DM015 CHAPTER 2 2021/2022

CHAPTER 2
EQUATIONS
2.1 LINEAR EQUATIONS

Definition:
An equation is a mathematical sentence that says that two things are equal; for
example, 3x + 1 = 5

An expression is a mathematical phrase that stands for a single number; for

example, 3x + 1

(a) To define linear equations in one, two and three variables.

i. The general form of linear equation with one variable is; ax + b = 0
where a, b are constants and a  0.
Examples
5x + 3 = 0
−11x + 8 = 0
−7 x − 14 = 0

ii. The general form of linear equation with two variables is;
ax + by + c = 0 where a, b, c are constants, a and b  0.
Examples
2 x + 4 y + 26 = 0
12 x − 9 y + 25 = 0
− 8 x + y − 15 = 0

iii. The general form of linear equation with three variables is;
ax + by + cz + d = 0 where a, b, c, d are constants a, b and c  0.
Examples
7 x + 20 y + 2 z + 28 = 0
−4 x − 9 y − 10 z + 12 = 0
5x − y + 9 z + 6 = 0

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(b) Solving simultaneous linear equations.
A system of two linear equations can be solved by using:
i) substitution
ii) elimination

EXAMPLE 1:
1. Solve the following linear equations
(a) x − 10 = −2 and 2 x + 4 y = 8. (b) x + 2 y = 6 and 3x + y = 9.

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2. Given 2 x + 3 y = 12 and x + 2 y = 8, find the value of x and y.

By using substitution method By using elimination method

x − y + 2z = 6
3. Solve this equation: 2x + y + z = 3
3x − y + z = 6

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4. Solve the following simultaneous equations.
x − 3y + z = 1
(a) x+ y+z =2
3x − 5 y − z = 3

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7x + 3y + z = 1
(b) y + 2z = 2
x+ z =3

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x+ y+ z =5
(c) 2x − y − z = 9
x + 3y − z = 6

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2.2 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Definition
General form of quadratic equation:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 𝑎≠0
where 𝑥 is a variable and 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are constants

Quadratic equations can be solved by:

A. Factorizing (for quadratic equation that can be factorized only)

B. Completing the square
C. Using the quadratic formula

A. Factorization

EXAMPLE 2:
1. Solve by factoring.
(a) x 2 − 7 x + 12 = 0 (b) 2 x2 + 5x + 3 = 0

(c) x2 = 5x (d) 3x 2 + 4 x = 0

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(e) 4 x2 − 25 = 0 (f) 15 x 2 + 8 x − 12 = 0

B. Completing the square

Steps
1. Coefficient of 𝑥 2 = 1
𝑏 2
2. Add both side with ( )
2
3. The left side is factorized into complete square
4. Solve by taking the square root both side

2. Solve by completing the square.

(a) x − 6 x − 7 = 0 x 2 + 7 x + 12 = 0
2
(b)

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(c) x2 + 6 x − 3 = 0 (d) x2 = 1 − 4x

(e) 3x 2 − 8 x + 5 = 0 (f) 2 x2 = 5x + 3

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(g) − x2 + 5x − 6 = 0 (h) − x2 + 6 x + 7 = 0

(i) 3x + 2 = 2 x 2 (j) −3x 2 + 2 x + 3 = 0

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(k) −5 x 2 − 3x + 6 = 0 (l) 6 = 2 x2 + 5x

(m) ( x − 3) ( x + 4) = 0 (n) ( 5 − x ) (2 + x) = 0

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C. Using the quadratic formula

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑎≠0 then

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
Given the general equation:

ax 2 + bx + c = 0

ax 2 + bx = −c

b c
x2 + x=−
a a
2 2 2
b  b  c  b  1 b 
x + x+  = − + 
2
Add
 2  a  to both sides
a  2a  a  2a 

b  b 2 − 4ac
2

x+  = Factorizing
 2a  4a 2

 b  b 2 - 4ac
x+ = Taking square root to both sides
 2a  4a 2

b b 2 - 4ac b
x=−  Subtract to both sides
2a 4a 2 2a

−b  b 2 - 4ac
x= Finally, the formula is obtained
2a

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3. Solve by using the quadratic formula.
(a) 4 x + x − 3 = 0 9 x 2 − 30 x + 25 = 0
2
(b)

(c) 4 x2 + 9 x − 2 = 0 (d) 3x 2 − 6 x − 8 = 0

1 2 3
(e) x + 9 x = 10 (f) 2x + = x2
2 2

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The types of a quadratics equation
▪ If ax + bx + c = 0 , a  0 therefore b - 4ac discriminant
2 2

▪ There are three types of root for quadratic equation

(A) 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 > 0, two distinct real roots

2
Example 3𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 5 = 0

(B) 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 0, two equal real roots

2
Example 𝑥 – 8𝑥 + 16 = 0

(C) 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0, two complex roots

2
Example 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 6 = 0

(D) 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 ≥ 0, two real roots

Example 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5 ≥0

4. Determine the nature of the roots of the following quadratic equation but do
not solve the equations:
(a) x − 2 x + 5 = 0 (b) 4 x − 12 x + 9 = 0
2 2

(c) −2 x 2 + 3x + 5 = 0 (d) −6 x 2 + 7 x − 2 = 0

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5. Find the value of 𝑝 if that 2𝑥 2 – 8𝑥 + 𝑝 = 0, has two equal real roots.

