The Elegance of Quadratic Relationships
Imagine standing at the precipice of a complex problem. You see the equation 2x(2x+1)=1 and your first instinct might be to solve for x.
But wait! In the world of JEE Advanced, the most direct path is rarely the brute-force path. Let us embark on a journey to uncover the hidden symmetry between the roots α and β.
Phase 1
The Standard Form
First, we must bring our equation into the light. Expanding 2x(2x+1)=1 gives us 4x2+2x=1.
By subtracting 1 from both sides, we arrive at the standard quadratic form:
This is the bedrock of our problem. It tells us everything we need to know about the behavior of its roots, α and β.
Phase 2
The Bridge Between Roots
We know that for any quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0, the sum of the roots is given by −ab. Applying this to our equation where a=4 and b=2, we find:
This is our bridge. It connects α and β in a simple, linear relationship.
If we want to know β in terms of α, we simply rearrange:
This is a great start, but it doesn't quite match our options, which are quadratic in α. We need to go deeper.
Phase 3
The Power of the Root
Here is the secret weapon of the JEE topper: if α is a root, it must satisfy the equation. So, we know that:
If we isolate the constant 1, we get a powerful substitution:
Now, look back at our expression for β. We have β=2−1−2α. If we replace that 1 with our new expression, we can transform β entirely into a function of α.
Phase 4
The Final Synthesis
Let us perform the substitution:
Expanding the numerator, we get −4α2−2α−2α=−4α2−4α. Dividing by 2, we arrive at:
Finally, factoring out −2α, we reach the elegant conclusion:
This matches our target perfectly. We didn't just solve for a value; we uncovered the structural relationship between the roots.
This is the beauty of algebra—finding the hidden path through the complexity. Keep practicing this, and you will start seeing these patterns everywhere.