For use only in the Aga Khan Academy August 2012

IGCSE-H2-07b-04_Quadratic_Formula
Quadratic Equations

b  b 2  4ac
The solutions of the equation ax 2  bx  c  0 are x  .
2a

1. Solve the following using the formula (to 3sf), making sure that you first of all write the
p q
answers in the form :
r
(a) x2  7 x  5  0 (b) y2  2 y  1  0
(c) a 2  3a  7  0 (d) 5h 2  h  2  0
(e) 4d 2  3d  11  0 (f ) 5  7z  2z2  0

2. Solve the following using the formula (to 3sf), making sure that you first of all write the
p q
answers in the form :
r
(a) 9 p2  7 p  8  0 (b) 4k 2  3k  11  0
(c) 5  7 z  3z 2 (d) 2  6 y2  3y
(e) 11t 2  7t  10 (f ) u (7u  1)  5
2x  3
(g) (q  1)(q  3)  7 (h)  3x
x4
7x  5 2
(i)  4x  1 ( j) 5  x
2x  3 x
2 4
(k) 7 x (l) 2x   10
x3 x3

b  b 2  4ac
In the following you need to consider the value of b 2  4ac in the formula x  .
2a

3. If the equation x 2  8 x  c  0 (where c is a constant) has two distinct, real solutions for x
then write down an inequality for c. (Use the formula and consider the expression under the
square root).

4. If the equation x 2  bx  9  0 (where b is a constant) has exactly one solution for x then
find two possible values of b.

5. If the equation ax 2  6 x  1  0 (where a is a constant) has no real solutions then write

down an inequality for a.

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