Basic Mathematics CCK-BMATH-013 1

EM01
Essential Mathematics
Session 5
Algebra & Geometrical Interpretation
– Quadratic Equations and Solutions
Chin Chee Kai
cheekai@ntu.edu.sg
Nanyang Business School
Nanyang Technological University
 Algebra & Geometrical Interpretation
• General Form of Quadratic Equation
• Solutions to Quadratic Equation
• Graphical Interpretation of Roots
• Minima and Maxima
• Sum and Product of Roots

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 Quadratic Equations
• The most general form of a quadratic equation is:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are constants and 𝑎 is not zero.

𝑏 2 𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
• It can also be written as: 𝑥 + − =0
2𝑎 4𝑎2
which readily shows that it is solving a square function
𝑏 𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
much like 𝑦2 = 𝑑 (just let 𝑦 = 𝑥 + and 𝑑 = )
2𝑎 4𝑎2

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 Solutions of Quadratic Equations
• So given quadratic equation:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are constants and 𝑎 is not zero,
the general solution is:
−𝑏 ± 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
2𝑎
• There may be 2, 1 or no real value solution to the
equation, depending on whether the discriminant
inside the square-root, 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐, gives a positive
number, zero, or negative number.
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 Example
• Find the solutions to the quadratic equation:
2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1 = 0
Solution: We calculate 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = −3 2 −
4×2×1=9−8=1
−𝑏± 𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐 − −3 ± 1 3±1
So solutions are = =
2𝑎 2×2 4
So 𝑥 = 1 or 0.5
Check: 2 × 12 − 3 × 1 + 1 = 2 − 3 + 1 = 0
2 × 0.52 − 3 × 0.5 + 1 = 2 × 0.25 − 1.5 + 1 = 0
CCK-BMATH-013 Basic Mathematics 5
 Example
• Find the solution to the quadratic equation:
4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
Solution: We calculate 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 2 − 4 ×
4 × 1 = 16 − 16 = 0
−𝑏± 𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐 −4 −1
So the only solution is = =
2𝑎 2×4 2
So 𝑥 = -0.5
Check: 4 × −0.5 2 + 4 × (−0.5) + 1 = 0

CCK-BMATH-013 Basic Mathematics 6

 Example
• Find the solution to the quadratic equation:
3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 = 0
Solution: We calculate 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 12 − 4 ×
3 × 2 = 1 − 24 = −23
So there is no real solution.

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 Graphical Interpretation of Roots
−𝑏 − 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 −𝑏 + 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
2𝑎 2𝑎
−𝑏
𝑥 2𝑎 𝑥 𝑥

There are 2 real If 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 is zero, If 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 is

value solutions then we get only 1 negative, then the
because the real value solution. graph “floats”
discriminant 𝑏 2 − The graph just away and does not
4𝑎𝑐 is positive. The “touches” the x- intersect the x-axis,
graph definitely axis. and we get no real
“sinks” below sea- solution.
level (the x-axis).
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 Minima and Maxima
𝑎>0 𝑎<0 Highest point

−𝑏 −𝑏
2𝑎 2𝑎

𝑥 𝑥
Lowest point

−𝑏
Both the minima and maxima occur at the point 𝑥 = .
2𝑎

It is the lowest point if 𝑎 > 0 and the highest point if 𝑎 < 0.

CCK-BMATH-013 Basic Mathematics 9

 Sum and Product of Roots
Consider the two roots 𝑎 and 𝑏. As solutions to quadratic
equation, they must satisfy:
𝑥−𝑎 𝑥−𝑏 =0
Expanding, we get:
𝑥 2 − 𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏 = 0
Whenever we express a given quadratic equation as having
a 1 in coefficient of 𝑥 2 , then
• The negative coefficient of 𝑥 gives sum of roots 𝑎 and 𝑏,
• The constant term gives the product of roots 𝑎 and 𝑏.

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 Example - Sum and Product of Roots
Calculate the sum and product of the roots of the following
quadratic equation:
5𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 1 = 0
We rewrite the equation so that the coefficient of 𝑥 2 is 1.
2
1
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + = 0
5
1
So the sum of roots is −2 and product of roots is .
5
−10± 102 −4×5×1 80
Check: the roots are = −1 ±
2×5 10
80 80
Sum of roots = −1 + + −1 − = −2
10 10
2
80 80 80 80 1
Product of roots = −1 + −1 − =1− =1− =
10 10 10 100 5
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