The quadratic polynomial;

The quadratic equation;

The quadratic inequality
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a 0
ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 0
ax2 + bx + c > 0, a 0

Graph of the quadratic function

The

graph of f(x) = ax2 + bx + c is a parabola.

a<0

a>0
axis of
symmetry

minimu
m point

maximum
point

Completing the square

In

general,
f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
can be expressed in the form
f(x) = a(x p)2 + q
by completing the square.

Completing the square

Example

1:
f(x) = x2 + 8x 3
= x2 + 8x + 16 16 3
= (x + 4)2 19
(x + 4)2 0 for all real values of x,
f(x) -19.
Or, the minimum point is at (- 4, -19)

When (x + 4)2 =
0,
x = - 4.

Completing the square

Example 2:
g(x) = -2x2 + 6x + 5
= -2(x2 3x + 5/2)
= -2(x2 3x + 9/4 - 9/4 + 5/2)
= -2[(x 3/2)2 + 1/4]
= -2(x 3/2)2
(x 3/2)2 0 for all real values of x,
f(x) .
Or, the maximum point is at (3/2, )

When (x 3/2)2 = 0,
x = 3/2

The quadratic equation

Derive the quadratic formula by completing the square:

ax 2 bx c 0

b
x

2a

c
b
x x 0
a
a
2

x2

b
c
b
b
x

0
a
a
2a
2a

b
x
2a

c
b

a
2a

b 2 4ac

4a 2

b
b 2 4ac
x

2a
4a 2
b
x

2a

b 2 4ac
2a

b b 2 4ac
x
2a

Types of roots of a quadratic equation

The

nature of the roots of a quadratic equation

depends on the value of the discriminant,
D = b2 - 4ac.

Types of roots of a quadratic equation

Case

1: When b2 4ac > 0, the roots are real and

different.
y

a>0

The graph intersects

the x-axis at two
different points.

a<0

Types of roots of a quadratic equation

Case

2: When b2 4ac = 0, the roots are real and

equal.
y

a>0

O
The graph touches
the x-axis.

a<0

Types of roots of a quadratic equation

Case

3: When b2 4ac < 0, the roots are complex.

a>0

O
The graph does not
intersect the x-axis.

a<0

Relation between roots and coefficients

Let and be the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx

+ c = 0.
Then,
x = ,
or
x=
x - = 0,
or
x-=0
(x - )(x - ) = 0
x2 ( + )x + = 0
This must be the same as the original eqation.
Writing the original equation as x2 + (b/a)x + c/a = 0 and
comparing coefficients, we have
b
c
,

a
a