Applied Mathematics for

Business & Social Sciences

Lecture # 1
Muhammad Yousaf Bhatti
A quadratic equation is an equation of the second degree, meaning it contains at least
one term that is squared. The standard form is ax² + bx + c = 0 with a, b, and c being
constants, or numerical coefficients, and x is an unknown variable. One absolute rule is
that the first constant “a” cannot be a zero.
Standard Form Equations
Here are examples of quadratic equations in the standard form (ax² + bx + c = 0):
6x² + 11x – 35 = 0
2x² – 4x – 2 = 0
-4x² – 7x +12 = 0
20x² –15x – 10 = 0
x² –x – 3 = 0
5x² – 2x – 9 = 0
3x² + 4x + 2 = 0
-x² +6x + 18 = 0
Three Methods of
Solving Quadratic Equations
1- Factoring the Equation
2- Using the Quadratic Formula
3- Completing the Square
The Cartesian Coordinate System

• The Cartesian coordinate system was named after René Descartes. It

consists of two real number lines, the horizontal axis (x-axis) and the
vertical axis (y-axis) which meet in a right angle at a point called the
origin. The two number lines divide the plane into four areas called
quadrants.
• The quadrants are numbered using Roman numerals as shown on the
next slide. Each point in the plane corresponds to one and only one
ordered pair of numbers (x,y). Two ordered pairs are shown.
The Cartesian Coordinate System
(continued)

Two points, (–1,–1)

II I (3,1) and (3,1), are plotted.
Four quadrants are as
x labeled.

(–1,–1)
III IV

y
 Linear Equations in Two Variables
• A linear equation in two variables is an equation that
can be written in the standard form Ax + By = C, where
A, B, and C are constants (A and B not both 0), and x
and y are variables.
• A solution of an equation in two variables is an
ordered pair of real numbers that satisfy the equation.
For example, (4,3) is a solution of 3x - 2y = 6.
• The solution set of an equation in two variables is the
set of all solutions of the equation.
• The graph of an equation is the graph of its solution
set.
 Linear Equations in Two Variables
(continued)
• If A is not equal to zero and B is not equal to zero,
then
Ax + By = C can be written as
A C
y   x   mx  b
This is known as B B
slope-intercept form.
• If A = 0 and B is not equal to zero, y  C
then the graph is a horizontal line B

• If A is not equal to zero and B = 0, x  C

then the graph is a vertical line A
 Special Cases

• The graph of x = k is the graph of a vertical

line k units from the y-axis.
• The graph of y = k is the graph of the
horizontal line k units from the x-axis.
• Examples:
1. Graph x = –7
2. Graph y = 3
 Solutions
x = –7

y=4
 Slope of a Line
y2  y1 rise
• Slope of a line:
m 
x2  x1 run
 x1 , y1 

rise

 x2 , y2 
run
 Slope-Intercept Form
The equation
y = mx+b

is called the slope-intercept form of an equation

of a line.

The letter m represents the slope and b

represents the
y-intercept.
 Find the Slope and Intercept
from the Equation of a Line
Example: Find the slope and y intercept of the line
whose equation is 5x – 2y = 10.
 Find the Slope and Intercept
from the Equation of a Line
Example: Find the slope and y intercept of the line
whose equation is 5x – 2y = 10.

Solution: Solve the equation

for y in terms of x. Identify the 5 x  2 y  10
coefficient of x as the slope and 2 y  5 x  10
the y intercept as the constant 5 x 10 5
term. y   x5
2 2 2
Therefore: the slope is 5/2 and
the y intercept is –5.
 Point-Slope Form
The point-slope form of the equation of a line is

y  y1  m( x  x1 )
where m is the slope and (x1, y1) is a given point.
It is derived from the definition of the slope of a line:

y2  y1 Cross-multiply and
m substitute the more
x2  x1 general x for x2
 Example
Find the equation of the line through the points (–5, 7) and (4, 16).
 Example
Find the equation of the line through the points (–5, 7) and (4, 16).
Solution:
16  7 9
m  1
4  (5) 9
Now use the point-slope form with m = 1 and (x1, x2) = (4, 16).
(We could just as well have used (–5, 7)).

y  16  1( x  4)
y  x  4  16  x  12
 Equations of the form ax + by = c are called
linear equations in two variables.
y
This is the graph of the (0,4)
equation 2x + 3y = 12.
(6,0)
x
-2 2

The point (0,4) is the y-intercept.

The point (6,0) is the x-intercept.

