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Quadratic Functions

A polynomial is a mathematical expression involving terms of variables raised to whole number powers and coefficients. The degree of a polynomial refers to the highest power term. There are several methods for solving quadratic equations (polynomials of degree 2), including factorisation, completing the square, and the quadratic formula. Factorisation involves rewriting the quadratic expression as a product of linear factors. Completing the square transforms the quadratic into the form (x-h)2 = k, allowing the variable to be isolated. The quadratic formula provides a direct formula for solving any quadratic equation.

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72 views6 pages

Quadratic Functions

A polynomial is a mathematical expression involving terms of variables raised to whole number powers and coefficients. The degree of a polynomial refers to the highest power term. There are several methods for solving quadratic equations (polynomials of degree 2), including factorisation, completing the square, and the quadratic formula. Factorisation involves rewriting the quadratic expression as a product of linear factors. Completing the square transforms the quadratic into the form (x-h)2 = k, allowing the variable to be isolated. The quadratic formula provides a direct formula for solving any quadratic equation.

Uploaded by

Deadly Chiller
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polynomials

A polynomial is a function of the form


𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0 .
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power of 𝑥 in its expression.
Type of Polynomial Degree
Constant(non-zero) Eg. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 0
Linear Eg. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 1
Quadratic Eg. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 2
Cubic Eg. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 3
Quartic Eg. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 4

Methods for Solving Quadratic Equations


1) Factorisation
An expression of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 can be factorized once 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
is a perfect square (square of a whole number).
Once that is done, we convert the function 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 into the form
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, where 𝑝 × 𝑞 = 𝑎 × 𝑐 and 𝑝 + 𝑞 = 𝑏.

Example 1.1: Find the solutions of the equation 6𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 2 = 0.


We first check the value of 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐.
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 72 − 4(6)(2) = 49 − 48 = 12 .
Since 1 is a perfect square, the function can be easily factorised.
Now 𝑎 × 𝑐 = 12 and 𝑏 = 7, so that means we are looking for two numbers
𝑝 and 𝑞 that will give us 12 when multiplied and 7 when added. By looking
through the factors of 12, we find 3 and 4.
We now convert 6𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 2 = 0 into 6𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 2 = 0.
We want to factorise by pairs:
It can be seen the HCF of the first pair is 3𝑥 and the HCF of the second pair is 2.

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020


This leads to
3𝑥(3𝑥 + 1) + 2(2𝑥 + 1) = 0
⟹ (3𝑥 + 2)(3𝑥 + 1) = 0
⟹ (3𝑥 + 2) = 0 𝑜𝑟 (3𝑥 + 1) = 0
2 1
⟹𝑥= − 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −
3 2
2 1
The roots of the equation are 𝑥 = − ; 𝑥 = − .
3 2

Example 1.2: Find the solutions of the equation 8𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 = 0.


𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 22 − 4(8)(−3) = 4 − (−96) = 100 = 102 .
𝑎 × 𝑐 = 8 × −3 = −24; 𝑏 = 2.
Looking at the factors of −24, gives us 6 × −4 = 24 and 6 − 4 = 2.
We now convert 8𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 = 0 into 8𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 3 = 0.
It can be seen the HCF of the first pair is 4𝑥 and the HCF of the second pair is 3.
This leads to
4𝑥(2𝑥 − 1) + 3(2𝑥 − 1) = 0
⟹ (4𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥 − 1) = 0
⟹ (4𝑥 + 3) = 0 𝑜𝑟 (2𝑥 − 1) = 0
3 1
⟹𝑥= − 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
4 2
3 1
The roots of the equation are 𝑥 = − ; 𝑥 = .
4 2

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020


2) Completing the Square
For the completing the square method, the expression is expressed in the form
𝑏 𝑏2
𝑎(𝑥 + ℎ)2 + 𝑘 = 0, where ℎ = and 𝑘 = 𝑐 − . The solutions are then found
2𝑎 4𝑎
by making 𝑥 the subject of the formula.

