Dimitris Charalampidis charalampidisdimitris.

com Quadratics

Solving quadratic Inequalities

To solve a quadratic inequality, one must be able to factorize the given quadratic first. The
safest way to do that would be through the quadratic’s roots.

More precisely, the factorized form of a quadratic in the form a  x 2 + b  x + c , is the form
a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) where x1 , x2 are the quadratic’s roots.

Example

Factorize x 2 + 7 x + 10
Solution

a = 1 , b = 7 , c = 10 , D = b 2 − 4ac = 7 2 − 4 1 10 = 49 − 40 = 9

−7 + 3 −4
= = −2
2 2 a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
−b  D −7  9 −7  3
x1,2 = = = = 1( x − (−2) )( x − (−5) )
2a 2 1 2
−7 − 3 −10 ( x + 2 )( x + 5)
= = −5
2 2

Once you have factorized the quadratic you are ready to solve an inequality with it.
Using the factorized form of the quadratic we must create the table of signs of that quadratic.
Example

Given that the factorized form of x 2 + 7 x + 10 is the form 1( x + 2 )( x + 5) the table of signs
of it, will look like the one that follows:

−5 −2
On the left column, −5 Above the horizontal line place
place each one of 1
the quadratic’s roots in
the quadratic’s ( x + 2) increasing order.
factors taken from
its factorized form. ( x + 5) From each root, draw a vertical

1( x + 2 )( x + 5)
line straight downwards.
DON’T forget to
include a as well. On each vertical line, draw a
circle at the level of the factor
In the end, add the
that becomes 0 for this value of
whole factorized
x.
form.
 Dimitris Charalampidis charalampidisdimitris.com Quadratics

Now, we need to fill in this table with signs

−5 −2

+ −5 +
Number 1 is
obviously positive. 1 + The factors the signs of which

− −
we need to find, will mostly be
Therefore, we will ( x + 2) + in the form ax + b .
place the positive
sign “+” alongside
( x + 5) − + + Whatever the sign of a is, that
the 1st line 1( x + 2 )( x + 5) + − +
sign will be placed at the right of
the vertical line

The signs of the last line are calculated as the products of the
rest of the signs above.

In a quicker way,

If we have an odd number of negative signs, we should place “-” ,

while if we have an even number of negative signs we should
place “+” respectively

Having completed the table of signs we can now solve any inequality that involves that
quadratic. We simply need to use the table’s last line considering the inequality we were given.
More precisely, considering that the above table is the one related to x 2 + 7 x + 10 ,

x 2 + 7 x + 10  0 → x  ( −, −5 )  ( −2, + )
x 2 + 7 x + 10  0 → x  ( −5, −2 )
x 2 + 7 x + 10  0 → x  ( −, −5   −2, + )
x 2 + 7 x + 10  0 → x   −5, −2

To summarize,
When we are given a quadratic inequality in one of the forms

a  x2 + b  x + c  0
a  x2 + b  x + c  0
a  x2 + b  x + c  0
a  x2 + b  x + c  0
Dimitris Charalampidis charalampidisdimitris.com Quadratics
Then:

Step 1: We bring the given quadratic into its factorized form a ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )

Step 2: We form the table of signs for this factorized form

Step 3: We interpret the created table of signs, based on the given inequality we need to solve.
The methodology I just explained is based on the factorized form of the given quadratic and
that form is further based on the existence of the quadratic’s roots.
What happens though when the discriminant of the quadratic is negative and therefore there
aren’t any roots?
In this case we should think of the way a quadratic’s graph would look like and the way the
algebraic and geometrical solution of an inequality are related.
First of all, when the discriminant of a quadratic is negative, then the graph of it can be either
always on top or always below the x-axis.
Case 1:
f ( x) = a  x 2 + b  x + c
a0
D0

f ( x) = a  x 2 + b  x + c
Case 2:
a0
D0

Next, we should think of the geometrical explanation of an inequality.

A function is bigger (smaller) than 0, if the graph of that function is above (below) the x-axis.
Combining these two, we can solve any inequality that belongs in this case.
Dimitris Charalampidis charalampidisdimitris.com Quadratics

Example

Solve 2 x 2 + 3 x + 7  0
Solution

a = 2 , b = 3 , c = 7, D = b 2 − 4ac = 32 − 4  2  7 = 9 − 56 = −47  0

Combining this negative value of the discriminant with the positive sign of a, we can conclude
that the graph of this equation will always be above the x-axis.

The inequality 2 x 2 + 3 x + 7  0 geometrically searches when the graph of that quadratic will be
below the x-axis, but as we mentioned, that can never happen
Hence the given inequality will not have any solutions.