If $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are roots of the equation $x^2+p x+\frac{3 p}{4}=0$, such that…

If $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are roots of the equation $x^2+p x+\frac{3 p}{4}=0$, such that $|\alpha-\beta|=\sqrt{10}$, then $p$ belongs to the set :
  1. $\{2,-5\}$
  2. $\{-3,2\}$
  3. $\{-2,5\}$
  4. $\{3,-5\}$

Solution

Let's solve this step by step: (1) We start with a quadratic equation where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are its roots: $x^2+(2-\lambda)x+(10-\lambda)=0$ (2) Using the quadratic formula, we can express these roots as: $\frac{\lambda-2 \pm \sqrt{4-4\lambda+\lambda^2-40+4\lambda}}{2}$ (3) This can be simplified to: $\frac{\lambda-2 \pm \sqrt{\lambda^2-36}}{2}$ (4) The magnitude of the difference between these roots is: $|\alpha - \beta| = |\sqrt{\lambda^2-36}|$ (5) For the sum of cubes of the roots ($\alpha^3 + \beta^3$), we get: $\alpha^3 + \beta^3 = \frac{(\lambda-2)^3}{4} + \frac{3(\lambda-2)(\lambda^2-36)}{4}$ (6) This expression can be further simplified: $\frac{(\lambda-2)(4\lambda^2-4\lambda-104)}{4}$ $= (\lambda-2)(\lambda^2-\lambda-26)$ $= f(\lambda)$ (7) Finally, we can observe that this function $f(\lambda)$ attains its minimum value when $\lambda = 4$. Therefore, when $\lambda = 4$, the function reaches its minimum value.

Asked in: JEE Main 2013 (22 Apr Online)

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