (18 × 19 × 37)/(6) = 30 + 2109 = 2139
Pattern Recognition

Recognize that the negative terms squared are identical to the positive terms squared. Splitting the summation avoids calculating large numbers manually or allows using standard formula templates like (n(n+1)(2n+1))/(6) efficiently.

Chapter Mix

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

Reference Study Guides

More Quadratic Equations Previous-Year Questions — Page 4

Q68 jee_main_2025_04_april_morning Nature of Roots
Consider the equation x² + 4x - n = 0, where n in [20, 100] is a natural number. Then the number of all distinct values of n, for which the given equation has integral roots, is equal to
  • A. 7
  • B. 8
  • C. 6
  • D. 5

Solution

Related Formula

For quadratic equations with integer coefficients to have integral roots, the discriminant D = b² - 4ac must be a perfect square.

Core Logic

Rewrite using perfect square completing methods:

x² + 4x + 4 = n + 4 (x + 2)² = n + 4 x = -2 ± √(n + 4)

For x to be an integer, n + 4 must be a perfect square. Given range constraint 20 ≤ n ≤ 100:

24 ≤ n + 4 ≤ 104
Step 1: Identify Perfect Squares in Range

Find perfect squares between 24 and 104: 5² = 25 6² = 36 7² = 49 8² = 64 9² = 81 10² = 100

This gives exactly 6 distinct valid perfect squares.

Step 2: Conclusion

Thus, there are exactly 6 distinct integer values for n.

Pattern Recognition

Completing the square provides intuitive bounds quicker than running full discriminant inequalities. Match integer root sets directly to explicit numerical sequence counts.

Chapter Mix

Class 10 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations Class 11 Mathematics: Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations

Q67 jee_main_2025_07_april_evening Equations with Modulus
The number of real roots of the equation x | x - 2 | + 3 | x - 3 | + 1 = 0 is :
  • A. 4
  • B. 2
  • C. 1
  • D. 3

Solution

Related Formula

The definition of modulus function handles sub-intervals via critical points:

|x - a| = cases x - a & if x ≥ a -(x - a) & if x < a cases
Core Logic

The critical points are x = 2 and x = 3. We check the three distinct structural intervals:

Case I: x < 2

x(-(x - 2)) + 3(-(x - 3)) + 1 = 0 -x² + 2x - 3x + 9 + 1 = 0 x² + x - 10 = 0 x = -1 ± √(1 + 40)2 = -1 ± √(41)2

Checking domain constraint x < 2: -1 - √(41)2 ≈ (-1 - 6.4)/(2) = -3.7 < 2 (Valid root) -1 + √(41)2 ≈ (-1 + 6.4)/(2) = 2.7 < 2 (Rejected)

Step 1: Intermediate Interval Check

Case II: 2 ≤ x < 3

x(x - 2) + 3(-(x - 3)) + 1 = 0 x² - 2x - 3x + 9 + 1 = 0 x² - 5x + 10 = 0

Discriminant check: D = (-5)² - 4(1)(10) = 25 - 40 = -15 < 0. No real roots exist in this interval.

Step 2: Upper Interval Check

Case III: x ≥ 3

x(x - 2) + 3(x - 3) + 1 = 0 x² - 2x + 3x - 9 + 1 = 0 x² + x - 8 = 0 x = -1 ± √(1 + 32)2 = -1 ± √(33)2

Checking domain constraint x ≥ 3: -1 + √(33)2 ≈ (-1 + 5.74)/(2) = 2.37 < 3 (Rejected) -1 - √(33)2 < 0 (Rejected)

Thus, only 1 valid real root satisfies the conditional layout across all ranges.

Pattern Recognition

Always perform case-by-case boundaries checks on algebraic roots found inside absolute modulus problems to discard ghost solutions quickly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations

Q67 jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning Roots of Advanced Polynomial Equations
The product of all the rational roots of the equation (x² - 9x + 11)² - (x - 4)(x - 5) = 3 is equal to :
  • A. 14
  • B. 7
  • C. 28
  • D. 41

Solution

Related Formula

For equations with repeating polynomial expressions, applying a variable substitution like t = P(x) reduces high-degree polynomials down to standard quadratics.

Core Logic

Expand the linear binomial product in the given equation equation:

(x-4)(x-5) = x² - 9x + 20

Rewrite the full expression in terms of the common variable pattern x² - 9x:

(x² - 9x + 11)² - (x² - 9x + 20) = 3

Let t = x² - 9x. Substituting this into the equation gives:

(t + 11)² - (t + 20) = 3 t² + 22t + 121 - t - 20 - 3 = 0 t² + 21t + 98 = 0
Step 1: Solve the Polynomial for Variable t

Factorize the quadratic expression:

(t + 14)(t + 7) = 0 t = -14 or t = -7
Step 2: Back-substitute and Isolate Rational Roots

Case 1: x² - 9x = -7 x² - 9x + 7 = 0 Check the discriminant value: D = (-9)² - 4(1)(7) = 81 - 28 = 53 (not a perfect square, so the roots are irrational).

