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Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Your notes

International Maths: Extended
Quadratic Equations
Contents
Solving Quadratics by Factorising
The Quadratic Formula
Solving Quadratics using a Calculator

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Solving Quadratics by Factorising

Your notes
Solving Quadratics by Factorising
How do I solve a quadratic equation using factorisation?
Rearrange it into the form ax2 + bx + c = 0
Zero must be on one side
It is easier if you rearrange so that a is positive
Factorise the quadratic and solve each bracket equal to zero
If (x + 4)(x - 1) = 0, then either x + 4 = 0 or x - 1 = 0
Because if two things multiply together to give zero,
then one or the other of them must be equal to zero

To solve (x − 3) (x + 7) = 0

…solve first bracket = 0:

x–3=0
add 3 to both sides: x = 3
…and solve second bracket = 0
x+7=0
subtract 7 from both sides: x = -7
The two solutions are x = 3 or x = -7
The solutions in this example are the numbers in the brackets, but with opposite signs

What if there are numbers in front of the x's in the brackets?

The process is the same
There's a bit more work to find the solutions
You can't just write down the answers by changing the signs

To solve (2x − 3) (3x + 5) = 0

…solve first bracket = 0

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2x – 3 = 0
add 3 to both sides: 2x = 3 Your notes
3
divide both sides by 2: x =
2
…solve second bracket = 0
3x + 5 = 0
subtract 5 from both sides: 3x = -5

5
divide both sides by 3: x = −
3
3 5
The two solutions are x = or x = −
2 3
What if x is a factor?
The process is the same
Just be sure to handle the x correctly
That 'x as a factor' gives one of the solutions

To solve x (x − 4) = 0

it may help to think of x as (x – 0) or (x)

…solve first bracket = 0
(x) = 0, so x = 0
…solve second bracket = 0
x–4=0
add 4 to both sides: x = 4
The two solutions are x = 0 or x = 4
It is a common mistake to divide (cancel) both sides by x at the beginning
If you do this you will lose a solution (the x = 0 solution)

How can I use my calculator to help with solving quadratics by

factorising?

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You can use your calculator to help you to factorise

2 1 Your notes
A calculator gives solutions to 6x 2 + x − 2 = 0 as x = − and x =
3 2
Reverse the method above to factorise!

6x 2 + x − 2 = (3x + 2) (2x − 1)
2 1
Be careful: a calculator also gives solutions to 12x2 + 2x – 4 = 0 as x = − and x =
3 2
But 12x2 + 2x – 4 ≠ (3x + 2) (2x − 1)

The right-hand side expands to 6x2 + ... not 12x2 + ...

Multiply outside the brackets by 2 to correct this

12x2 + 2x – 4 = 2(3x + 2) (2x − 1)

Examiner Tip
Remember that you can check your solutions by either
substituting them back into the original equation
using a different quadratic method
or using a calculator

Worked Example
(a) Solve (x − 2) (x + 5) = 0

Set the first bracket equal to zero

x–2=0
Add 2 to both sides
x=2
Set the second bracket equal to zero

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x+5=0
Subtract 5 from both sides Your notes
x = -5
Write both solutions together using “or”
x = 2 or x = -5
(b) Solve (8x + 7) (2x − 3) = 0

Set the first bracket equal to zero

8x + 7 = 0
Subtract 7 from both sides
8x = -7
Divide both sides by 8

7
x=−
8
Set the second bracket equal to zero
2x - 3 = 0
Add 3 to both sides
2x = 3
Divide both sides by 2

3
x=
2
Write both solutions together using “or”

7 3
x=− or x =
8 2
(c) Solve x (5x − 1) = 0

Do not divide both sides by x (this will lose a solution at the end)
Set the first “bracket” equal to zero
(x) = 0

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Solve this equation to find x

x=0 Your notes
Set the second bracket equal to zero
5x - 1 = 0
Add 1 to both sides
5x = 1
Divide both sides by 5

1
x=
5
Write both solutions together using “or”

1
x = 0 or x =
5

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The Quadratic Formula

Your notes
Quadratic Formula
What is the quadratic formula?
A quadratic equation has the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 (where a ≠ 0)
you need "= 0" on one side
The quadratic formula is a formula that gives both solutions to a quadratic equation:

−b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a

Examiner Tip
Make sure the quadratic equation has "= 0" on the right-hand side
Otherwise it needs rearranging first

How do I use the quadratic formula to solve a quadratic

equation?
Read off the values of a, b and c from the equation
Substitute these into the formula
Write this line of working in the exam
Put brackets around any negative numbers being substituted in
To solve 2x2 - 8x - 3 = 0 using the quadratic formula:
a = 2, b = -8 and c = -3

− (−8) ± (−8) 2 − 4 × 2 × (−3)

x=
2×2
Type this into a calculator or simplify by hand
Type it once using + for ± then again using - for ±

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The solutions are x = 4.3452078... or x = -0.34520787....

