Relationship between Zeroes and Coefficients of a Polynomial

Any Algebraic expression with constants and variables is known as a Polynomial. Polynomial is a combination of two words, “Poly” and “nominal” where poly means “many” and nominal means “terms”, hence, a Polynomial can contain as many terms but never infinite. In a Polynomial, zeros and coefficients are present where the coefficients are already provided to us however, we need to obtain the value of zeros with the help of coefficients.

Relationship between Zeros and Coefficients

We know that zeros of any polynomial are the points where the graph of the polynomial cuts the x-axis. These zeros can also be found out using the coefficients of different terms in a polynomial. Let’s look at the relationship between the zeros and coefficients of the polynomials. 

Linear Polynomial

A linear polynomial, in general, is defined by, 

y = ax + b

We know, for zeros we need to find the points at which y = 0. Solving this general equation for y = 0. 

y = ax + b 

⇒0 = ax + b  

⇒x = 

This gives us the relationship between zero and the coefficient of a linear polynomial. 

In general for a linear equation y = ax + b, a ≠ 0, the graph of ax + b is a straight line that cuts the x-axis at (, 0)

Question: Verify the zeros of the linear polynomial both using the formula mentioned above and the graphical method. 

y = 4x + 2

Solution:

We are given with the equation y = 4x + 2, 

Here a = 4 and b = 2

So, by the formula mentioned above the zero will occur at (, 0) that is 

Let’s verify this zero with graphical method. We need to plot the graph of this equation. 

y = 4x + 2 

Let’s bring it to the intercept form. 

Now we know the intercepts on the x and y-axis. 

Quadratic Polynomial

Quadratic polynomials have the highest degree of 2 and along with factorization, there are other methods through which the zeros of the quadratic polynomial can be found such as Dharacharya method. As it has the highest degree 2, there exist 2 zeros in a quadratic polynomial.

Let’s derive the relationship between zeros and coefficients of a quadratic polynomial. Let’s assume a polynomial,

P(x) = 2x² – 8x + 6

This polynomial can be factorized as follows, 

P(x) = 2x² -8x + 6 

       = 2x² – 6x – 2x + 6 

       = 2x(x – 3) -2(x – 3) 

       = 2(x – 1)(x – 3) 

So this equation has roots x = 1 and x = 3 

Notice that, 

Sum of zeros = 1 + 3 = 4 = 

Product of zeros = 1 × 3 = 3 = 

This is the relationship between zeros and coefficients for second-order coefficients. 

So to put in a general form 

For a polynomial, p(x) = ax² + bx + c which has m and n as roots 

m + n = 

m × n = 

Question: Verify the property stated above for the equation, 6x² – 10x + 4

Solution:

6x² – 10x + 4 

⇒ 6x² – 6x -4x + 4

⇒ 6x(x – 1) – 4(x – 1)

⇒ (6x – 4) (x – 1) 

Thus, the roots for this equation come out to be x =  and x = 1

Now we know according to above properties, 

Sum of zeros = 

Product of zeros = 

Let’s verify it 

Sum of zeros = 1 +  = 

Both the values come to be equal. Hence, verified. 

Let’s verify the product of roots property 

Product of zeros = 

In this case also, both values are equal. Hence, verified. 

Cubic Polynomial

Similar relation can be derived for a cubic polynomial. A cubic polynomial is a polynomial of degree 3 and since it has its highest degree as 3, there exist three zeros of a cubic polynomial. Let’s suppose the roots/zeros of the polynomials obtained are p, q, r, the relationship between the zeros and polynomials will be given as,

For a cubic polynomial, 

ax³ + bx² + cx + d

Which has roots x = p, q and r 

p + q+ r = 

pq + qr + pr = 

pqr = 

Let’s look at some examples regarding these properties. 

Sample Problems

Question 1: Verify that -1,1,2 are the roots of the polynomial x³ -2x² – x + 2. Also, verify the properties stated above. 

Solution:

x = -1, 1 and 2 are the roots of polynomial that is P(x) = 0 at all these points. Let’s plug in the values of x one by one in the polynomial. 

P(-1) = (-1)³ – 2(-1)² -(-1) + 2 

         = -1 – 2 + 1 + 2

         = -3 + 3

         = 0 

P(1) = (1)³ – 2(1)² – 1 + 2 

       = 1 – 2 – 1 + 2 

       = 0 

P(2) = (2)³ – 2(2)² – 2 + 2 

       = 8 – 8 – 2 + 2

       = 0

Thus, all these points are roots of the polynomial 

Let’s verify the properties 

(1) p + q+ r = 

⇒ -1 + 1+ 2 = 

⇒ 2 = 2 

L.H.S = R.H.S 

Hence Verified 

(2) pq + qr + pr = 

  ⇒ (-1)(1) + (1)(2) + (-1)(2) = 

  ⇒ -1+ 2 -2 = -1 

 ⇒ -1 = -1 

L.H.S = R.H.S

Hence Verified 

(3) pqr = 

⇒ (-1)(1)(2) = 

⇒ -2 = -2

L.H.S = R.H.S 

Hence Verified 

Question 2: Evaluate the sum and product of the zeros of quadratic polynomial 6x² + 18. 

Solution: 

General form of a quadratic polynomial is ax² + bx + c = 0. 

Given polynomial 6x² + 18 can be rewritten as, 

6x² + 0.x + 18

As studied above the sum and product of roots of quadratic polynomial is given by, 

m + n = 

m.n = 

Where m and n are the roots of the polynomial 

In our case a = 6, b = 0 and c = 18. Plugging the values in the formulas 

m + n = 

m.n = 

Thus, the sum of roots is 0 and product is given by 3. 

Question 3: Given a polynomial ax² + bx + 1. Its roots are -1 and 3. Find the values of a and b. 

Solution:

We know the formula for sum and product of the root of a quadratic polynomial . 

Let m and n be the roots, 

Here, m = -1 and n =3 

So, by the formula 

m + n = …(1)

m.n =  …..(2)

From the equation (1) 

-1 + 3 = 

⇒ 2 = \frac{-b}{a}  

⇒ 2a = -b 

From equation (2) 

(-1)(3) = 

⇒ -3a = 1

⇒ a = 

Putting this value of “a” in the above equation 

b =