Example 2.1: Solve the equation 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1 using the completing the


square method.
First we calculate our h and k values.
𝑏 −1 1
ℎ= = =−
2𝑎 2(2) 4
𝑏2 (−1)2 1 9
𝑘=𝑐− = −1 − = −1 − = −
4𝑎 4(2) 8 8
1 2 9
This gives 2 (𝑥 − ) − = 0.
4 8

We now make 𝑥 the subject of the expression.


1 2 9
2 (𝑥 − ) =
4 8
1 2 9
⟹ (𝑥 − ) = (𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑦 2)
4 16

1 9
⟹ (𝑥 − ) = ±√ (𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠)
4 16

1 3
⟹ (𝑥 − ) = ±
4 4
1 3 1 3
⟹ 𝑥− = + 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 − = −
4 4 4 4
3 1 3 1
⟹ 𝑥 = + 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = − +
4 4 4 4

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020


2 1
Therefore, 𝑥 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = − ( )
4 2

Example 2.2: Solve 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 16 = 0 using the completing the square method.

𝑏 −10
ℎ= = = −5
2𝑎 2(1)
𝑏2 (−10)2 100
𝑘=𝑐− = 16 − = 16 − = 16 − 25 = −9
4𝑎 4(1) 4
(𝑥 − 5)2 − 9 = 0
⟹ (𝑥 − 5)2 = 9
⟹ 𝑥 − 5 = ±√9
⟹ 𝑥 − 5 = ±3
⟹ 𝑥 = 3 + 5 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −3 + 5
Therefore, 𝑥 = 8 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2

3) Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is given by

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
Example 3.1: Solve 8𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 = 0 using the quadratic formula.
𝑎 = 8, 𝑏 = 2 , 𝑐 = −3

−2 ± √22 − 4(8)(−3)
⟹𝑥=
2(8)

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020


−2 ± √100
⟹𝑥=
16
−2 ± 10
⟹𝑥=
16
−2 + 10 −2 − 10
⟹𝑥= 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
16 16
8 1 12 3
⟹𝑥= = 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = − =−
16 2 16 4

Example 3.2: Solve 9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 4 = 0 using the quadratic formula.


𝑎 = 9, 𝑏 = 12, 𝑐 = 4

−12 ± √122 − 4(9)(4)


⟹𝑥=
2(9)
−12 ± √0
⟹𝑥=
18
−12 ± 0
⟹𝑥=
18
−12 + 0 −12 − 0
⟹𝑥= 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
18 18
12 2
⟹𝑥=− =−
18 3

Note that 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 is called the discriminant of the equation.


i) When 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 > 0 ⟹ two, real and distinct solutions of the equation.
ii) When 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 0 ⟹ one real solution of the equation.
iii) When 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0 ⟹ no real solutions and there are two complex
solutions of the equation.
Example 3.1 is an example of (i).
Example 3.2 is an example of (ii).

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020


4) Solving Quadratic Equations with Imaginary Numbers
A complex number 𝑖 is defined such that 𝑖 2 = −1. We can use this when solving
quadratic equations, where 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0.
Example 4.1: Solve 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 = 0 using the quadratic formula.
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −4, 𝑐 = 5

−(−4) ± √(−4)2 − 4(1)(5)


𝑥=
2(1)

4 ± √16 − 20
⟹𝑥=
2

4 ± √−4
⟹𝑥=
2
Since 𝑖 2 = −1, then 4𝑖 2 = −4, and √−4 = √4𝑖 2 = 2𝑖.
4 ± 2𝑖
⟹𝑥=
2
4 + 2𝑖 4 − 2𝑖
⟹𝑥= 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
2 2
⟹ 𝑥 = 2 + 𝑖 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2 − 𝑖

Group 2 MATH 1115 Sem 1 2019/2020

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