To 3 decimal places: x = 4.345 or x = -0.345 Your notes
To 3 significant figures: x = 4.35 or x = -0.345

Examiner Tip
Always look for how the question wants you to leave your final answers
For example, correct to 2 decimal places

How do I write the solutions in an exact (surd) form?

You may be asked to give answers in an exact (surd) form
For example, in a non-calculator paper
In the example above, work out the number under the square root sign
Be careful with negatives!

(−8) 2 − 4 × 2 × (−3) = 64 + 24 = 88
Now square root this number and use surd rules to simplify

88 = 4 × 22 = 4 × 22 = 2 22
Substitute this back into the formula and simplify

8 ± 2 22 2(4 ± 22 ) 4 ± 22
x= = =
4 4 2

4+ 22 4− 22
The solutions in exact (surd) form are x = or x =
2 2
Calculators that can solve quadratics will give solutions in exact (surd) form

What is the discriminant?

The part of the formula under the square root (b2 – 4ac) is called the discriminant
The sign of this value tells you if there are 0, 1 or 2 solutions
If b2 – 4ac > 0 (positive)

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then there are 2 different solutions

If b2 – 4ac = 0
Your notes
then there is only 1 solution
sometimes called "two repeated solutions"
If b2 – 4ac < 0 (negative)
then there are no solutions

If your calculator gives you solutions with i terms in, these are "complex" and are not what we
are looking for
Interestingly, if b2 – 4ac is a perfect square number ( 1, 4, 9, 16, …) then the quadratic expression
could have been factorised!

Worked Example
Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions of the equation 3x2 - 2x - 4 = 0.
Give each solution as an exact value in its simplest form.
Write down the values of a, b and c
a = 3, b = -2, c = -4

−b ± b 2 − 4ac
Substitute these values into the quadratic formula, x =
2a
Put brackets around any negative numbers

− (−2) ± (−2) 2 − 4 × 3 × (−4)

x=
2×3
Simplify the expressions

2 ± 4 + 48 2 ± 52
x= =
6 6
Simplify the surd

2 ± 4 × 13 2 ± 2 13
x== =
6 6

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Simplify the fraction

1± 13 Your notes
x=
3

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Solving Quadratics using a Calculator

Your notes
Solving Quadratics using a Calculator
How do I solve quadratic equations using my calculator?
Your graphic display calculator is able to solve quadratic equations
Within the menu you will find an option for solving a polynomial
This may be within the equation solver section on some models
Select the degree or order of polynomial you are solving
When solving a quadratic, the degree or order is 2
Type in the coefficients of the quadratic you are solving
This is usually in the format

a 2x 2 + a 1x + a 0 = 0 or

ax 2 + bx + c = 0
E.g. To solve x 2 + 6x − 4 = 0

a 2 = 1 , a 1 = 6 , a 3 = − 4 or

a=1 , b =6 , c= −4
You must therefore rearrange the equation you are solving to this format ( ... = 0)
Then press enter or solve to view the solutions

Should I round my answers?

Your graphic display calculator will present answers in exact form where possible

E.g. −3 + 13 rather than 0.6055512755...

Your calculator will be able to switch between the exact form and a decimal
If there is further working to be done using this answer
it is best to keep it in an exact form
If the solutions to the quadratic are the final answers for the question

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check the question to see if it requests an exact answer

or a decimal approximation (e.g. to three significant figures) Your notes
Should I show my working when using a calculator to solve a
quadratic?
In a calculator paper it is expected that you use your calculator to solve quadratic equations
Therefore you do not need to show working (such as using the quadratic formula)
However, you should write down:
The equation you are entering into your calculator (and any prior rearranging)
Both solutions found by your calculator
In exact form where possible
This will ensure you receive as many method marks as possible, in case of an error

Examiner Tip
Solving a quadratic on your calculator can also help factorise a quadratic:

If the solutions to a quadratic equation are x = − 3 and x = 2

Then the equation can be written as (x + 3) (x − 2) = 0

Worked Example
Use your calculator to solve the equation 10x = 19 − 6x 2 giving your solutions to four significant
figures.

Rearrange the equation to the form ax 2 + bx + c = 0

10x = 19 − 6x 2
6x 2 + 10x = 19
6x 2 + 10x − 19 = 0
On your calculator, enter the menu and select the polynomial solver
Enter the coefficients of 6, 10 and -19, and solve

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Write down the exact solutions

−5 + 139 Your notes

x1 =
6
−5 − 139
x2 =
6
The question requests the answers to four significant figures
Find the decimal approximations to the solutions on your calculator

x 1 = 1 . 131637687 . . .
x 2 = − 2 . 798304354 . . .
Round to four significant figures

x 1 = 1 . 132
x 2 = − 2 . 798

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