MATHS GURUS 2020

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS AND GRAPHS

1. Use completing square method to solve the equation, 3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2 = 0

3𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 2 = 0, Dividing every term by 3, we get: Taking square root on both sides, we get:
7 2
𝑥2 − 3 𝑥 + 3 = 0 7 5
𝑥− =±
6 6
7 2
𝑥2 − 𝑥 = − 5 7
3 3 𝑥=± +
6 6
7 7 2 2 7 2 1
𝑥2 − 𝑥 + ( ) = − + ( ) 𝑥 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 =
3 6 3 6 3
7 2 25
(𝑥 − ) =
6 36

4
2. Solve the equation 6𝑎 = 5 + using completing square method.
𝑎
4 Taking square root on both sides,
6𝑎 = 5 + ⟹ 6𝑎2 − 5𝑎 − 4 = 0
𝑎 5 11
5 4 𝑎− =±
Dividing every term by 6, we get; 𝑎2 − 6 𝑎 − 6 = 12 12
0 11 5
𝑎=± +
12 12
5 5 2 4 5 2
𝑎2 − 𝑎 + ( ) = + ( ) 1 1
6 12 6 12 𝑎 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 = −
3 2
5 2 121
(𝑎 − ) =
12 144
3. A quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏 = 0 has roots 1 and −5. Find the values of 𝒂 and 𝒃.
𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏 = 0, Roots are 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 5
𝑥 = 1, ⟹ 𝑥 − 1 = 0
𝑥 = −5 ⟹ 𝑥 + 5 = 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 5) = 0
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5 = 0
𝒂 = 𝟒, 𝒃 = 𝟓
7 5
4. Find the quadratic function in 𝑥 that cuts the x – axis at (− 2 , 0) and (2 , 0).
7 5
Roots ⟹ 𝑥 = − 2 and 𝑥 = 2
7 5
𝑥+ = 0, 𝑥 − = 0
2 2
7 5
(𝑥 + ) (𝑥 − ) = 0
2 2
35
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − = 0 𝑜𝑟 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 35 = 0
4

# Guru’s file Page 1 of 10

5. Given that the roots of a quadratic equation in 𝑥 are 1.5 + √3 and 1.5 − √3, find the equation in its simplest form.
3 3
𝑥 = (2 + √3) and 𝑥 = (2 − √3)
3 3
(𝑥 − ( + √3)) (𝑥 − ( − √3)) = 0
2 2
3 3 3
𝑥 (𝑥 − + √3) − ( + √3) (𝑥 − + √3) = 0
2 2 2
3
𝑥 2 − (2√3)𝑥 − = 0
4
2
⟹ 4𝑥 − 12𝑥 − 3 = 0
6. The roots of the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 are 2.5 ± √2. Find the values of 𝒂, 𝒃 and 𝒄.
𝑥 = (2.5 + √2) or 𝑥 = (2.5 − √2)

{𝑥 − (2.5 + √2)}{𝑥 − (2.5 − √2)} = 0

𝑥{𝑥 − (2.5 − √2)} − (2.5 + √2){𝑥 − (2.5 − √2)} = 0

𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4.25 = 0 𝑜𝑟 4𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 17 = 0

𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = −20 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 = 17

7. Given that 9𝑥 2 + 36𝑥 − 40 + 𝑘 is a perfect square, find the value of k.

9𝑥 2 + 36𝑥 − 40 + 𝑘 182 = −360 + 9𝑘
𝑏 2 324 + 360 = 9𝑘
( ) = 𝑎𝑐 684
2 𝑘= = 76
9
36 2
( ) = 9(−40 + 𝑘)
2
8. The equation of a curve is given as +4 = (𝑥 − 1)2 . State the x and the y intercepts of the curve.
𝑦 + 4 = (𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3) = 0
𝑦 + 4 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −1
2 ∴ 𝑥 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = 3𝑜𝑟 − 1
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3
At x – intercept, 𝑦 = 0 At y - intercept, 𝑥 = 0
2
𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3 = 0 𝑦 = (0)2 − 2(0) − 3
𝑝 = −3 & 𝑠 = −2 ⟹ (−3, 1) 𝑦 = −3
2 ∴ 𝑦 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡 = −3
𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 𝑥 − 3 = 0
9. Find the coordinates of the points of intersection of the straight line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 5 and the hyperbola 𝑦 = −6 .
𝑦 =𝑥+5 (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 2) = 0
𝑥𝑦 = −6 𝑥 = −2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −3
𝑥(𝑥 + 5) = −6 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = −2, 𝑦 = 3 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = 0 𝑥 = −3, 𝑦 = 2
𝑝 = 6 & 𝑠 = 5 ⇒ (2, 3) Coordinates are (−2, 3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−3, 2)
(𝑥 2 + 3𝑥) + (2𝑥 + 6) = 0

