QUADRATIC POLYNOMIALS

Definition 1:

A quadratic polynomial function is any function 𝑃 defined over ℝ, which can be

written as follow:

𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 where a, b et c are reals with 𝑎 ≠ 0

The expression 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 is called trinomial of degree 2.

Definition 2:

we call root of the trinomial of degree 2 any possible value of the variable x which
is solution of the quadratic equation : 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
 1- Canonical form of the trinomial
ax2 + bx + c
transformation of the writing ax2 + bx + c
We factorise a (possible because 𝑎 ≠ 0)

But:

Thus,

To simplify this writing, let be

The quantity ∆ is called the discriminant of the trinomial ax2 + bx + c

Therefore,

Definition 3 :
the last expression, of the form 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝛼)2 + 𝛽 is called the canonical form of the
trinomial.
 2- solving the quadratic equation 𝑎𝑥 2 +
𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
Theorem 1:

- if ∆ < 𝟎 : the equation has no real solution.

𝑏
- if ∆ = 𝟎 : the equation has a double solution 𝑥 = − .
2𝑎
- if ∆ > 0 : the equation has 2 real solutions :
−𝑏− ∆ −𝑏+ ∆
𝑥1 = and 𝑥2 =
2𝑎 2𝑎

Remarque : if the coefficients a and c have

opposite signes, then the trinomial 𝑎𝑥 2 +
𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 has two roots; indeed, in this case
∆ = 𝑏2 – 4𝑎𝑐 is necessarily positive. Be careful ! The calculation of Δ is
unnecessary for "incomplete“ trinomials as :
𝑥 2 – 2𝑥 = 0
𝑥 2– 5 = 0
etc...
3- Sum and product of the roots (∆≥ 0)

Theorem 2:

When the trinomial 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 admits two real roots (distinct or equal),

the sum 𝑆 = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 and product 𝑃 = 𝑥1 × 𝑥2 are given by:

−𝑏
𝑆=
𝑎
𝑐
𝑃=
𝑎
 4- Factorisation of the trinomial
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

Theorem 3:

Let ∆ = 𝑏 2 – 4𝑎𝑐 is the discriminant of the trinomial 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐. The

trinomial can be factorised as follows:

- If ∆ > 0 : 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑥 – 𝑥1 )(𝑥 – 𝑥2 ) where 𝑥1 et 𝑥2 are the roots

of the trinomial.

𝑏
-If ∆ = 0 : 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎 𝑥 – 𝑥1 𝑥 – 𝑥1 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )2 ,𝑥1 =
2𝑎
 5- Sign of the trinomial

Theorem 4:

The trinomial 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 has always the sign of 𝑎 except between the

roots when they exist.
And especially when Δ <0, the trinomial has a constant sign. (That of a)
 6- Graphing a quadratic polynomial
function

In a coordinate system (𝑂 ; 𝑖, 𝑗), Let be C the curve of equation

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐.

Theorem 5:

The graph of a quadratic polynomial function is a parabola..

if a > 0, , then the parabola opens upward. If a < 0, then the parabola opens
downward.
𝑏
Its axis of symmetry is the vertical straight line of equation : 𝑥 = – .
2𝑎
𝒃 ∆
S Its vertex has coordinates : 𝑺(− ; − )
𝟐𝒂 𝟒𝒂