ax + bx + c

x2
=
16
The parabola is used to make lights that have a
focused beam as those used in motor vehicles.
It is also used in parabolic louvres and as light
fixtures inside buildings.
1. To factorize….
2. To solve ….
3. To draw the graph …
4. To locate the roots of the equation.
5. To locate the axis of symmetry …
6. To state the maximum or minimum value …
7. To locate and state the turning point …
8. To use the graph to solve simple
inequalities
 To factorize a x2 + b x + c
1. Find the product ac
2. Find two factors of ac that will add to give
the value of b
3. Replace b x by the two factors found in 2.
4. Factorize in pairs.
Factorize 2x2 – x – 3
a=2 b = -1 c = -3
ac = 2 x -3 = -6
Two factors of -6 are -2 and 3 but -2 + 3 = 1
which is not equal to b.
Use the two factors 2 and -3
( check that 2 + (-3 ) = -1 which is equal to b)
The expression is now re-written as
2x2 + 2x – 3x -3 (factorize by pairing)
2x(x + 1) -3(x + 1)
(x + 1)(2x – 3)
1. Take all terms to one side of the
equation.

2. Factorize the equation.

3. Put each factor equal to 0 and solve for

x.

4. ALL QUADRATC EQUATIONS YIELD TWO

ANSWERS! Perfect squares give two identical values.
To solve 2x2 – x = 3
(Take all terms to one side of the equation.)
2x2 – x – 3 = 0
(Factorize the equation.)
(x+1)(2x – 3) = 0
(Put each factor equal to 0 and solve for x.)
x+1=0 and 2x – 3 = 0
x = -1 x = 1.5

The two solutions are x = -1 and 1.5

1. Choose at least 5 values of x from a given
range.
2. Substitute each value into the equation and
find the corresponding values of y.
3. Plot each point on a graph page.
4. Draw a smooth curve connecting the points.
The first two steps can be represented in the table as shown
below. Working for the values of y do not need to be shown
but if shown you will not lose any marks.

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 7 0 -3 -2 3 12
The roots are the values of x for which the
function is equal to zero.

i.e. the answer you get when you solve:

y = 2x2 – x – 3 = 0
Remember when we solved this equation we
got: x = -1 or 1.5.

The axis of symmetry is the average of

the roots. x = ½ (-1 + 1.5) = 0.25
 In this case the turning point is a minimum.
 The minimum point is the coordinates of the
point where the axis of symmetry crosses the
curve.
 The minimum point for this graph is
(0.25, -3.1)
 The minimum value is -3.1
 A graph that is already drawn can be used to
determine the solution to other equations or
inequalities by drawing a suitable line on the
curve that was already drawn.
 For example to solve 2x2 – x – 3 = 2 we
simply need to
1. draw the line y = 2 on the graph of 2x2 – x
– 3 = 0 and
2. state the values of x where the curve and
the line intersect.
 The solutions are the x coordinates of the
points where the curve and the line
intersect.

QUESTION:

 Do you think this method can be used to

solve 2x2 – x – 3 = x2 + 4x – 5?
 How would you do this?
To solve 2x2 – x – 3 < 3
 Draw the curve y = 2x2 – x – 3 and the line
y = 3 on the same graph.
 Draw vertical lines from the points of intersection to the
x-axis.
 Shade the region on the graph that makes the inequality
true.
 State the range of values of x for all points
on the curve within the shaded area.