汉林学院 – Mr.

Zhao
Chapter 6 Quadratic Equations

Quadratic equation is an equation that contains at least one term whose highest degree is 2; for example, 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2 = 0. A root is
a solution; a number that can be substituted for the variable to make the equation a true statement; for example, 𝑥 = 1 is a root of
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2 = 0, since 12 + 1 − 2 = 0.

All quadratic equations can be expressed in the form 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎 using algebraic strategies. In this form, the equation can be
solved by factoring the quadratic expression, setting each factor equal to zero, and solving the resulting equations.

Example
Solve each equation.
a) 𝑥(𝑥 + 4) = 0
b) (𝑥 + 10)(𝑥 + 8) = 0
c) (𝑥 − 5)2 = 0
d) 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = 0
e) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) = 12
f) 2𝑥(𝑥 + 4) = 𝑥 + 4
g) 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2) = 2𝑥 2 − (4 − 𝑥)

Practice
1. Solve each equation by factoring.
a) 3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 2 = 0
b) 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 2 = 0
c) 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 15 = 0
d) 6𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0
e) 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = 3
f) 9𝑥 2 + 1 = 6𝑥

2. Determine the roots.

a) 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 16 = 0
b) 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 = 0
c) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10 = 0
d) 6𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 5 = 0
e) −3𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 12 = 0
1
f) 2
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 16 = 0

3. Determine the points of intersection of the line 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 7 and the parabola 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5

4. Solve the equation 𝑥 4 − 9𝑥 2 + 20 = 0 and 𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 = 0 by first solving the eqution 𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 20 = 0

Quadratic formula is a formula for determining the roots of a quadratic equation of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0; the quadratic
−𝒃±√𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
formula is written using the coefficients and the constant in the equation: 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒂

1/7
Example
Solve
a) 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 10 = 0
b) 5𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 3 = 0.
c) 2𝑥 2 − 10 = 8
d) 3𝑥(5𝑥 − 4) + 2𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 4(𝑥 − 3)

Example
A rectangular field is going to be completely enclosed by 100 m of fencing. Create a quadratic relation that shows how the area of the
field will depend on its width. Then determine the dimensions of the field that will result in an area of 575 m2. Round your answers
to the nearest hundredth of a metre.

Practice
1. Solve each equation using the quadratic formula.
a) 6𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 15 = 0
b) 4𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 25 = 0
c) 𝑥 2 − 16 = 0
d) 5𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 = 0
e) 𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 20 = 0
f) 12𝑥 2 − 40 = 17𝑥
g) 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 1 = 0
h) 5𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 2 = 0
i) 3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 2 = 0
j) 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3 = 0
k) 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3 = 0
l) −3𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 7 = 0

2. Solve each equation. Round your solutions to two decimal places.

a) 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 = 3(𝑥 + 4)
b) (𝑥 + 4)2 = 2(𝑥 + 5)
c) 𝑥(𝑥 + 3) = 5 − 𝑥 2
d) 3𝑥(𝑥 + 4) = (4𝑥 − 1)2
e) (𝑥 − 2)(2𝑥 + 3) = 𝑥 + 1
f) (𝑥 − 3)2 + 5 = 3(𝑥 + 1)
h) 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 10 = 0
i) −4𝑥 2 + 1 = −15
j) 𝑥 2 = 6𝑥 + 10
k) (𝑥 − 3)2 − 4 = 0
l) (2𝑥 + 5)(3𝑥 − 2) = (𝑥 + 1)

3. Connor has a summer lawn-mowing business. Based on experience, Connor knows that 𝑃 = −5𝑥 2 + 200𝑥 − 1500 models his
profit, 𝑃, in dollars, where 𝑥 is the amount, in dollars, charged per lawn.
a) How much does he need to charge if he wants to break even?
b) How much does he need to charge if he wants to have a profit of $500?

2/7
4. Stacey maintains the gardens in the city parks. In the summer, she plans to build a walkway through the rose garden. The area of the
walkway, A, in square meters, is given by 𝐴 = 160𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 , where 𝑥 is the width of the walkway in meters. If the area of the
walkway must be 900 m2, determine the width.

5. While hiking along the top of a cliff, Harlan knocked a pebble over the edge. The height, ℎ, in meters, of the pebble above the
ground after t seconds is modelled by ℎ = −5𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 120
a) How long will the pebble take to hit the ground?
b) For how long is the height of the pebble greater than 95 m?