# Guru’s file Page 2 of 10

10. Solve the simultaneous equations
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 26
𝑥−𝑦 =4
Solution
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 26 (2𝑦 2 − 2𝑦) + (10𝑦 − 10) = 0
𝑥−𝑦 =4 ⟹𝑥 =𝑦+4 (2𝑦 + 10)(𝑦 − 1) = 0
(𝑦 + 4)2 + 𝑦 2 = 26 𝑦 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = −5
2𝑦 2 + 8𝑦 + 16 = 26 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 = 1, 𝑥 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑
2 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦 = −5, 𝑥 = −1
2𝑦 + 8𝑦 − 10 = 0
𝑝 = −10 & 𝑠 = 8 ⟹ (10, −2)
11. Solve for x in the equation 3𝑥 2 + 18𝑥 + 15 = 0 using Completing Square method.
3𝑥 2 + 18𝑥 + 15 = 0 (𝑥 + 3)2 = 4
Dividing every term by 3, we get: Taking square root on both sides,
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 5 = 0 𝑥 + 3 = ±2
2 𝑥 = ±2 − 3
𝑥 + 6𝑥 = −5

2
6 2 6 2 ∴ 𝑥 = −1𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −5
𝑥 + 6𝑥 + ( ) = −5 + ( )
2 2
12. In a right angled triangle, the two sides enclosing the right angle measure (3𝑥 − 2) cm and (𝑥 + 2)cm. If the area of
the triangle is 17.5 𝑐𝑚2 , find the length of these two sides.
Rearranging in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0,
3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 39 = 0
−4 ± √42 − (4 × 3 × −39)
𝑥=
2×3
−4 ± √484
𝑥=
6
𝑥=3
1 1 𝐿 = 3 + 2 = 5 𝑐𝑚 𝑜𝑟
𝐴= 𝑏ℎ = (3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) = 17.5
2 2 𝐿 = 9 − 2 = 7 𝑐𝑚
(3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) = 35

13. Determine the value of k if the expression 16𝑥 2 − 8𝑘𝑥 + 25 is a perfect square.
16𝑥 2 − 8𝑘𝑥 + 25 400 × 4
𝑘2 =
𝑏 2 64
( ) = 𝑎𝑐 𝑘 2
= 25
2
−8𝑘 2 ∴ 𝑘 = √25 = ±5
( ) = 16 × 25
2 ∴ 𝑘 = 5 𝑜𝑟 𝑘 = −5
64𝑘 2
= 400
4

# Guru’s file Page 3 of 10

14. Solve the equations;
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 17
𝑥𝑦 − 5𝑥 = 32
𝑦 = 17 − 𝑥 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 32 = 0
𝑥(17 − 𝑥) − 5𝑥 = 32 (𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
17𝑥 − 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 = 32 𝑥 = 4 𝑜𝑟𝑥 = 8
2
Rearranging in the form 𝑎 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 4, 𝑦 13 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 32 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 8, 𝑦 = 9
𝑝 = 32 & 𝑠 = −12 ⇒ (−4, −8)

15. Find the points where the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 intersects with the straight line 𝑦 = −𝑥 + 9
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 6) = 0
𝑦 = −𝑥 + 9 𝑥 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −6
9 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 8 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 6 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = −6, 𝑦 = 15
𝑝 = −6 &𝑠 = 5 ⟹ (−1, 6) ∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 (1, 8)𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−6, 15)
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 6 = 0

16. Determine all the values of y that satisfy the equation: 𝑦 4 − 13𝑦 2 + 36 = 0
𝑦 4 − 13𝑦 2 + 36 = 0
Let 𝑦 2 = 𝑝
𝑦 4 = (𝑝)2 = 𝑝2
𝑝2 − 13𝑝 + 36 = 0
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 = 36 & 𝑠𝑢𝑚 = −13 ⟹ (−9, −4)
𝑝2 − 4𝑝 − 9𝑝 + 36 = 0
(𝑝 − 4)(𝑝 − 9) = 0
𝑝 = 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 = 9
But 𝑝 = 𝑦 2
𝑦 2 = 4 ⟹ 𝑦 = ±2
𝑦 2 = 9 ⟹ 𝑦 = ±3
17. Find the coordinates of all points where the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 15𝑥 cuts the x – axis.
At 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, 𝑦 = 0 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 5𝑥 − 15 = 0

Dividing every term by x (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 5) = 0

𝑥3 2𝑥 2 15𝑥 0 𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −5
+ − =
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
At 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, 𝑥 = 0
2
𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 15 = 0
The coordinates are (0, 0), (−5, 0) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3, 0)
𝑝 = −15 & 𝑠 = 2 ⟹ (5, −3)

