UNIT 3 ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS MATHS & ENGG SYSTEMS

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
An equation of the type ax 2  bx  c  0 , involving x in the second degree and
containing no higher power of x, is called a quadratic equation. The constants a,
b and c have any numerical values. Thus,

x2  9  0 where a = 1, b=0 and c = -9

x  2x  8  0
2
where a = 1, b = -2 and c = -8
2.5x  3.1x  2  0 where
2
a = 2.5, b = -3.1 and c = -2

are all examples of quadratic equations. A quadratic equation may contain only
the square of the unknown quantity, as in the first of above equations, or it may
contain both the square and the first power as in the other two.

1. Solution by Factors

This method is the reverse of the procedure used to find an equation when
given the roots. We shall now start with the equation and proceed to solve
the equation and find the roots.

We shall again use the fact that if the product of two factors is zero then
one factor or the other must be zero. Thus if M  O  0 then either M  0
or N  0 .

When the factors are easy to find the factor method is very quick and
simple. However do not spend too long trying to find factors; if they are not
easily found use the formula given in the next method to solve the
equation.

Example 1

Solve the equation (2 x  3)( x  5)  0

Since the product of the two factors 2 x  3 and x  5 is zero than either

2x  3  0
x5 0
3 or
x x5
2

3
Hence x or x5
2

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UNIT 3 ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS MATHS & ENGG SYSTEMS

Example 2

Solve the equation 14 x 2  29 x  12

Bring all the terms to the left-hand side:
14 x 2  29 x  12  0
 (7 x  4)(2 x  3)  0
7x  4  0 2x  3  0
either 4 or 3
x x
7 2

Example 3

Find the roots of the equation x 2  16  0

Factorising gives ( x  4)( x  4)  0

x40 x40
Either or
x4 x  4

In this case an alternative method may be used:

Rearranging the given equation gives x 2  16
And taking the square root of both sides gives x  16  4
Remember that when we take a square root we must insert the  sign, because
(4)2  16 and (4)2  16 .

Example 4
Solve the equation x 2  2 x  0
Factorising gives x( x  2)  0
x20
Either x0 or
x2

Note: The solution x  0 must not be omitted as it is a solution in the same way
as x  2 is a solution. Equations should not be divided through by variables, such
as x , since this removes a root of the equation.

Example 5
Solve the equation x 2  6 x  9  0
Factorising gives ( x  3)( x  3)  0

x3 0 x3 0
Either or
x3 x3

In this case there is only one arithmetical value for the solution. Technically,
however, there are two roots and when they have the same numerical value they
are said to be repeated roots.

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UNIT 3 ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS MATHS & ENGG SYSTEMS

2 Solution by Formula

In general, quadratic expressions do not factorise and therefore some other

method of solving quadratic equations must be used.

 b 
Consider the expression ax 2  bx  a x 2  x 
 a 
2
If we add (half the coefficient of x) to the terms inside the bracket
We get
 2 b  b    b 
2 2

ax  bx  a  x  x      a 
2

 a  2a    2a 
2
 b  b
2
 c x  
 2a  4a
We are said to have completed the square of ax 2  bx
We shall now establish a formula which may be used to solve any
quadratic equation.

If ax 2  bx  c  0
Then ax 2  bx  c
Completing the square of the LHS gives
2
 b  b2
a x     c
 2a  4a
2
 b 
 4a 2  x    b 2  4ac
 2a 
2
 b 
or 4a  x    b 2  4ac
2

 2a 

Taking the square root of both sides

 b 
2a x     b 2  4ac
 2a 

 b  b 2  4ac
from which x
2a

The standard form of the quadratic equation is:

ax 2  bx  c  0

As shown on the previous page the solution of this equation is :

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UNIT 3 ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS MATHS & ENGG SYSTEMS

Example 6
Solve the equation 3x 2  8x  2  0
Comparing with ax 2  bx  c  0 , we have a =3, b = -8 and c = 2

Substituting these values in the formula, we have

 (8)  (8) 2  4  3  2
x
23
8  64  24 8  40 8  6.325
  
6 6 6

8  6.325 8  6.325
x x
either 6 or 6
x  2.39 x  0.28

Hence x  2.39 or x  0.28

Example 7
Solve the equation 2.13x2  0.75x  6.89  0
Here a = 2.13, b = 0.75, c = -6.89

 (0.75)  (0.75) 2  4(2.13)(6.89)

x
2  2.13
 0.75  0.5625  58.70  0.75  59.26  0.75  7.698
  
4.26 4.26 4.26

 0.75  7.698  0.75  7.698

x x
Either 4.26 or 4.26
x  1.631 x  1.983

Solution check
When x  1.631
We have LHS  2.13(1.631)2  0.75(1.631)  6.89  0

When x  1.983
We have LHS  2.13(1.983)2  0.75(1.983)  6.89  0

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UNIT 3 ALGEBRAIC EQUATIONS MATHS & ENGG SYSTEMS

Example 8

Solve the equation x 2  4 x  5  0

Here a = 1, b = 4, and c=5

 4  42  4(1)(5)  4  16  20  4   4
 x  
2(1) 2 2

Now when a number is squared the answer must be a positive quantity because
two quantities having the same sign are being multiplied together. Therefore the
square root of negative quantity, as  4 in the above equation, has no
arithmetical meaning and is called an imaginary quantity. The equation
x 2  4 x  5  0 is said to have imaginary or complex roots. Equations which have
complex roots are beyond the scope of this chapter and will be dealt in the later
chapter.

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