SOLVING Q U A D R A T IC

EQ U AT I O N S B Y
FACTORING
GRA D E 9- M ATHEMA TIC S
LESSON:
FACTORING is a method used to solve a quadratic equation in the form of
Recall the different ways of factoring you have learned in Grade 8.
1. Common Monomial Factor:
2. Difference of Two Squares:
3. Perfect Square Trinomial:
4. General Quadratic Trinomial:
ZERO PRODUCT PROPERTY

States that if are real numbers and , then . This is also true for three or more factors. For any factors
equal to zero, the product is zero.
EXAMPLE 1
Find the roots of
Solution:
by Common Monomial Factoring

by Zero Product Property

The roots are 0 and 6.

 CHECKING
For For

0=0 0=0
EXAMPLE 2
Solve for the roots of . 
Solution: the equation is already in factored form. Apply the zero product property.
Solution: (by zero product property)

 
Therefore the roots of the equation are -2 and -6.
To check, replace the variable x with the solved roots.
 CHECKING
For For

0=0 0=0
EXAMPLE 3
What are the roots of  
Solution: by factoring the difference of two squares

Solution: (by zero product property)

X - 7 = 0 or x+7=0
X=7 x = -7 
Therefore, the roots of the equation are
 CHECKING
For For

0=0 0=0
EXAMPLE 4
Find the roots of . 
Solution: write the equation in general form.

factor
Solution: (by zero product property)
3x + 3 = 0 or x-7=0
3x = -3 x=7 by APE
x = -1 x=7 by MPE
Therefore, the roots of the equation are .  
 Checking
For For

21 = 21 21 = 21