Section 6.

Solving
Quadratic
Equations by
Using Factoring
and by Using
the Quadratic
Formula
Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.
 What You Will Learn

Solving Quadratic Equations by Using

Factoring

Solving Quadratic Equations by Using

the Quadratic Formula

6.9-2 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.

 Binomial
A binomial is an expression that
contains two terms in which each
exponent that appears on a variable is
a whole number.

x + 3, x – 5, 3x + 5, 4x – 2

6.9-3 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.

 FOIL
To multiply two binomials, we use the
FOIL method.
F = First
O = Outer
I = Inner
L = Last

6.9-4 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.

 Example 2: Multiplying Binomials
Multiply (2x + 4)(x + 6).
Solution
F O I L
  
2x  3 x  1  2x  x 2x  1 3  x 3  1    
2
 2x  2x  3x  3
2
 2x  x  3

6.9-5 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.

 Trinomial

A trinomial is an expression containing

three terms in which each exponent
that appears on a variable is a whole
number.

x2 + 8x + 15, x2 + 11x + 28

6.9-6 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.

 To Factor Trinomial Expressions
of the Form x + bx + c
2

1. Find two numbers whose product is

c and whose sum is b.
2. Write the factors in the form

3. Check your answer by multiplying

the factors using the FOIL method.
6.9-7 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.
 Example 4: Factoring A Trinomial
Factor x2 – 6x – 16.
We need to find two numbers whose
product is –16 and whose sum is –6.
Factors of 12 Sum of Factors
–16(1) –16 + 1 = –15
–8(2) –8 + 2 = –6
–4(4) –4 + 4 = 0
–2(8) –2 + 8 = 6
–1(16) –1 + 16 = 15
x2 – 6x – 16 = (x – 8)(x + 2)
6.9-8 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.
 Factoring Trinomials of the Form
ax2 + bc + c, a ≠ 1.
1. Write all pairs of factors of the
coefficient of the squared term, a.
2. Write all pairs of the factors of the
constant, c.
3. Try various combinations of these
factors until the sum of the products
of the outer and inner terms is bx.
4. Check your answer by multiplying
the factors using the FOIL method.
6.9-9 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.
 Example 6: Factoring A
Trinomial, a ≠ 1
Factor 6x2 – 11x – 10.
Solution
The factors will be either 6 • 1 or 2 • 3.
Try the medium sized ones first.
6x2 – 11x – 10 = (2x )(3x )
–10: (–1)(10), (1)(10), (–2)(5), (2)(–5)
Try the eight pairs to find
6x2 – 11x – 10 = (2x – 5)(3x + 2)
6.9-10 Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc.