Unit 18

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

A quadratic equation with one variable has

at least one term raised to the second
power with no terms of a higher power
A quadratic equation that does not contain a
first power variable
(x term) is called an incomplete or pure
quadratic equation
Examples:
Quadratic equation: 4x2 + x = 9
Pure quadratic equation: y2 = 2
2
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

The general form of a quadratic

equation is
ax2 + bx + c = 0

a is the coefficient of the x2 term and

cannot equal 0
b is the coefficient of the x term
c is the constant term that does not
contain x in any form
3
 INCOMPLETE QUADRATIC
EQUATIONS
Procedure for solving incomplete quadratic
equations:
Isolate the term containing x2 on one side
of the equation
If x2 has a coefficient other than 1, divide
both sides of the equation by the coefficient
Take the square root of both sides of the
equation. Write a sign before the square
root quantity
Check both roots in the original equation

4
 SOLVING AN INCOMPLETE
QUADRATIC EQUATION
Solve for x: 7x2 = 651
Divide both sides of the equation by 7:
7 x 2 651
x2 = 93
7 7
Square root both sides of the equation:

x 2 93
Note: The answer has been rounded.
x 9.644 Ans. Both answers 9.644 and 9.644
should be checked in the original
5
equation.
 PRACTICAL APPLICATION
EXAMPLE
Determine the radius of a circle given that its
area is 65 square inches
The area of a circle is times the radius squared
or: A = r2
Substituting 65 square inches for the area gives
us: 65 in2 = r2
Now, solving for r: 65 in 2
r 2


20.69 in2 = r2
4.55 in = r
The negative answer is discarded, leaving 4.55
inches
6
Ans
 COMPLETE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

A quadratic equation that contains both the

second power variable (x2 term) and the
first power variable (x term) is called a
complete quadratic equation
Different methods that can be used to
solve quadratic equations
The quadratic formula will be the method
used here

7
THE QUADRATIC
FORMULA
If the general quadratic equation (ax2
+ bx + c = 0) is transformed and
solved for x, the resulting equation is
called the quadratic formula:

b b 2 4ac
x
2a

8
USING THE QUADRATIC FORMULA

Solve 2x2 + 3x 2 = 0 using the quadratic formula.

Identify a, b, and c. In this equation a = 2, b = 3, and c
= 2.
Substituting these values into the quadratic formula:

Simplify:
b b 2
4ac 3 32 4(2)(2)
becomes
2a 2(2)
Find both solutions:

3 9 16 3 25 3 5

4 4 4

35 2 1 3 5 8
Ans. and 2 Ans.
9 4 4 2 4 4
 PRACTICAL APPLICATION EXAMPLE
Find the length and width of a rectangle with an area of 24 in2 given
that its length is two inches greater than its width
Let x = the width; then the length = x + 2(remember area=l*w)
Rearrange the equation and find a, b, and c
x2 + 2x 24 = 0; so a = 1, b = 2, and c = 24
Solve for x using the quadratic formula.

2 22 4(1)( 24) 2 100 2 10

2(1) 2 2

2 10 Not 2 10 Width = 4 in.

6 possible 4
2 2 length = x + 2 or 6 in. Ans

10
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Solve problems 14. Round to the nearest
hundredth whenever necessary:
1. 8x2 = 94
2. 7.6y2 29.5 = 0
3. 3x2 9 = x2 + 4
4. Find the radius of a circle given that the
area is 49.6 square inches. The area of a
circle is figured by A=3.14r2. Where A is the
area and r is your radius. Round your
answer to the nearest hundredth of an inch.

11
PRACTICE PROBLEMS (Cont)

5. Given that power (P) is equal to current (I)

squared times resistance (R). Find the
current if the power is 50 watts and the
resistance is 15 ohms. Round the answer to
the nearest hundredth of an ampere. Note:
An ampere (A) is the unit measure of
current.
Use the quadratic formula to solve problems 6
8:
6. 6x2 + 5x 6 = 0
7. 9y2 18y = 8
8. x2 x = 6
12
PRACTICE PROBLEMS (Cont)

9. Given the equation for the free fall of

an object (like a parachuter) s = vot +
1/2 at2; find t (time in seconds) when
s = 50, a = 32, and vo = 4. Round to
the nearest hundredth of a second
10. Given that the area of a parallelogram
is base times height. Find the base
and height of a parallelogram with an
area of 18 square inches and a height
that is 3 inches longer than the base
13
PROBLEM ANSWER KEY
1. 3.43
2. 1.97
3. 2.55
4. 3.97 inches
5. 1.83 A
6. 3/2 and 2/3
7. 2/3 and 4/3
8. 2 and 3
9. 1.65 seconds
10. base = 3 and the height = 6

14