6. Kari drew this sketch of a small suspension bridge over a gorge near her home. She determined that the bridge can be modelled by
the relation 𝑦 = 0.1𝑥 2 − 1.2𝑥 + 2. How wide is the gorge, if 1 unit on her graph represents 1 m?

7. If a ball were thrown on Mars, its height, ℎ, in meters, might be modelled by the relation ℎ = −1.9𝑡 2 + 18𝑡 + 1, where 𝑡 is the
time in seconds since the ball was thrown.
a) Determine when the ball would be 20 m or higher above Mars’ surface.
b) Determine when the ball would hit the surface.

8.The safe stopping distance, in meters, for a boat that is travelling at 𝑣 kilometers per hour in calm water can be modelled by the
relation 𝑑 = 0.002(2𝑣 2 + 10𝑣 + 3000).
a) What is the safe stopping distance if the boat is travelling at 12 km/h?
b) What is the initial speed of the boat if it takes 15 m to stop?

9. A trained stunt diver is diving off a platform that is 15 m high into a pool of water that is 45 cm deep. The height, ℎ, in meters, of
the stunt diver above the water is modelled by ℎ = −4.9𝑡 2 + 1.2𝑡 + 15, where 𝑡 is the time in seconds after starting the dive.
a) How long is the stunt diver above 15 m?
b) How long is the stunt diver in the air?

10. The height, h, in meters, of a water balloon that is launched across a football stadium can be modelled by ℎ = −0.1𝑥 2 + 2.4𝑥 +
8.1, where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance from the launching position, in meters. How far has the balloon travelled when it is 10 m
above the ground?

11. A chain is hanging between two posts so that its height above the ground, ℎ, in centimeters, can be determined by ℎ =
0.0025𝑥 2 − 0.9𝑥 + 120, where 𝑥 is the horizontal distance from one post, in centimeters. How far from the post is the chain when it
is 50 cm from the ground?

12. A rectangle is 5 cm longer than it is wide. The diagonal of the rectangle is 18 cm. Determine the dimensions of the rectangle.

Real numbers the set of numbers that corresponds to each point on the number line shown; fractions, decimals, integers, and numbers
like √2 are all real numbers.

Discriminant is the expression 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 in the quadratic formula

You can use the quadratic formula to determine whether a quadratic equation has two, one, or no real solutions, without solving the
equation. The value of the expression 𝑫 = 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 gives the number of real solutions to a quadratic equation and the number of
zeros in the graph of its corresponding relation.
3/7
1. If 𝑫 > 𝟎, there are two distinct real roots, or zeros.
2. If 𝑫 = 𝟎, there is one real root, or zero.
3. If 𝑫 < 𝟎, there are no real roots, or zeros.

The direction of opening of a graph and the position of the vertex determines whether the graph has two, one, or no zeros and indicates
whether the corresponding equation has two, one, or no real roots.

Example
Without solving, determine the number of real roots of each equation and describe the graph of the corresponding relation.
a) 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 5 = 0
b) −2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 1 = 0
c) 9𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 4 = 0
d) −2𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 − 35 = 0

Practice
1. Determine whether the vertex of each parabola lies above, below, or on the 𝑥-axis. Explain how you know.
a) ℎ = 2𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 1.5
b) ℎ = 0.5𝑡 2 − 2𝑡 + 0.5
c) ℎ = 5𝑡 2 − 30𝑡 + 45
d) ℎ = 0.5𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 7.75
e) 𝑦 = (𝑥 − 4)(2𝑥 + 9)
f) 𝑦 = −1.8(𝑥 − 3)2 + 2
g) 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 14
h) 𝑦 = 2𝑥(𝑥 − 5) + 7
i) 𝑦 = −1.4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 5.4

2. Emma sells her handmade jewelry at a local market. She has always sold her silver toe rings for $10 each, but she is thinking about
raising the price. Emma knows that her weekly revenue, 𝑟, in dollars, is modelled by 𝑟 = 250 + 5𝑛 − 2𝑛2, where 𝑛 is the amount
that she increases the price. Is it possible for Emma to earn $500 in revenue? Explain.

