MODULE 5: QUADRATIC EQUATIONS IN ONE VARIABLE

Objectives:

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Determine the nature of roots without solving the equation.
2. Solve the following quadratic equations by any method.
3. Check if the solution obtained is a solution or extraneous roots.

Introduction:

An equation of the form ax 2  bx  c  0 in which a,b, and c are constants, a  0 , is

called s quadratic equation. Remember that the graph of a quadratic equation is a parabola
that either opens up or opens down.

Pre-test:
Solve the following equations by any method.
1. x 2  x  2  0
2. 2 x 2  5 x  3  0
3. 3 x 2  7 x  2  0
Pre-test Feedback:
1. SS :  1,2
 1
2. SS :  3, 
 2
1 
3. SS :  ,2
3 

A quadratic equation is one of the more recognizable and useful polynomials

(multi-termed) equations found in all of algebra. The equation describes a graceful U-shaped
curve called a parabola that you can quickly sketch and easily interpret. People use
quadratic equations to model economic situations, physical training progress, and the paths
of comets.
Quadratic equations in one variable has a form ax 2  bx  c  0 .
Case 1: If b  0.
c
Solution: x   
a

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Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.
1. 4 x 2  64  0 Answer: SS :  4
2
2. 3 x  27  0 Answer: SS :  
Case 2: If c  0.
b
Solution: x1  0; x2  
a
Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.
1. 3 x 2  15 x  0 Answer: SS : 0,5
2
2. 7 x  28 x  0 Answer: SS : 0,4
Case 3: If ax 2  bx  c  0
Solution 1: Factoring the quadratic trinomial
Solution by factoring follows the principle that the product of two or more factors is zero,
if, and only if, one of the factors is zero.

Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.

1. x 2  3 x  2  0 Answer: SS : 1,2
 1
2. 3 x 2  8 x  3  0 Answer: SS :  3, 
 3
Solution 2: Completing the Squares
Step 1: Divide both sides of the equation by a .
Step 2: Transpose the constant c to the right of the equation.
Step 3: Complete he squares by the following procedures:
a. Divide the coefficient of x by 2
b. Square the resulting quotient in Step 3-a
c. Add the result in Step 3-b to both sides of the equation.
Step 4: Obtain the factors of the resulting perfect square trinomial on the left hand side of the
equation.
Step 5: Extract the square root of both sides of the equation.
Step 6: Solve for the value of the variable in the resulting linear equation.

Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.

1. x 2  3 x  2  0 Answer: SS : 1,2
 1
2. 3 x 2  8 x  3  0 Answer: SS :  3, 
 3
Solution 3: Quadratic Formula
The quadratic formula is borne out of completing the squares method.
ax 2  bx  c  0
b c
Step 1: x 2  x   0
a a
b c
Step 2: x 2  x  
a a
2
2b  b  c b2
Step 3: x  x       2
a  2a  a 4a
2
 b   4ac  b 2
Step 4:  x   
 2a  4a 2

2
 b  4ac  b 2
Step 5: x  
2a 4a 2
b b 2  4ac
Step 6: x   
2a 2a
 b  b 2  4ac
Quadratic formula: x 
2a
Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.
1. x 2  3 x  2  0 Answer: SS : 1,2
 1
2. 3 x 2  8 x  3  0 Answer: SS :  3, 
 3

The Discriminant

The radicand b 2  4ac is the discriminant.Its value will identify the character of the roots
to the quadratic equation.
b 2  4ac Character of Roots
0 Real and distinct
0 Real and repeated
0 Imaginary

Illustrative Examples: Determine the character of the roots of the following equations.

1. 2 x 2  7 x  15  0 Answer: Real and distinct

2. 4 x 2  4 x  1  0 Answer: Real and repeated
3. x 2  16  0 Answer: Imaginary

Fractional Equations Leading to Quadratic Equations

Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.

x3  3 2 x2
1. 2 3  2x  Answer: SS :  
x 1 1 x x 1
x 1 x2  3 x2  x  2   3  17 
2.  2   Answer: SS :  
x2  x  6 x2 x3  4 

Radical Equations

A radical equation is an equation containing at least a radical whose radicand involves

the unknown variable.
Solution Steps
1. Isolate a single radicand on one side of the equation.
2. Raise both sides of the equation to the index of the isolated radical.
3. If there are still presence of radicals, repeat steps 1 and 2 until the radical is
eliminated.
4. Solve the resulting equation.
5. Check the solution obtained. (Note: When checking the principal root is always

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 considered.)

Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.

1. 5x 1  x 1  4 Answer: SS : 2
2. 3x  4  x  6  2 x  2 Answer: SS : 7

Quadratic Equations in Form

A quadratic equation in form assumes the form of quadratic equation in one variable
2
ax  bx  c  0 . However, the equation is no longer quadratic in the variable x but it is
quadratic in an algebraic expression denoted as f (x ).
Form: a f ( x)  b f ( x)  c  0
2

Illustrative Examples: Find the solution set.

1. x 4  5 x 2  4  0 Answer: SS :  1,2
2 1
 8 125 
2. 6 x  11x  10  0
3 3
Answer: SS :  , 
 27 8 
x2  5 x2  3
3.  2  0 Answer: SS :  2
x2  3 x2  5
2
10  5
4. 24  2 x    x  
x  x

Answer: SS : 3  14 ,5,1
Practice Exercise A: Determine the types of roots without solving the equation.

1. 4 x 2  2 x  7

2. 5 x 2  6 x  2  0

3. 6 x 2  7 x  3  0

4. 2 x 2  x  6  0

5. 3 x 2  4 x  5  0
6.
Practice Exercise B: Solve the following equations by any method.

1. 6 x 2  4  5 x

2. 4 x 2  3 x  6  0

3. 5 x 2  2  0

4. 6 x 2  5 x  50  0

5. 2 x 2  9 x  35  0

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Practice Exercise C: Solve and check whenever necessary.
x2 4 x  3 
1. 3 
x3 x2
x2  x  2 x2  3 x 1
2.   3 2
x3 x2 x  x6
3. 2x  7  3

4. 3x  2  x  2

5. 2x  3  x 1  x  4
6. x 6  7 x 3  8  0
1
7. x  x 2  12
4 2
8. 4 x 3  17 x 3  4  0
2
 1  1
9.  x    3 x    2  0
 x  x

2  x 5x 2
10.  6  0
x2 2 x

Post test:

Solve the following equations by any method.

1. x 2  x  2  0
2. 2 x 2  5 x  3  0
3. 3 x 2  7 x  2  0

Post test Feedback:

1. SS :  1,2
 1
2. SS :  3, 
 2
1 
3. SS :  ,2
3 

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