6. Given that the quadratic equation, 𝑘𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 5 = 𝑘 has two equal real

roots.Find the value of 𝑘.

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Solve simultaneous equations of linear and non-linear form involving two
unknowns.

9. Solve the following simultaneous equation:

(a) x 2 + y 2 = 17 and x+ y=3

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(b) −4 x + 17 = y and x+ y=3

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(c) 2x + y = x + 1 and y+x=4

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10. Solve the indices simultaneous equations:
(a) 8 y  4x = 4 and 11y− x = 1
11

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(b) 2a + 3b = 17 and 2a+2 − 3b +1 = 5

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x
(c) 2x42 y = 8 and y = 1
3
9 27

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17. Solve the logarithmic simultaneous equations:
(a) log10 x + log10 y = 6 and log y x = 5

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(b) log x  y −18  = 2 and log y  x + 3  = 12
   

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(c) Given 2log 2 x = y and log2 2 x = y + 4 . Find the values of x and y.

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(d) ( )
ln (15 − 6 y ) − ln 5−2x = ln3 and ( )
ln ( y ) − ln 2−4 x = ln 2

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2.3 CUBIC EQUATIONS

Definition
General form of cubic equation:
𝑎𝑥 3 + 𝑏𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 = 0 𝑎≠0
where 𝑥 is a variable and 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 are constants.

Division

Long Division
Quotient

Q ( x)
D ( x) P ( x) Remainder

Divisor 𝑹(𝒙)

1. Divide x 2 − 4 x − 5 by x + 1 using long division.

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Determine 3x + 2 x + x − 6 by long division.

3 2
2.
x −1

3. Divide y = 6 x3 + 23x 2 − 5 x − 4 by x + 4 using long division.

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4. Divide − x3 + 19 x = 30 by x + 5 using long division.

5. Divide y = x3 − 3x 2 + 4 by x + 1 using long division.

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Solving cubic equations:
To solve cubic equations when one root, or one zero or a factor is given.

Solve P ( x ) = 6 x 3 − 5 x 2 − 17 x + 6 after dividing by 𝑥 − 2. Find all the

factors, roots and zeroes of P ( x ) .

6x2 + 7 x − 3
x − 2 6 x3 − 5 x 2 − 17 x + 6
− ( 6 x 3 − 12 x 2 )
7 x 2 − 17 x
− ( 7 x 2 − 14 x )
− 3x + 6
− ( −3 x + 6 )
0

P( x) = ( 6 x 2 + 7 x − 3) ( x − 2 )
= ( x − 2 )( 2 x + 3)( 3 x − 1)

All factors are ( x − 2 )( 2 x + 3)( 3 x − 1) .

3 1
The roots are x = 2, x = − , x =
2 3
3 1
All zeroes are − , ,2
2 3

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Factor Theorem

If there is no remainder after dividing the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥) by (𝑥 − 𝑎), then ( x − a )

is a factor of 𝑃(𝑥) or 𝑃(𝑎) = 0

6. Determine whether the following linear functions are factors of the given
polynomials
(a) 𝑃 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 3 ; (𝑥 + 4)

(b) 𝑃 (𝑥 ) = 6𝑥 3 + 13𝑥 2 − 4 ; (2𝑥 − 1)

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(c) 𝑃(𝑥 ) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 − 3 ; (𝑥 − 2)

7. Show that (𝑥 + 4) is a factor of 6 x3 + 23x2 − 5x − 4 .

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Zeroes of a polynomial
If 𝑃(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑏)(𝑥 − 𝑐), then 𝑃(𝑎) = 0, 𝑃(𝑏) = 0 and 𝑃(𝑐) = 0. 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐
are called zeros of the polynomial 𝑃(𝑥).

8. Show that −4 is a zero of 6 x3 + 23x 2 − 5 x − 4 .

If 4 is one of the zero of P( x) = 2 x − 9 x + 3x + 4. Hence, find all the

3 2
9.
zeros of P ( x) .

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10. Factorize P( x) = 6 x3 +13x2 − 4 and write its zeros.

11. Given one of the zeros of equation 2 x3 + 3x2 − 5x − 6 = 0 is -1. Solve the
equation.

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12. Given that x − 2 is a factor of 2 x3 − 3x2 − 5x + 6 = 0. Factories and state

all the roots of the equation.

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13. If 2 x3 − 5x2 − 28x +15 = 0 given that ( x+3) is a factor.

(a) Factories the equation.
(b) Solve the equation.

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14. If 6 x2 − x3 = 5x +12 given that ( x+1) is a factor.

(a) Factories the equation.
(b) Solve the equation.

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15. Find another two factors of equation x3 + 2 x2 − 5x − 6 = 0 if the third factor

(
is x+3 . )

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16. Given f ( x) = x3 − 7 x + 6 . Factorise f ( x) completely if ( x −1) is one of the
factor. Hence, solve x3 = 7 x − 6 .

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