Solving Quadratics

by

Completing the Square

&

Quadratic Formula

By: Jeffrey Bivin

Lake Zurich High School
jeff.bivin@lz95.org

Last Updated: October 25, 2005

+ 6x + 9 ( x 3)

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+ 4x + 4 ( x 2)

4
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+ 5x + 25/4

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(x )

5 2
2

- 6x + 9 ( x 3)

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Solve by Completing the Square

x2 + 10x + 8 = 0
1
2

10 5

(5)2 = 25

(x2 + 10x

) = -8

(x2 + 10x + (5)2) = -8 + 25

(x + 5)2 = 17
x 5 17
x 5 17

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Solve by Completing the Square

3x2 + 24x + 12 = 0
3
x2 + 8x + 4 = 0
1
2

8 4

(4)2 = 16

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(x2 + 8x

) = -4

(x2 + 8x + (4)2) = -4 + 16
(x + 4)2 = 12
x 4 12
x 4 12
x 4 2 3

Solve by Completing the Square

54
1625
1 5
2 2
5 2
4

2x2 + 5x - 12 = 0
2
2
5
x 2x60
( x 2 52 x
)6
2
5
5 2
(x 2 x ( 4 ) ) 6

25
16

(x )
(x )
5 2
4
5
4

x
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6
4

3
2

96
16

5
4

12125
1616
11
4

11
4

16
4

Solve by Completing the Square

1
2

6 3

2x2 - 12x - 11 = 0
2 11
2
x 6x 2 0
(x2 6x
) 112
2
2
( x 6 x (3) ) 112 9

( x 3)
2

11
2

( x 3)
x 3
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29
18
22

29
2
58
2

Solve by Completing the Square

56

1 12
2 5

6 2
5

36
5

-5x2 + 12x + 19 = 0
-5 19
2
12
x 5x 5 0
( x 2 125 x
) 195
2
6 2
12
( x 5 x ( 5 ) ) 195

(x )
6 2
5

131
36
2525
131
5
131
6
5
5
6 131
5

95
25

( x 65 )
x
x
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36
25

Solve by Completing the Square

2ba

1 b
2 a

b
2a

b
4a2

ax2 + bx + c = 0
a c
2
b
x ax a 0
( x 2 ba x
) ac
2
b
b 2
( x 2 a x ( 2 a ) ) ac

(x
(x

b 2
2a
b
2a

x
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b2
2a2
2
c b 4bac2
a 4 a 24 a 2
b 2 4 ac
4a
2
b
4 ac
b
2a
2a
b b 2 4 ac
2a

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

3x2 + 7x - 4 = 0
a=3
b=7
c = -4

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b b 2 4 ac
2a

7 2 43( 4 )
23

49 48
6

7 97
6

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

6x2 + 9x + 2 = 0
a=6
b=9
c=2

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

x
x

b b 2 4 ac
2a
9 9 2 462
26

9 81 48
12

9 33
12

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

5x2 - 8x + 1 = 0
a=5
b = -8
c=1

b b 2 4 ac
2a

( 8 ) 2 451
25

64 20
10

8 44
10
8 2 11
10

x
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2 4 11
10

4 11
5

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

6x2 - 17x - 14 = 0
a=6
b = -17
c = -14

( 17 ) 2 46 14

26

17

17

17 625
12
17 25
12

x
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b b 2 4 ac
2a

289 336
12

x
x

42
12
8
12

7
2
2
3

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

x2 + 6x + 9 = 0
a=1
b=6
c=9

b b 2 4 ac
2a

6 36 36
2

6 0
2
6
2

x
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6 2 419
21

Solve using the Quadratic Formula

3x2 + 7x + 5 = 0
a=3
b=7
c=5

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

b b 2 4 ac
2a

7 2 435
23

49 60
6

11

Why do some quadratic

equations have
2 real solutions
some have 1 real solution
and some have no real
solutions?

Now Consider
ax2 + bx + c = 0

b b 2 4 ac
2a

If discriminant > 0, then 2 real solutions

If discriminant = 0, then 1 real solution
If discriminant < 0, then 0 real solutions

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS

Jeff Bivin -- LZHS