The Quadratic Formula Explained (page 1 of 3)

Often, the simplest way to solve "ax2 + bx + c = 0" for the value of x is to factor the quadratic,
set each factor equal to zero, and then solve each factor. But sometimes the quadratic is too
messy, or it doesn't factor at all, or you just don't feel like factoring. So, while factoring may not
always be successful, the Quadratic Formula can always find the solution.

The Quadratic Formula uses the "a", "b", and "c" from "ax2 + bx + c", where "a", "b", and "c" are
just numbers. The Formula is derived from the process of completing the square, and is formally
stated as:

For ax2 + bx + c = 0, the value of x is given by:

Note that, for the Formula to work, you must have "(quadratic) = 0". Note also that the "2a" at the
bottom of the Formula is underneath everything above, not just the square root. And don't forget
that it's a "2a" under there, not just a "2"! And make sure that you are careful not to drop the
square root or the "plus/minus" in the middle of your calculations, or I can guarantee that you will
forget to "put them back" on your test, and you'll mess yourself up. And remember that "b2"
means "the square of ALL of b, including the sign", so don't leave b2 being negative, even if b is
negative, because the square of a negative is a positive. In other words, don't be sloppy and don't
try to take shortcuts, because it will only hurt you in the long run. Trust me on this!

Here are some examples of how the Quadratic Formula works:

 Solve x2 + 3x – 4 = 0

Note first that this quadratic happens to factor:

x2 + 3x – 4 = (x + 4)(x – 1) = 0
...so x = –4 and x = 1. How would this look in the Quadratic Formula? Using a = 1, b =
3, and c = –4, it looks like this:

Then, as expected, the solution is x = –4, x = 1.

Recall that, when y = 0, you are finding the x-intercepts of the graph. So solving ax2 + bx + c =
0 for x means that, among other things, you are trying to find the x-intercepts. Since you came up
with two solutions for this equation, there must be two x-intercepts on the graph. Graphing, you
get the curve below:

As you can see, the x-intercepts match the solutions, falling at x = –4 and x = 1. This shows the
connection between graphing and solving: When you are solving "(quadratic) = 0", you are finding
the x-intercepts of the graph. This can be useful if you have a graphing calculator, because you
can use the Quadratic Formula (when necessary) to solve a quadratic, and then use your
graphing calculator to make sure that the displayed x-intercepts have the same decimal values as
the solutions that the Quadratic Formula gives you. (Note that the calculator display on the graph
will probably have some pixel-related round-off error, so you'd be checking to see that the values
were close; don't expect them to be exact on the screen.) Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2006-2008 All Rights
Reserved
 Solve 2x2 – 4x – 3 = 0. Round your answer to two decimal places, if necessary.

Since there are no factors of (2)(–3) = –6 that add up to –4, then this quadratic cannot
be factored. But I can always use the Quadratic Formula. In this case, a = 2, b = –4, and
c = –3:

Then the answer is x = –0.58, x = 2.58, rounded to two decimal places.

You would never get this solution by factoring! Note that the "solution" or "roots" or "zeroes" are
usually required to be in the "exact" form of the answer (the one with the square roots of ten in it),
but you'll need to get a calculator approximation in order to graph the x-intercepts or to simplify
the final answer in a word problem. Unless you have a good reason to think that the answer is
supposed to be a rounded answer, go with the exact form.
Compare the solution of the equation with the x-intercepts of
the graph:

Remember: "solutions" of equations are also x-intercepts of

the graph.

The Quadratic Formula:

Solutions and the Discriminant (page 2 of 3)
 Solve x(x – 2) = 4. Round your answer to two decimal places.

I not only cannot apply the Quadratic Formula at this point, I cannot factor either.
Do not try to say "x = 4, x – 2 = 4". This is not how it works! You must have "(quadratic)
= 0" first, whether you're factoring or using the Quadratic Formula. The first thing I have
to do here is multiply through on the left-hand side, and then I'll move the 4 over:
x(x – 2) = 4
x2 – 2x = 4
x2 – 2x – 4 = 0
Since there are no factors of (1)(–4) = –4 that add up to –2, then this quadratic does not
factor. (In other words, there is no possible way that the faux-factoring solution of " x = 4,
x – 2 = 4" could ever be even slightly correct.) I can use the Quadratic Formula; in this
case, a = 1,
b = –2, and c = –4: Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2006-2008 All Rights Reserved

Then the answer is: x = –1.24, x = 3.24, rounded to two places.