# Guru’s file Page 4 of 10

18. Given that the discriminant of the equation 4𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0 is 0, find k.
4𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 𝑘 = 0
𝑏 2
( ) = 𝑎𝑐
2
−10 2
( ) = 4×𝑘
2
−52 = 4𝑘
25 1
𝑘= =6
4 4
19. Given that 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 6𝑎𝑥 + 𝑘 is a perfect square, find k.
𝑏 2
( ) = 𝑎𝑐
2
6𝑎 2
( ) = 𝑎2 × 𝑘
2
(3𝑎)2 = 𝑎2 𝑘
9𝑎2 = 𝑎2 𝑘
∴𝑘=9
20. Find possible values of the constant p if the expression 𝑝𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 4𝑝 + 𝑝𝑥 is a perfect square.
𝑝𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 𝑝𝑥 + 4𝑝 15𝑝2 − 24𝑝 − 144 = 0

𝑏 2 = 4𝑎𝑐 24 ± √(−24)2 − (4 × 15 × −144)

𝑝=
(12 + 𝑝)2 = 4 × 𝑝 × 4𝑝 2 × 15

(12 + 𝑝)(12 + 𝑝) = 16𝑝2 24 ± √9216 24 ± 96

𝑝= =
30 30
144 + 24𝑝 + 𝑝2 = 16𝑝2
120 −72 2
Rearranging in the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑝= = 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑝 = = −2
30 30 5

# Guru’s file Page 5 of 10

 QUADRATIC GRAPHS
21. (a) Complete the table below for 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 7 for the range −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
𝑥 −4 −3.5 −3 −2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2
𝑦 5 0 −4 −7 −9 −10 −10 −9 −7 −4 0 5 11

(b) On the grid provided, draw the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 7 for the range −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
Use the scale: 1 cm represents 0.5 units on the x – axis.
1 cm represents 2 units on the y – axis.

(c) Using your graph, solve the equations:

i. 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 7 = 0
Draw the line 𝑦 = 0
Values of x are 𝑥 = −3.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 1
ii. 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 7 = 4𝑥 + 3
𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 3
𝑥 −3 −2 0 2
𝑦 = 4𝑥 + 3 −9 −6 3 11

Values of x are 𝑥 = −2.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 2

# Guru’s file Page 6 of 10

22. (a) Complete the table below for the function 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4
𝑥 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑦 −6 0 4 6 6 4 0 −6

(b) On the grid provided below, draw the graph of 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4

(c) Use your graph (b) above to solve the quadratic equations below;
i. −𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4 = 0
Values of 𝑥 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑥 = −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 4
ii. −𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 = 0
On plotting a graph of 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 4
𝑥 −1 0 2 3
𝑦 6 4 0 −2
Values of x are 𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 5

# Guru’s file Page 7 of 10

23. (a) Complete the table below given that 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 12 for −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5
𝑥 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑦 −8 0 6 10 12 12 10 6 0 −8

(b) On the grid provided below, draw the graph of 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 12 for −4 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5

Scale: 1 cm represents 1 unit on the x – axis and 1 cm represents 2 units on the y – axis.

(c) Using your graph,

i. Solve the equation 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 = 0
On drawing the graph of 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 2
𝑥 −3 −2 2 5
𝑦 8 6 −2 −8
Values of x are 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑥 = 5
ii. State the range of values of x for which = −𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 12 ≥ 0
Range of values of x −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4

(d) Estimate the coordinates of the turning point of the curve 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 12

𝑥 = 0.5, 𝑦 = 12.25

# Guru’s file Page 8 of 10

24. (a) Complete the table for the function 𝑦 = 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 for −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3
𝑥 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
1 − 2𝑥 7 5 3 1 −1 −3 −5
−3𝑥 2 −27 −12 −3 0 −3 −12 −27
𝑦 −20 −7 0 1 −4 −15 −32

(b) Draw the graph of 𝑦 = 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 for −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3.

Use the scale of 2 cm to represent 1 unit on the x – axis and 1 cm to represent 5 units on the y – axis.

(c) Use the graph in (b) above to solve:

i. 1 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 = 0
 Draw the graph of 𝑦 = 0
1
 Values of x are 𝑥 = −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 3
ii. 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5 = 0
−5
 Values of x are 𝑥 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 3

# Guru’s file Page 9 of 10

25. The equation of a curve is given by 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 36
(a) Complete the table for the integral values of in the domain −5 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5

𝑥 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑦 9 −8 −21 −30 −35 −36 −33 −26 −15 0 19

(b) On the grid provided below, draw the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 36 for −5 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5. Use the scale of
1 cm to represent 1 unit on the horizontal axis and 1 cm to represent 5 units on the vertical axis.

(c) Using your graph,

i. State the range of values of x that satisfy the inequality 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 36 > 0
𝑥 ∈ (−∞; −4.5) ∪ (4; +∞)
Values of x are 𝑥 < −4.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 > 4
ii. Solve the equation 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12 = 0
Draw the graph of 𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 12
𝑥 −4 2 4 5
𝑦 −24 −6 0 3
Values of x are 𝑥 = −3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 4

# Guru’s file Page 10 of 10