Case 2: x² - 9x = -14 x² - 9x + 14 = 0 Factorize the quadratic expression:

(x - 7)(x - 2) = 0 x = 7 or x = 2

Both values are rational numbers.

Step 3: Calculate the Product of Rational Roots

Multiply the true rational roots together:

Product = 7 · 2 = 14
Pattern Recognition

Always check the discriminant D = b² - 4ac to filter out irrational radical components whenever the problem specifically asks for the product of rational roots only.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations

Q59 jee_main_2025_29_jan_morning Equations Reducible to Quadratic Forms
The number of solutions of the equation ((9)/(x) - 9√(x) +2)((2)/(x) - 7√(x) +3) = 0 is:
  • A. 2
  • B. 4
  • C. 1
  • D. 3

Solution

Related Formula
Substitute variable to convert non-linear form: α = 1√(x) (x > 0)
Core Logic

Let 1√(x) = α. The equation reduces to a product of two quadratics:

(9α² - 9α + 2)(2α² - 7α + 3) = 0
Step 1: Factorize the components

First quadratic: 9α² - 9α + 2 = 0 (3α - 2)(3α - 1) = 0 α = (2)/(3), (1)/(3) Second quadratic: 2α² - 7α + 3 = 0 (2α - 1)(α - 3) = 0 α = (1)/(2), 3

Step 2: Solve for x

Since α = 1√(x) x = (1)/(α²). For α = (1)/(3) x = 9 For α = (1)/(2) x = 4 For α = (2)/(3) x = (9)/(4) For α = 3 x = (1)/(9) All 4 values are positive and valid.

Pattern Recognition

Always check constraints first (x > 0 due to √(x) in denominator). Since all roots α > 0, every single algebraic root maps to a real distinct solution.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations

Q9 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Equations Reducible to Quadratic Form
Let S=xin R:(√(3)+√(2))x+(√(3)-√(2))x=10. Then the number of elements in S is:
  • A. 4
  • B. 0
  • C. 2
  • D. 1

Solution

Related Formula

Conjugate Surd Identity:

(√(a) + √(b))(√(a) - √(b)) = a - b
Core Logic

Observe the base components of the exponents:

(√(3) + √(2))(√(3) - √(2)) = 3 - 2 = 1

Therefore, we can express one base as the reciprocal of the other:

√(3) - √(2) = 1√(3) + √(2)

The equation becomes:

(√(3) + √(2))x + 1(√(3) + √(2))x = 10
Step 1: Formulate the Quadratic Equation

Let (√(3) + √(2))x = t. Then:

t + (1)/(t) = 10 t² - 10t + 1 = 0

Solving for t using the quadratic formula:

t = 10 ± (-10)² - 4(1)(1)2 = 10 ± √(96)2 = 5 ± 2√(6)
Step 2: Solve for x

Notice that (5 ± 2√(6)) can be written as square powers of the original base:

(√(3) ± √(2))² = 3 + 2 ± 2√(6) = 5 ± 2√(6)

Thus, we have:

  • For t = 5 + 2√(6) (√(3) + √(2))x = (√(3) + √(2))² x = 2
  • For t = 5 - 2√(6) (√(3) + √(2))x = (√(3) - √(2))² = (√(3) + √(2))⁻² x = -2
  • Therefore, the distinct real solutions are x = 2 and x = -2. The number of elements in set S is 2.

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Rational conjugate bases added with inverse matching variables. Shortcut: Whenever you see an equation of the form A^x + B^x = C where AB = 1, the solution will always be symmetric (± x₀). Checking x=2 explicitly gives (√(3)+√(2))² + (√(3)-√(2))² = (5+2√(6)) + (5-2√(6)) = 10, confirming ± 2 immediately.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Mathematics: Quadratic Equations Class 9 Mathematics: Number Systems (Rationalization)

More Quadratic Equations Questions — jee_main_2025_29_jan_evening

Practice all Quadratic Equations previous-year questions →

Rankbit System
JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%) | JEE Physics: Waves (+15.5%) | Electrostatics: Concentric Shells (-29.7%) | Modern Physics: Photoelectric Clones (+34.2%) | Mathematics: Definite Integrals (+18.1%) | Chemistry: Coordination Splitting (-11.4%)