3. For what value(s) of 𝑘 does the equation 𝑦 = 5𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 𝑘 have each number of roots?
a) Two real roots
b) One real root
c) No real roots

4. Show that (𝑥 2 − 1)𝑘 = (𝑥 − 1)2 has one solution for only one value of 𝑘.

5. Investigate the number of zeros of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑘 + 1)𝑥 2 + 2𝑘𝑥 + 𝑘 − 1 for different values of 𝑘. For what values of 𝑘
does the function have no zeros? One zero? Two zeros?
4/7
6. In the relation 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 + 24𝑥 − 5, for which values of 𝑦 will the corresponding equation have no solutions?

7. A tangent is a line that touches a circle at exactly one point. For what values of 𝑘 will the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 𝑘 be tangent to the circle
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25

8. Determine the number of points of intersection of the relations 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 3)2 and 𝑦 = −2𝑥 2 − 5

*9. If 𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 23, 𝑎𝑏 = 1, determine (𝑎 + 𝑏). Then find 𝑎 and 𝑏.

When solving a problem that involves a quadratic relation, follow these suggestions:

1. Indicate the dependent and independent variable. Write the relation in the form that is most helpful for the given situation.
2. Use the vertex form to determine the maximum or minimum value of the relation.
3. Use the standard form or factored form to determine the value of 𝑥 that corresponds to a given 𝒚-value of the relation. You may
need to use the quadratic formula.

A problem may have only one realistic solution, even when the quadratic equation that is used to represent the problem has two real
solutions. When you solve a quadratic equation, check to make sure that your solutions make sense in the context of the situation.

Example
The volunteers at a food bank are arranging a concert to raise money. They have to pay a set fee to the musicians, plus an additional
fee to the concert hall for each person attending the concert. The relation 𝑃 = −𝑛2 + 580𝑛 − 48000 models the profit, 𝑃, in dollars,
for the concert, where 𝑛 is the number of tickets sold. Calculate the number of tickets they must sell to break even. Determine the
number of tickets they must sell to maximize the profit.

Example
Alexandre was practicing his 10 m platform dive. Because of gravity, the relation between his height, ℎ, in metres, and the time, t, in
seconds, after he dives is quadratic. If Alexandre reached a maximum height of 11.225 m after 0.5 s, how long was he above the water
after he dove?

Example
Statisticians use various models to make predictions about population growth. Ontario’s population (in 100 000s) can be modelled by
the relation 𝑃 = 0.007𝑥 2 + 0.196𝑥 + 21.5, where 𝑥 is the number of years since 1900.
a) Using this model, what was Ontario’s population in 1925?
b) When will Ontario’s population reach 15 million?

Example
Lila is creating dog runs for her dog kennel. She can afford 30 m of chain-link fence to surround four dog runs. The runs will be
attached to a wall, as shown in the diagram. To achieve the maximum area, what dimensions should Lila use for each run and for the
combined enclosure?

5/7
1. A model rocket is shot straight up from the roof of a school. The height, ℎ, in meters, after 𝑡 seconds can be approximated by ℎ =
15 + 22𝑡 − 5𝑡 2.
a) What is the height of the school?
b) How long does it take for the rocket to pass a window that is 10 m above the ground?
c) When does the rocket hit the ground?
d) What is the maximum height of the rocket?

2. Water from a fire hose is sprayed on a fire that is coming from a window. The window is 15 m up the side of a wall. The equation
𝐻 = −0.011𝑥 2 + 0.99𝑥 + 1.6 models the height of the jet of water, 𝐻, and the horizontal distance it can travel from the nozzle, 𝑥,
both in meters.
a) What is the maximum height that the water can reach?
b) How far back could a firefighter stand, but still have the water reach the window?

3. A professional stunt performer at a theme park dives off a tower, which is 21 m high, into water below. The performer’s height, ℎ,
in meters, above the water at 𝑡 seconds after starting the jump is given by ℎ = −4.9𝑡 2 + 21.
a) How long does the performer take to reach the halfway point?
b) How long does the performer take to reach the water?
c) Compare the times for parts a) and b). Explain why the time at the bottom is not twice the time at the halfway point.

4. A biologist predicts that the deer population, 𝑃, in a certain national park can be modelled by 𝑃 = 8𝑥 2 − 112𝑥 + 570, where 𝑥 is
the number of years since 1999.
a) According to this model, how many deer were in the park in 1999?
b) In which year was the deer population a minimum? How many deer were in the park when their population was a minimum?
c) Will the deer population ever reach zero, according to this model?
d) Would you use this model to predict the number of deer in the park in 2020? Explain.