For reference, here's what the graph looks like:

There is a connection between the solutions from the Quadratic Formula and the graph of the
parabola. In particular, you can tell how many x-intercepts you're going to have from the value
inside the square root.
 Solve 9x2 + 12x + 4 = 0.

Using a = 9, b = 12, and c = 4, the Quadratic Formula gives:

Then the answer is x = –2/3.

In the previous cases, I got two solutions because of the "plus-minus" part. In this case, though,
the square root reduced to zero, so the plus-minus didn't count for anything. (This solution is
called a "repeated" root, because x is equal to –2/3, but it's equal kind of twice: –2/3 + 0 and –2/3 –
0. You can also see this if you factor: 9x2 + 12x + 4 = (3x + 2)(3x + 2) = 0, so x = –2/3 and x =
–2
/3.) Any time you get zero in the square root of the Quadratic Formula, you'll only get one
solution.
The square-root part of the Quadratic Formula is called "the discriminant", I suppose because you
can use it to discriminate between whether the given quadratic has two solutions, one solution, or
no solutions.
This is what the graph looks like:

Note that the parabola just touches the x-axis at x = –2/3; it doesn't actually cross. This is always
true: if you have a root that appears exactly twice, then the graph will "kiss" the axis there, but not
pass through.
 Solve 3x2 + 4x + 2 = 0.

Since there are no factors of (3)(2) = 6 that add up to 4, this quadratic does not factor.
But the Quadratic Formula always works; in this case, a = 3, b = 4, and c = 2:

At this point, I have a negative number inside the square root. If you haven't learned
about complex numbers yet, then you would have to stop here, and the answer would be
"no solution"; if you do know about complex numbers, then you can continue the
calculations:

If you do not know about complexes, then your answer would be "no solution". If you do know
about complexes, then you would say there there is a "complex solution". But whether or not you
know about complexes, you know that you cannot graph your answer, because you cannot graph
the square root of a negative number. Since you can't find a graphable solution, then reasonably
there should not be any x-intercept (because you can graph an x-intercept).
Here's the graph:

This relationship is always true: If you get a negative inside the square root, then there will be no
real number solution, and therefore no x-intercepts.

The Quadratic Formula:

The Discriminant and Graphs (page 3 of 3)
 Solve x2 + 2x = 1. Round to two decimal places.

I cannot apply the Quadratic Formula yet! The Formula only applies once I have
"(quadratic) = 0", and I don't have that yet here. The first thing I have to do is move the 1
over, so I'll have "= 0" on the right-hand side: Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2006-2008 All Rights
Reserved
x2 + 2x – 1 = 0
Letting a = 1, b = 2, and c = –1, the Quadratic Formula gives me:

Then the answer is x = –2.41, x = 0.41, rounded to two decimal places.

Here's the graph:

The intercepts (that is, the solutions from above) are marked in red.

This relationship between the value in the square root ("the discriminant") and the number of real-
number solutions (x-intercepts) for the quadratic is summarized in this table:

x2 – 2x – 3 x2 – 6x + 9 x2 + 3x + 3

a positive number zero a negative number

inside the square root inside the square root inside the square root

one (repeated) real

two real solutions two complex solutions
solution
 one (repeated) x-
two distinct x-intercepts no x-intercepts
intercept

Probably the most important thing to remember when using the Quadratic Formula (other than
the Formula itself, which you should memorize) is that you must do each step clearly and
completely, so you don't lose your denominators or plus-minuses or square roots. Don't skip stuff,
and you should do fine.
But if you get in the habit of "forgetting" the square root sign until the end when the back of the
book "reminds" you that you "meant" to put it in, I'll bet good money that you'll mess up on your
test. If you get in the habit of "forgetting" the plus/minus sign until the answer in the back
"reminds" you that it belongs in there, then you will almost certainly miss every single problem
where the answer doesn't have a square root symbol in it to "remind" you to put the plus/minus
sign back in. That is, any time your answer is supposed to be something like "x = 5 ± 10", you
will put down "x = 5 + 10 = 15", and will have no idea how the book (or test) got the second
answer of "x = –5".
I've been grading homework and tests for too many years to be kidding about this. Really, truly;
you want to do your work neatly and completely every single time!