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Quadratic Equations PDF
Quadratic Equations PDF
Quadratic Equations PDF
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This unit is about the solution of quadratic equations. These take the form ax2 + bx + c = 0. We
will look at four methods: solution by factorisation, solution by completing the square, solution
using a formula, and solution using graphs
In order to master the techniques explained here it is vital that you undertake plenty of practice
exercises so that they become second nature.
After reading this text, and/or viewing the video tutorial on this topic, you should be able to:
Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Solving quadratic equations by factorisation 2
3. Solving quadratic equations by completing the square 5
4. Solving quadratic equations using a formula 6
5. Solving quadratic equations by using graphs 7
ax2 + bx + c = 0
a can be any number excluding zero. b and c can be any numbers including zero. If b or c is zero
then these terms will not appear.
Key Point
A quadratic equation takes the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0
In this unit we will look at how to solve quadratic equations using four methods:
• solution by factorisation
4 × −1 = −4 4 + −1 = 3
so the two numbers are 4 and −1. We use these two numbers to write 3x as 4x − x and then
factorise as follows:
2x2 + 3x − 2 = 0
2x2 + 4x − x − 2 = 0
2x(x + 2) − (x + 2) = 0
(x + 2)(2x − 1) = 0
from which
x+2=0 or 2x − 1 = 0
so that
1
x = −2 or x=
2
These are the two solutions.
Example
Suppose we wish to solve 4x2 + 9 = 12x.
First of all we write this in the standard form:
4x2 − 12x + 9 = 0
We should look to see if there is a common factor - but there is not. To factorise we seek two
numbers which multiply to give 36 (the coefficient of x2 multiplied by the constant term) and
add to give −12. Now, by inspection,
−6 × −6 = 36 − 6 + −6 = −12
so the two numbers are −6 and −6. We use these two numbers to write −12x as −6x − 6x and
proceed to factorise as follows:
4x2 − 12x + 9 = 0
4x2 − 6x − 6x + 9 = 0
2x(2x − 3) − 3(2x − 3) = 0
(2x − 3)(2x − 3) = 0
from which
2x − 3 = 0 or 2x − 3 = 0
so that
3 3
x= or x=
2 2
These are the two solutions, but we have obtained the same answer twice. So we can have
quadratic equations for which the solution is repeated.
Key Point
Formula for solving ax2 + bx + c = 0:
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
a>0
a<0
x x x
x x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
-2
Figure 4. Graph of y = x2 − 3x − 2
8
6
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
Answers
Exercise 1
3
a) 1, 2 b) 2, −2 c) 5, −1 d) 0, 5 e) −4, −15 f) −2, 2
g) 2, − 32 h) 2, 3
4
Exercise 2 √
√ 5± 21 √
a) 1, −3 b) 3 ± 14 c) d) −4 ± 12
2
Exercise 3 √ √ √
5+ 33 −12 ± 120 3± 17
a) 1, 2b) 2, 43 c) d) e) f) No real roots
√ 2 6 4
g) −2 ± 14 h) 45 repeated.
Exercise 4
a) 4.6, 0.4 b) 5.4, −0.4 c) 5.2, −0.2 d) 6.7, 0.3