Quadratic Equation

Week 1
Quadratic
Equations
An introduction
Quadratics or quadratic equations can be defined as a polynomial equation of a second
degree, which implies that it comprises of a minimum of one term that is squared. The
general form of the quadratic equation is:
ax² + bx + c = 0
where x is an unknown variable and a,b,c are numerical coefficients

Here, a ≠ 0 because if it equals zero then the equation will not remain quadratic
anymore and it will become a linear equation, such as:
bx+c=0
Thus, this equation cannot be called a quadratic equation.
The terms a, b and c are also called quadratic coefficients.
The solutions to the quadratic equation are the values of the unknown variable
x, which satisfy the equation. These solutions are called roots or zeros of
quadratic equations. The roots of any polynomial are the solutions for the given
equation.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 2

How to Solve Quadratic Equations?
There are basically four methods of

solving quadratic equations. They are:
1.Factoring
2.Completing the square
3.Using Quadratic Formula
4.Taking the square root /Extracting Root

Solving Quadratic
Equations by Factoring
Solution by Factoring
• Begin with a equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0
• Ensure that it is set to adequate zero.
• Factor the left-hand side of the equation by
assuming zero on the right-hand side of the
equation.
• Assign each factor equal to zero.
• Now solve the equation in order to determine the
values of x.

Examples
1.2x²-x-6=0
(2x+3)(x-2)=0
2x+3=0
x=-3/2
x=2

Notice that 3x² = 5x is an incomplete form of a
quadratic equation where c = 0.
Solving Quadratic
Equations by the Square
Root Property
Square Root Property
We previously have used factoring to solve

quadratic equations.
This chapter will introduce additional methods for
solving quadratic equations.
If b is a real number and a2 = b, then
a b

Example
Solve x2 = 49
x   49  7
Solve 2x2 = 4
x2 = 2
x 2
Solve (y – 3)2 = 4
y  3   4  2
y=32
y = 1 or 5
Example
Solve x2 + 4 = 0
x2 = 4
There is no real solution because the square root
of 4 is not a real number.

Example
Solve (x + 2)2 = 25
x  2   25  5
x = 2 ± 5
x = 2 + 5 or x = 2 – 5
x = 3 or x = 7

Example
Solve (3x – 17)2 = 28

3x – 17 =  28   2 7
3 x  17  2 7
17  2 7
x
3

Solving Quadratic
Equations by Completing
the Square
Completing the Square
In all four of the previous examples, the constant in the
square on the right side, is half the coefficient of the x
term on the left.
Also, the constant on the left is the square of the
constant on the right.
So, to find the constant term of a perfect square
trinomial, we need to take the square of half the
coefficient of the x term in the trinomial (as long as the
coefficient of the x2 term is 1, as in our previous
examples).

Example
What constant term should be added to the following
expressions to create a perfect square trinomial?
x2 – 10x
add 52 = 25
x2 + 16x
add 82 = 64
x2 – 7x 2
7 49
add   
2 4
Example
We now look at a method for solving

quadratics that involves a technique called
completing the square.
It involves creating a trinomial that is a perfect
square, setting the factored trinomial equal to a
constant, then using the square root property
from the previous section.

Solving a Quadratic Equation by Completing
a Square
1) If the coefficient of x2 is NOT 1, divide both
sides of the equation by the coefficient.
2) Isolate all variable terms on one side of the
equation.
3) Complete the square (half the coefficient of the
x term squared, added to both sides of the
equation).
4) Factor the resulting trinomial.
5) Use the square root property.
Solving Equations
Example
Solve by completing the square.

y2 + 6y = 8
y2 + 6y + 9 = 8 + 9
(y + 3)2 = 1
y+3=± 1=±1
y = 3 ± 1
y = 4 or 2
Solving Equations
Example
y2 + y – 7 = 0
y2 + y = 7
y2 + y + ¼ = 7 + ¼
29
(y + ½) = 2
4
1 29 29
y  
2 4 2
1 29  1  29
y  
2 2 2
Solving Equations
Example
2x2 + 14x – 1 = 0
2x2 + 14x = 1
x2 + 7x = ½
49 49 51
x2 + 7x + 4 =½ + 4 = 4
7 2 51
(x + ) =
2 4
7 51 51 7 51  7  51
x   x  
2 4 2 2 2 2
Solving Quadratic
Equations by the
Quadratic Formula
The Quadratic Formula
Another technique for solving quadratic

equations is to use the quadratic formula.
The formula is derived from completing the
square of a general quadratic equation.

A quadratic equation written in standard

form, ax2 + bx + c = 0, has the solutions.
2
 b  b  4ac
x
2a

Example
Solve 11n2 – 9n = 1 by the quadratic formula.
11n2 – 9n – 1 = 0, so
a = 11, b = -9, c = -1
2
9  (9)  4(11)(1) 9  81  44 9  125
n   
2(11) 22 22
95 5
22
Example
1 2 5
Solve 8 x + x – 2 = 0 by the quadratic formula.
x2 + 8x – 20 = 0 (multiply both sides by 8)
a = 1, b = 8, c = 20
 8  (8) 2  4(1)(20)  8  64  80  8  144

x   
2(1) 2 2
 8  12 20 4
 or ,  10 or 2
2 2 2
Example
Solve x(x + 6) = 30 by the quadratic formula.
x2 + 6x + 30 = 0
a = 1, b = 6, c = 30
 6  (6) 2  4(1)(30)  6  36  120  6   84

x  
2(1) 2 2
So there is no real solution.


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Week 1

where x is an unknown variable and a,b,c are numerical coefficients

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 2

There are basically four methods of

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 3

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 5

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 6

We previously have used factoring to solve

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 10

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 12

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 13

Solve (3x – 17)2 = 28

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 14

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 16

We now look at a method for solving

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 18

Solve by completing the square.

Another technique for solving quadratic

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 24

A quadratic equation written in standard

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 25

 8  (8) 2  4(1)(20)  8  64  80  8  144

 6  (6) 2  4(1)(30)  6  36  120  6   84

So there is no real solution.

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