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Quadratic Equations: Squared Degree

Quadratic equations take the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 and can model parabolic curves. They can be solved using factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac))/2a. The discriminant b^2 - 4ac determines whether the solutions are real, a single real solution, or complex numbers.

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Nilo Valera
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81 views8 pages

Quadratic Equations: Squared Degree

Quadratic equations take the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 and can model parabolic curves. They can be solved using factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac))/2a. The discriminant b^2 - 4ac determines whether the solutions are real, a single real solution, or complex numbers.

Uploaded by

Nilo Valera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quadratic Equations

An example of a Quadratic Equation:

Quadratic Equations make nice curves, like this one:

Name
The name Quadratic comes from "quad" meaning square, because the variable
gets squared (like x2).
It is also called an "Equation of Degree 2" (because of the "2" on the x)

Standard Form
The Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation looks like this:

 a, b and c are known values. a can't be 0.

 "x" is the variable or unknown (we don't know it yet).

 
Here are some examples:

2x2 + 5x + 3 = 0   In this one a=2, b=5 and c=3


     
x2 − 3x = 0 This one is a little more tricky:

 Where is a? Well a=1, as we don't usually write "1x2"


 
 b = −3
 And where is c? Well c=0, so is not shown.

5x − 3 = 0   Oops! This one is not a quadratic equation: it is missing x2


(in other words a=0, which means it can't be quadratic)

Have a Play With It


Play with the "Quadratic Equation Explorer" so you can see:

 the graph it makes, and


 the solutions (called "roots").

Hidden Quadratic Equations!


As we saw before, the Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation is

ax2 + bx + c = 0
But sometimes a quadratic equation doesn't look like that!

For example:
In Standard
In disguise a, b and c
Form

x2 = 3x − 1 Move all terms to left hand side x2 − 3x + 1 = 0 a=1, b=−3, c=1
Expand (undo the brackets),
2(w2 − 2w) = 5 2w2 − 4w − 5 = 0 a=2, b=−4, c=−5
and move 5 to left
z(z−1) = 3 Expand, and move 3 to left z2 − z − 3 = 0 a=1, b=−1, c=−3

How To Solve Them?


The "solutions" to the Quadratic Equation are where it is equal to zero.
They are also called "roots", or sometimes "zeros"

There are usually 2 solutions (as shown in this graph).

And there are a few different ways to find the solutions:

We can Factor the Quadratic (find what to multiply to make the Quadratic


Equation)
Or we can Complete the Square
Or we can use the special Quadratic Formula:

Just plug in the values of a, b and c, and do the calculations.

We will look at this method in more detail now.


About the Quadratic Formula
Plus/Minus

First of all what is that plus/minus thing that looks like ± ?

The ± means there are TWO answers:

x = −b + √(b2  − 4ac)2a

x = −b − √(b2  − 4ac)2a

Here is an example with two answers:

But it does not always work out like that!

 Imagine if the curve "just touches" the x-axis.


 Or imagine the curve is so high it doesn't even cross the x-axis!

This is where the "Discriminant" helps us ...

Discriminant

Do you see b2 − 4ac in the formula above? It is called the Discriminant,


because it can "discriminate" between the possible types of answer:

 when b2 − 4ac is positive, we get two Real solutions


 when it is zero we get just ONE real solution (both answers are the same)
 when it is negative we get a pair of Complex solutions

Complex solutions? Let's talk about them after we see how to use the formula.

Using the Quadratic Formula

Just put the values of a, b and c into the Quadratic Formula, and do the
calculations.
Example: Solve 5x2 + 6x + 1 = 0
Coefficients are:a = 5, b = 6, c = 1
Quadratic Formula:x = −b ± √(b2  − 4ac)2a
Put in a, b and c:x = −6 ± √(62  − 4×5×1)2×5
Solve:x = −6 ± √(36  − 20)10
 x = −6 ± √(16)10
 x = −6 ± 410
 x = −0.2 or −1

Answer: x = −0.2 or x = −1

And we see them on this graph.

Check -0.2:   5×(−0.2)2 + 6×(−0.2) + 1


= 5×(0.04) + 6×(−0.2) + 1
= 0.2 − 1.2 + 1
=0
Check -1:   5×(−1)2 + 6×(−1) + 1
= 5×(1) + 6×(−1) + 1
=5−6+1
=0

Remembering The Formula

A kind reader suggested singing it to "Pop Goes the Weasel":

"x is equal to minus b   "All around the mulberry bush


♫   ♫  
plus or minus the square root   The monkey chased the weasel
  of b-squared minus four a c     The monkey thought 'twas all in fun
  ALL over two a"     Pop! goes the weasel"

Try singing it a few times and it will get stuck in your head!

Or you can remember this story:

x = −b ± √(b2  − 4ac)2a


"A negative boy was thinking yes or no about going to a party,
at the party he talked to a square boy but not to the 4 awesome chicks.
It was all over at 2 am."

Complex Solutions?
When the Discriminant (the value b2 − 4ac) is negative we get a pair
of Complex solutions ... what does that mean?

It means our answer will include Imaginary Numbers. Wow!

Example: Solve 5x2 + 2x + 1 = 0


Coefficients are:a=5, b=2, c=1
Note that the Discriminant is negative:b2 − 4ac = 22 − 4×5×1
              = −16
Use the Quadratic Formula:x = −2 ± √(−16)10
√(−16) = 4i
(where i is the imaginary number √−1)

So:x = −2 ± 4i10

 
Answer: x = −0.2 ± 0.4i

The graph does not cross the x-axis. That is why we ended up with complex
numbers.

In some ways it is easier: we don't need more calculation, just leave it as −0.2
± 0.4i.

Example: Solve x2 − 4x + 6.25 = 0


Coefficients are:a=1, b=−4, c=6.25
Note that the Discriminant is negative:b2 − 4ac = (−4)2 − 4×1×6.25
              = −9
Use the Quadratic Formula:x = −(−4) ± √(−9)2
√(−9) = 3i
(where i is the imaginary number √−1)

So:x = 4 ± 3i2

Answer: x = 2 ± 1.5i

The graph does not cross the x-axis. That is why we ended up with complex
numbers.

BUT an upside-down mirror image of our equation does cross the x-axis at 2 ±
1.5 (note: missing the i).

Just an interesting fact for you!


 

Summary
 Quadratic Equation in Standard Form: ax2 + bx + c = 0

 Quadratic Equations can be factored


 Quadratic Formula: x = −b ± √(b2  − 4ac)2a

 When the Discriminant (b2−4ac) is:


o positive, there are 2 real solutions
o zero, there is one real solution
o negative, there are 2 complex solutions

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