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 The slope of the line passing through the two points
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is given by the formula

y2 – y1
m= , (x1 ≠ x2 ).
x2 – x1

y
The slope is the (x2, y2)
change in y divided
y2 – y1
by the change in x as
change in y
we move along the (x1, y1) x 2 – x1
line from (x1, y1) to change in x
(x2, y2). x

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 Example: Find the slope of the line passing through
the points (2, 3) and (4, 5).
Use the slope formula with x1= 2, y1 = 3, x2 = 4, and y2 = 5.

y2 – y1 5–3 2
m= = = =1
x2 – x1 4–2 2
y
(4, 5)

(2, 3) 2
2

x
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 A linear equation written in the form y = mx + b is in
slope-intercept form.
The slope is m and the y-intercept is (0, b).
To graph an equation in slope-intercept form:

1. Write the equation in the form y = mx + b. Identify m and b.

2. Plot the y-intercept (0, b).

3. Starting at the y-intercept, find another point on the line

using the slope.
4. Draw the line through (0, b) and the point located using the
slope.
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 Example: Graph the line y = 2x – 4.
1. The equation y = 2x – 4 is in the slope-intercept form. So,
m = 2 and b = - 4. y
2. Plot the y-intercept, (0, - 4).
x
change in y 2
3. The slope is 2. m = =
change in x 1 (1, -2)
4. Start at the point (0, 4). 2
(0, - 4)
Count 1 unit to the right and 2 units up 1
to locate a second point on the line.
The point (1, -2) is also on the line.

5. Draw the line through (0, 4) and (1, -2).

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 A linear equation written in the form y – y1 = m(x – x1)
is in point-slope form.
The graph of this equation is a line with slope m
passing through the point (x1, y1).

Example: y

The graph of the equation 8 m=-

1
2
y – 3 = - 1 (x – 4) is a line
2 4 (4, 3)
of slope m = - 1 passing
2
through the point (4, 3). x
4 8

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 Example: Write the slope-intercept form for the equation of
the line through the point (-2, 5) with a slope of 3.

Use the point-slope form, y – y1 = m(x – x1), with m = 3 and

(x1, y1) = (-2, 5).
y – y1 = m(x – x1) Point-slope form

y – y1 = 3(x – x1) Let m = 3.

y – 5 = 3(x – (-2)) Let (x1, y1) = (-2, 5).

y – 5 = 3(x + 2) Simplify.

y = 3x + 11 Slope-intercept form

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 Example: Write the slope-intercept form for the
equation of the line through the points (4, 3) and (-2, 5).

5–3 =- 2 =- 1 Calculate the slope.

m=
-2 – 4 6 3
y – y1 = m(x – x1) Point-slope form

1 1
y–3=- (x – 4) Use m = - and the point (4, 3).
3 3
y = - 1 x + 13 Slope-intercept form
3 3

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Two lines are parallel if they have the same slope.
If the lines have slopes m1 and m2, then the lines are
parallel whenever m1 = m2. y

(0, 4)
Example:
The lines y = 2x – 3
y = 2x + 4
and y = 2x + 4 have slopes
m1 = 2 and m2 = 2. x

y = 2x – 3
The lines are parallel.
(0, -3)

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Two lines are perpendicular if their slopes are
negative reciprocals of each other.
If two lines have slopes m1 and m2, then the lines are
perpendicular whenever
y
1
m2= - or m1m2 = -1. y = 3x – 1
m1
(0, 4) 1
Example: y=- x+4
3
The lines y = 3x – 1 and
1
y = - x + 4 have slopes
3 x
m1 = 3 and m2 = - 1 .
3 (0, -1)
The lines are perpendicular.
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 Application

Office equipment was purchased for $20,000 and

will have a scrap value of $2,000 after 10 years. If its
value is depreciated linearly, find the linear equation
that relates value (V) in dollars to time (t) in years:
 Application

Office equipment was purchased for $20,000 and will have a

scrap value of $2,000 after 10 years. If its value is
depreciated linearly, find the linear equation that relates
value (V) in dollars to time (t) in years:
Solution: When t = 0, V = 20,000 and when t = 10, V =
2,000. Thus, we have two ordered pairs (0, 20,000) and
(10, 2000). We find the slope of the line using the slope
formula.
The y intercept is already known (when t = 0, V = 20,000,
so
the y intercept is 20,000).
The slope is (2000 – 20,000)/(10 – 0) = –1,800.
Therefore, our equation is V(t) = –1,800t + 20,000.