Quadratic Equations

and Inequalities
• Def. An equation in the form
• 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎
• (with 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎) is called a quadratic equation in one
variable.
• It is also called a second-degree equation in one
variable.
••
• A quadratic equation can be solved by:
➢ factoring
➢ completing the square in the variable
➢ quadratic formula
• Square Root Property (SRP)
• If 𝒖𝟐 = 𝑲, where 𝑲 is a constant, then
• 𝒖 = ± 𝑲.
• Zero Product Property (ZPP)
• If 𝒂𝒃 = 𝟎, then either 𝒂 = 𝟎 or 𝒃 = 𝟎 or both.
• Ex. Solve each equation.
• 1. 𝒙 + 𝟑 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟏
• Sol. Apply the SRP.
• 𝒙 + 𝟑 = ± 𝟐𝟏
• 𝒙 = −𝟑 ± 𝟐𝟏
• Ans. −𝟑 + 𝟐𝟏, −𝟑 − 𝟐𝟏
 𝟐
2. 𝟑𝒙 − 𝒙 = 𝟎

• Sol. Factor the LHS and apply the ZPP.

• 𝒙 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
• 𝒙 = 𝟎 or 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
𝟏
• 𝒙 = 𝟎 or 𝒙 =
𝟑
𝟏
• 𝟎, ans.
𝟑
 2
3. 3𝑥 + 11𝑥 − 20
 Ex. Solve by completing
the square in 𝒙:
𝟐𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 − 𝟑 = 𝟎

•
 The Quadratic Formula
• Given: 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎
−𝒃± 𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
• 𝒙=
𝟐𝒂
• The expression 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 is called the discriminant.
➢If 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 ≥ 𝟎, the roots real numbers.
➢If 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 < 𝟎, the roots are non-real numbers.
Ex. Solve using the quadratic formula.
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 − 𝟏 = 𝟎
• Sol. • 𝒙=
−𝟏± 𝟓
𝟐
• 𝒂 = 𝟏, 𝒃 = 𝟏, 𝒄 = −𝟏
−𝟏− 𝟓 −𝟏+ 𝟓
−𝟏± 𝟏−𝟒(𝟏)(−𝟏) • Ans. ,
•𝒙= 𝟐 𝟐
𝟐(𝟏)
•
 It’s Your Turn!
• Solve each equation.
• 1. 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟏 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝟎
• 2. 𝟐𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚 = 𝟏𝟓
• 3. 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟏 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎
• 4. 𝒕 𝒕 + 𝟐 = 𝟑
• 5. 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟔𝒙 = 𝟎
Quadratic Inequalities
 Nonlinear Inequalities
➢ In solving a nonlinear inequality, it is necessary to
rewrite the inequality so that 0 alone is on one side.
➢ Use a number line or a sign chart.

R. B. Ponsones
• Ex. Solve each inequality.
• 1. 𝒙𝟐 > 𝟗
• Sol. • −3 3
• Test:
• 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗 > 𝟎
• If 𝒙 < −𝟑: True
• 𝒙+𝟑 𝒙−𝟑 >𝟎
• If −𝟑 < 𝒙 < 𝟑: False
• Boundary points: −𝟑, 3
• If 𝒙 > 𝟑: True
• Ans. −∞, −𝟑 ∪ 𝟑, ∞
R. B. Ponsones
• Ex. Solve each inequality.
• 2. 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 ≥ −𝟔
• 2 3
• Sol. 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔 ≥ 𝟎
Test:
• 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙−𝟑 ≥𝟎 • If 𝒙 < 𝟐: True
• The boundary points are 2 • If 2< 𝒙 < 𝟑: False
and 3. • If 𝒙 > 𝟑: True
• Ans. −∞, 𝟐 ∪ [𝟑, ∞)

R. B. Ponsones
 3. 𝒙 + 𝟔 𝒙 − 𝟐 < 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟗
• Sol.
• 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟏𝟐 < 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟗
• 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 < 𝟎 • −1 3
• Test:
𝒙+𝟏 𝒙−𝟑 <𝟎
• If 𝒙 < −𝟏: False
• Boundary points: −𝟏, 𝟑
• If −𝟏 < 𝒙 < 𝟑: True
•
• If 𝒙 > 𝟑: False
• Ans. (−𝟏, 𝟑)
R. B. Ponsones
 It’s Your Turn!
• Solve each inequality.
• 1. 𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 + 𝟐 ≤ 𝟎
• 2. −𝒙𝟐 + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟖 > 𝟎
• 3. 𝟐𝒙𝟐 ≥ 𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙
•
• References:
• Blitzer, R., (2004). Algebra and Trigonometry (2nd Edition). Pearson Education (Asia) PTE Ltd.
• Leithold, L., (2002). College Algebra and Trigonometry. Pearson Education (Asia) PTE Ltd.
• Rees, P., Sparks, F. and Sparks Rees, C., (2003). College Algebra (10th Edition), McGraw-Hill
Publishing Company
• Sobel, M. and Lerner, N., (1979). Algebra and Trigonometry - a Pre-Calculus Approach (2nd Edition).
Prentice-Hall, Inc.
• Stewart, J., Redlin, L. and Watson, S., (2007). Algebra and Trigonometry, (2nd Edition). Brooks/Cole
(Thomson Learning)
• Paul’s Online Math Notes: http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/
• Spector, L., The Math Page: http://www.themathpage.com/