 Intro:

We already know the

standard form of a quadratic
equation is:
y = ax2 + bx + c
 The coefficients are: a , b, c
 The variables are: y, x
 The ROOTS (or
Roots
solutions) of a
polynomial are
its x-intercepts

 Thex-intercepts
occur where y =
0.
 Example: Find the
roots: y = x2 + x - 6 Roots
 Solution: Factoring:

y = (x + 3)(x - 2)
 0 = (x + 3)(x - 2)
 The roots are:
x = -3; x = 2
 After centuries of
work,
mathematicians
realized that as long
as you know the
coefficients, you can
find the roots of the y  ax 2  bx  c, a  0
quadratic. Even if it b  b 2  4ac
doesn’t factor! x
2a
Solve: y = 5x  8x  3
2
8  64  60
a  5, b  8, c  3 x
10
2
b  b  4ac 8  4
x x
2a 10
2
(8)  (8)  4(5)(3) 8 2
x x
2(5) 10
 8 2
x
10
8  2 10
x  1
10 10
82 6 3
x  
10 10 5
Roots
    
2
Plug in your y  5 35  8 35  3
answers for x.
If you’re right,    
y  5 9 25  24 5  3
you’ll get y = 0.
2
y  5(1)  8(1)  3
y    
 45
25  24  3
5
y  583 y      
9
5  24
5  15
5
y0 y0
 2
Solve : y  2x  7x  4 x  7  49  32
4
a  2, b  7, c  4 7  81
2 x
b  b  4ac 4
x 7  9 2 1
2a x x 
4 4 2
2
(7)  (7)  4(2)(4) 16
x x  4
2(2) 4
Remember: All the terms must be on one
side BEFORE you use the quadratic
formula.

•Example: Solve 3m2 - 8 = 10m

•Solution: 3m2 - 10m - 8 = 0
•a = 3, b = -10, c = -8
 Solve: 3x = 7 - 2x
2 2  4  84
x
 Solution: 3x2 + 2x - 7=0 6
 a = 3, b = 2, c = -7 2  88
x
6
2
b  b  4ac 2  4 • 22
x x
2a 6
2
(2)  (2)  4(3)(7) 2  2 22
x x
2(3) 6 1  22
x
3
 Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGJrH49Z2ZA