Math 2200

Unit 4 – Quadratic Equations

Section 4.1: Graphical Solutions of Quadratic Equations

Quadratic Equation and a Quadratic Function

Quadratic Function: 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 D + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑎≠0

Quadratic Equation: 0 = 𝑎𝑥 D + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑎≠0

A quadratic function gives all of the points of the parabola when we sketch it whereas, a quadratic
equation is a special case of the function, in this case when 𝑦 = 0 (in other words, the x-intercepts of the
graph of the function).

The X-INTERCEPTS of the graph of a function is the same as the ROOTS of the equation or the ZEROES of
a function.

We could be asked to find the roots of the equation 𝑥 D − 7𝑥 + 12 = 0, to find the zeroes of the function
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 D − 7𝑥 + 12 or to determine the x-intercepts of 𝑦 = 𝑥 D − 7𝑥 + 12.

In each case, we would arrive at the same solution 𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = 4.

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Example:
Solve by graphing 2𝑥 D + 2𝑥 − 12 = 0

Quadratic Equations with One Real Root

Example:
What are the roots of the equation – 𝑥 D + 8𝑥 − 16 = 0?

The graph of a quadratic function can have zero, one, or two real x-intercepts. Therefore, the quadratic
function has zero, one or two real zeroes, and correspondingly the quadratic equation has zero, one or
two real roots.

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Section 4.2: Factoring Quadratic Equations
Review of Factoring.
Example: Factor each of the following:

a) 2𝑥 D − 4𝑥 + 16 e) 𝑥 D + 7𝑥 + 12

b) 2𝑥 D − 𝑥 − 6 f) 𝑥 D + 6𝑥 + 9

c) 𝑥 D − 36 g) 2𝑥 D + 3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 D

d) 4𝑥 D − 49

It is important to note that when factoring an expression such as

𝑥 D + 6𝑥 + 8
the possible binomial factors can only contain factors of 8 since the numbers will multiply to give 8 using
the product and sum method.

Therefore, 𝑥 + 5 would not be a possible factor of 𝑥 D + 6𝑥 + 8

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Factoring Quadratic Expressions

Example 1: Factor.

j
a) 2𝑥 D − 2𝑥 − 12 c) 𝑥 D − 𝑥 − 3
k

b) 9𝑥 D − 0.64𝑦 D

Your Turn:
Factor:
a) 3𝑥 D + 3𝑥 − 6

j
b) 𝑥D − 𝑥 − 4
D

c) 0.49𝑗 D − 36𝑘 D

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Example:
Factor each of the following:
D
a) 2 𝑥 − 2 +7 𝑥−2 +5

Method 1: Substitution Method 2: Expanding

D D
b) 2 𝑥 + 1 − 7 𝑥 + 1 − 30 d) 6 𝑥 − 3 −4 𝑥−3 −2

D D
c) 4 2𝑥 − 3 − 25 𝑥 + 2

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Factor Polynomials of Quadratic Form

Example 2:
Factor each polynomial.
D D D
a) 12 𝑥 + 2 + 24 𝑥 + 2 + 9 b) 9 2𝑡 + 1 −4 𝑠−2

Your Turn:
Factor each polynomial.
a) −2 𝑛 + 3 D + 12 𝑛 + 3 + 14

D D
b) 4 𝑥 − 2 − 0.25 𝑦 − 4

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After the quadratic equation has been factored, you then use the Zero Product Property

The Zero Product Property states that

If the product of two real numbers is zero,
then one or both of the numbers must be zero.

For example, solve 5𝑥 D + 14𝑥 − 3 = 0

When we factor this we get (5𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 3), therefore using the zero product we get:

To verify the solutions, we substitute the solutions back into the equation to see that the value makes the
equation true.

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

Example 3:
Determine the roots of each quadratic equation. Verify your solutions.
a) 𝑥 D + 6𝑥 + 9 = 0 e) 𝑥 D + 4𝑥 − 21 = 0

b) 2𝑥 D − 9𝑥 − 5 = 0 f) 𝑥 D − 4 = 0

c) 𝑥 D − 4𝑥 = 0 g) 𝑥 − 2 D
− 49 = 0

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d) 𝑥 D − 8 = 0 h) 3𝑥 D − 4 = 𝑥

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Section 4.3: Solve Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square

Solve a Quadratic Equation by Completing the Square

Example: Solve 𝑥 D − 21 = −10𝑥 by completing the square. Express your answers to the nearest tenth.

Example: Solve by completing the square 2𝑥 D − 6𝑥 − 3 = 0. Express your answers as exact values.

Your Turn:
Solve for 𝑝D − 4𝑝 = 11 by completing the square. Express your answers to the nearest tenth.

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Example:
Solve each of the following by completing the square. Leave your answer as exact roots.

a) 3𝑥 D − 7𝑥 + 1 = 0 b) −3𝑥 D + 2𝑥 − 1 = 0

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Section 4.4: The Quadratic Formula
The Quadratic Formula is a formula used for determining the roots of a quadratic equation of the form

𝑎𝑥 D + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

−𝑏 ± 𝑏 D − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

Example: Solve each of the following equations:

a) 2𝑥 D + 𝑥 − 3 = 0

b) 𝑥 D − 4𝑥 − 3 = 0

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 c) 4𝑥 D + 12𝑥 + 9 = 0

d) 𝑥 D − 4𝑥 + 5 = 0

Use the Quadratic Formula to Solve Quadratic Equations

Example: Use the quadratic formula to solve each quadratic equation. Express your answers to the
nearest hundredth.
a) 9𝑥 D + 12𝑥 = −4

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 b) 5𝑥 D − 7𝑥 − 1 = 0

Select a Strategy to Solve a Quadratic Equation

a) Solve 6𝑥 D − 14𝑥 + 8 = 0 by
i) Graphing the corresponding function
ii) Factoring the equation
iii) Completing the square
iv) Using the quadratic formula

b) What strategy do you prefer? Justify your reasoning.

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 x j
Example: Determine the exact roots of 𝑥 D + − = 0
y D

Example: Solve 2𝑥 D − 4𝑥 + 9 = 0

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Discriminant is:
- The expression 𝑏 D − 4𝑎𝑐 located under the radical sign of the quadratic formula
- You can use its value to determine the nature of the roots for a quadratic equation
𝑎𝑥 D + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, 𝑎 ≠ 0

There are three cases for discriminant:

𝑏 D − 4𝑎𝑐 > 0

𝑏 D − 4𝑎𝑐 = 0

𝑏 D − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0

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Use the Discriminant to Determine the Nature of the Roots

Example 1:
Use the discriminant to determine the nature of the roots for each quadratic equation. Check by graphing.

a) −2𝑥 D + 3𝑥 + 8 = 0

b) 3𝑥 D − 5𝑥 = −9

j
c) 𝑥 D − 3𝑥 + 9 = 0
k

Example 2: Find the values of the equation 𝑥 D + 𝑘𝑥 + 9 = 0 for which it has two equal roots.

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Example 3:
For what values of 𝑡 does 𝑥 D + 𝑡𝑥 + 𝑡 + 3 = 0 has one real root?

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