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Quadratic Equations

University Mathematics I: Olaniyi Evans

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19 views3 pages

Quadratic Equations

University Mathematics I: Olaniyi Evans

Uploaded by

Olaniyi Evans
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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6

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

CONTENTS
Standard Form 47
Factoring 48
Completing the Square 48
The Quadratic Formula 49
Graphing Quadratic Functions 51
Steps to Graphing Quadratic equations 51
The Discriminant 52
Word Problems to Quadratic Equations 54

STANDARD FORM
A quadratic equation is an equation of the second degree; it contains at least
one term that is squared. The standard form is ax² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and
c are numerical coefficients; x is an unknown variable.
The standard form of a quadratic equation:

𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎
Where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are integers and 𝑎 ≠ 0

Quadratic equations commonly appear in various areas of mathematics, physics,


engineering, and other sciences. They are used to model a wide range of
phenomena, including projectile motion, optimization problems, and electrical
circuits.

T h e f o r m 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒄 = 𝟎, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝒃 = 𝟎.
This is the simplest quadratic equation to solve. You can easily solve this using
the Square Root Property.

 EXAMPLE 6.1
Solve (a) 4𝑥 2 − 16 = 0 (b) 8𝑥 2 − 18 = 0
S O L U T I O N tips
a) Divide both sides by 4 b) Divide both sides by 8
4𝑥 2 16 8𝑥 2 18
= =
4 4 8 8
𝑥2 = 4 2
9
𝑥 =
Take the square root of both sides 4
√𝑥 2 = √4 Take the square root of both sides
Thus 9 3
𝑥 = ±2 √𝑥 2 = √ → 𝑥= ±
4 2
48 Olaniyi Evans | University Mathematics

T h e f o r m 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 = 𝟎, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝒄 = 𝟎.
This can be solved by factoring.

 EXAMPLE 6.2
Solve (a) 12𝑥 2 − 48𝑥 = 0 (b) 20𝑥 2 − 220𝑥 = 0
S O L U T I O N tips
a) Factorise the LHS b) Factorise the LHS
12𝑥(𝑥 − 4) = 0 20𝑥(𝑥 − 11) = 0
12𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥−4=0 20𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 − 11 = 0
𝑥=0 or 𝑥= 4 𝑥=0 or 𝑥 = 11

T h e f o r m 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎.
To solve these types of quadratic equations, you have three options, (1) to use
Factoring; (2) to Complete the Square, or (3) to use the Quadratic Formula.

FACTORING
A quadratic equation can easily be solved by factoring if it is factorable. To
factorise a quadratic equation, look for two numbers a and b whose sum is
(𝑎 + 𝑏) and whose products is 𝑎𝑏.
𝑥 2 + (𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏 = (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏)

 EXAMPLE 6.3
Solve 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 5 = 0
S O L U T I O N tips
Look for two numbers whose product is coefficient of 𝑥 2 × 5 = 5 and whose sum
is -6.
The two numbers are -1 and -5 because (−1) + (−5) = −6 and (−1) × (−5) = 5
Replace -6x with − 1𝑥 − 5𝑥
𝑥 2 − 1𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 5 = 0
Factorise
𝑥(𝑥 − 1) − 5(𝑥 − 1) = 0 → (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 5) = 0
𝑥−1=0 𝑥−5=0 → 𝑥= 1 or 𝑥= 5

 EXAMPLE 6.4
Solve 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 4 = 0
S O L U T I O N tips
Look for two numbers whose product is coefficient of 𝑥 2 × −4 = −8 and whose
sum is -7.
The two numbers are -8 and 1 because (−8) + 1 = −7 and (−8) × 1 = −8
Replace -7x with − 8𝑥 + 1𝑥
2𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 1𝑥 − 4 = 0
Factorise
2𝑥(𝑥 − 4) + 1(𝑥 − 4) = 0 → (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
2𝑥 + 1 = 0 𝑥−4=0 → 𝑥 = −1/2 or 𝑥=4

COMPLETING THE SQUARE


Completing the square is a useful method for solving quadratic equations and is
often used when factoring is not immediately applicable.

The form 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎 where 𝒂 = 𝟏

 EXAMPLE 6.5
Solve 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 15 = 0
Chapter 6| Quadratic Equations 49

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