Solving Quadratic Equations

by
Extracting theSquare Root
 A quadratic equation is an equation of the
form ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are real
numbers and a 0.

Definition
The solutions of a quadratic equation are also called the roots of the equation.
The roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are the zeros or x-intercepts of the
associated quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c.

Illustration
The quadratic equation x2 – x – 12 = 0 has -3 and 4 as roots since ( -3 )2 – ( -3 ) – 12 = 0
and ( 4 )2 – ( 4 ) – 12 = 0. Correspondingly, the intercepts of the graph of the quadratic
function f(x) = x2 – x -12 are the points ( -3 , 0 ), and ( 4 , 0 ).
 Extracting Square Roots

This method that can be used to solve quadratic equations is extracting

square roots. The quadratic equation x = c, where c is a real number, has two
solutions x = √c and x = - √c or simply x = ± √c .

The following properties are useful in simplifying expressions containing

square roots.
Properties of Square Roots
= . Example: = . = 2

= Example: = =
 In the equation x² = c, c can be a negative number. In such
cases, you need to use the concept of imaginary numbers to
extract square roots.

 Definition

The imaginary number i is defined as the square root of -1

i = or i2 = -1

Example: = . = 3i
 Example
Solve each equation by extracting square roots.

a. x2 + 4 = 0 b. 2x2 – 11 = 25 c. ( x -2 ) 2 - 8 = 0
Solutions:

a. x2 + 4 = 0 Add - 4 on each side. b. 2 x 2 -11 = 25

x2 = -4 2x 2 = 36 Add 11 on each side.
x= Extract square roots. x 2 = 18 Divide each side by 2.
x= . Apply the property of square roots. x= Extract square roots.
x = 2i Simplify x = . Apply the property of Square roots.
The solution are 2i x= 3 simplify.
The solutions are 3.
c. ( x – 2 )2 – 8 = 0 
( x – 2 )2 = 8 Add 8 on each side.
2
= 24 Multiply both sides by 3.
= Extract square roots.
x=2 2 Solve for x and simplify.
 
The solution are 2.
Solve the following equations.

1. x² = 81
2. x² = 54
3. x² = 48
4. x² + 6 = 62
5. 4x² - 42 = 102
6. 5x² - 69 = 56
7. 2x² + 3 = 39
8. 3(x² + 2 ) = 66
9. 5x² - 125 = 0
10. x² - 80 = 0
11. (3x + 2 )² = 64
12. (3x – 3 )² = 36
13. 5x² = 15
14. =
15. 1 = x²
16. - x² = 0
17. (2x + 8 ) ( 2x – 8 ) = 36
18. x² =
19. 2x² - 32 = 0
20. x² = 12
 Solve the following equations.

1. x² - 6x = -8
2. x² - 14x + 24 = 0
3. x² - 2x - 15 = 0