5. The depth underwater, 𝑑, in meters, of Daisy the dolphin during a dive can be modelled by 𝑑 = 0.1𝑡 2 − 3.5𝑡 + 6, where 𝑡 is the
time in seconds after the dolphin begins her descent toward the water.
a) How long was Daisy underwater?
b) How deep did Daisy dive?

6. The cost, 𝐶, in dollars per hour, to run a machine can be modelled by 𝐶 = 0.01𝑥 2 − 1.5𝑥 + 93.25, where 𝑥 is the number of
items produced per hour.
a) How many items should be produced each hour to minimize the cost?
b) What production rate will keep the cost below $53?

7. Skydivers jump out of an airplane at an altitude of 3.5 km. The equation 𝐻 = 3500 − 5𝑡 2 models the altitude, 𝐻, in meters, of the
skydivers at 𝑡 seconds after jumping out of the airplane.
a) How far have the skydivers fallen after 10 s?
b) The skydivers open their parachutes at an altitude of 1000 m. How long did they free fall?

8. The arch of the Tyne bridge in England is modelled by ℎ = −0.008𝑥 2 − 1.296𝑥 + 107.5, where ℎ is the height of the arch above
the riverbank and 𝑥 is the horizontal distance from the riverbank, both in meters. Determine the height of the arch.

9. Brett is jumping on a trampoline in his backyard. Each jump takes about 2 s from beginning to end. He passes his bedroom window,

6/7
which is 4 m high, 0.4 s into each jump. By modelling Brett’s height with a quadratic relation, determine his maximum height.

10. Pauline wants to sell stainless steel water bottles as a school fundraiser. She knows that she will maximize profits, and raise $1024,
if she sells the bottles for $28 each. She also knows that she will lose $4160 if she sells the bottles for only $10 each.
a) Write a quadratic relation to model her profit, 𝑃, in dollars, if she sells the bottles for 𝑥 dollars each.
b) What selling price will ensure that she breaks even?

11. Nick has a beautiful rectangular garden, which measures 3 m by 3 m. He wants to create a uniform border of river rocks around
three sides of his garden. If he wants the area of the border and the area of his garden to be equal, how wide should the border be?

12. A ball was thrown from the top of a playground jungle gym, which is 1.5 m high. The ball reached a maximum height of 4.2 m
when it was 3 m from where it was thrown. How far from the jungle gym was the ball when it hit the ground?

13. Richie walked 15 m diagonally across a rectangular field. He then returned to his starting position along the outside of the field.
The total distance he walked was 36 m. What are the dimensions of the field?

14. A punter kicks a football. Its height, ℎ(𝑡), in meters, t seconds after the kick is given by the equation ℎ(𝑡) = −4.9𝑡 2 + 18.24𝑡 +
0.8. The height of an approaching blocker’s hands is modelled by the equation 𝑔(𝑡) = −1.43𝑡 + 4.26, using the same t. Can the
blocker knock down the punt? If so, at what point will it happen?

15. Tickets to a school dance cost $5, and the projected attendance is 300 people. For every $0.50 increase in the ticket price, the
dance committee projects that attendance will decrease by 20. What ticket price will generate $1562.50 in revenue?

16. A bus company has 4000 passengers daily, each paying a fare of $2. For each $0.15 increase, the company estimates that it will
lose 40 passengers per day. If the company needs to take in $10 450 per day to stay in business, what fare should be charged?

17. The sum of the squares of three consecutive even integers is 980. Determine the integers.

18. Determine whether two real numbers whose sum is 17 can have a product of 80. Justify your reasoning

19. Two integers differ by 12 and the sum of their squares is 1040. Determine the integers.

20. The cost function in a dress factory is 𝐶(𝑥) = 5𝑥 + 27 and the revenue function is 𝑅(𝑥) = −3𝑥 2 + 41𝑥, where 𝑥 is the
number of dress sold, in thousands. What number of dresses sold maximizes profit? [Hint: Profit = Revenue – Cost]

21. Determine the equation of the line that passes through the points of intersection of the graphs of the quadratic functions 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 − 4 and 𝑔(𝑥) = −3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 8

7/7