Solving Quadratic Trinomial Equations

Type ax² + bx + c = 0

Method of Factorisation

(i) Solve x2 + 6x + 8 = 0

x2 + 6x + 8 = 0 is the same as 1x2 + 6x + 8 = 0

We need to first factorise the expression x2 + 6x + 8 on the LHS.

To factorise the quadratic trinomial expression, we must first bring it to

FOUR terms by splitting the middle term (bx) into two.

Step 1: Write down the values of a, b and c from the expression x2 + 6x + 8

a = 1, b = 6, c = 8

Step 2: Find the product ac

ac = 1 × 8

=8

Step 3: Find pairs of whole numbers that will multiply to give the

result for ac (8).

Pairs of whole numbers that will multiply to give 8 are:

(1, 8) (2, 4)

Step 4: Find which pairs of factors of 8 may be used to get the value of b
in the middle of the expression.

b=2+4
 Step 5: Rewrite the quadratic expression x2 + 6x + 8, but put 2x + 4x
instead of 6x

x2 + 2x + 4x + 8 = 0

Step 6: Group the terms into pairs and factorise each of the pairs.

x(x + 2) + 4(x + 2) = 0

(x + 2)(x + 4) = 0

Step 7: Equate both brackets to zero and solve the two equations that are
formed.
Either x + 2 = 0 or x + 4 = 0

∴ x = – 2 or x = – 4

(ii) Solve by factorisation x2 + 7x + 12 = 0

a = 1, b = 7, c = 12

ac = 12

Pairs of factors of 12 are: (1, 12) (2, 6) (3, 4)

The pairs of factors of 12 that will give the value of b are 3 and 4.

Rewrite the equation x2 + 7x + 12 = 0 but put 3x + 4x instead of 7x

x2 + 3x + 4x + 12 = 0

Put the terms into pairs and factorise by grouping

x(x + 3) + 4(x + 3) = 0

(x + 3)(x + 4) = 0
 Equate both expressions in the parentheses to zero and solve the two
equations.

Either x + 3 = 0 or x + 4 = 0

∴ x = – 3 or – 4

(iii) Solve by factorisation y2 + 9y + 20 = 0

a = 1, b = 9, c = 20

ac = 20

Pairs of factors of 20 are: (1, 20) (2, 10) (4, 5)

The pairs of factors that will ADD to give 9 (the value of b) are 4 and 5.

y2 + 4y + 5y + 20 = 0

y(y + 4) + 5(y + 4) = 0

(y + 4)(y + 5) = 0

Either y + 4 = 0 or y + 5 = 0

y = – 4 or y = – 5

(iv) Solve by factorisation, m2 + 11m + 24 = 0

a = 1, b = 11, c = 24

ac = 24

Pairs of factors of 24 are: (1, 24) (2, 12) (3, 8) (4, 6)

The pair that will ADD to give 11 (the value of b) are 3 and 8.
 Rewrite the given equation m2 + 11m + 24 = 0 but replace 11m with 3m + 8m

NB. Instead of 3m + 8m, we could have written 8m + 3m. It does not matter.

m2 + 3m + 8m + 24 = 0

m(m + 3) + 8(m + 3) = 0

(m + 3)(m + 8) = 0

Either m + 3 = 0 or m + 8 = 0

m = 0 – 3 or m = 0 – 8

∴ m = – 3 or m = – 8

(v) Solve 4p2 – 12p = – 9

4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0

a = 4, b = – 12 c = 9

ac = 36

Pairs of factors of 36 = (1, 36) (6, 6) (3, 12) (2, 18) (4, 9)

The pair that will give the middle term would be (6, 6) but they would have
to be negative since we want e – 12 and not + 12.

b= –6–6

Rewrite the equation 4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0 but put – 6x – 6x in place of – 12x

4p2 – 6p – 6p + 9 = 0

Put the terms into pairs and then factorise each pair.

2p(2p – 3) – 3(2p – 3) = 0

(2p – 3)(2p – 3) = 0
 Either 2p – 3 = 0 or 2p – 3 = 0

2p = 3 or 2p = 3

p= or p =

∴p=

This equation has the solutions repeating hence the equation 4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0 is
said to have REPEATED SOLUTIONS or REPEATED ROOTS.

NB. The solutions for a quadratic equations are also known as ROOTS of the
equation.

(vi) k2 + 11k + 28 = 0

ac = 28

k2 + 4k + 7k + 28 = 0

k(k + 4) + 7(k + 4) = 0

(k + 4)(k + 7) = 0

Either k + 4 = 0 or k + 7 = 0

∴ k = – 4 or k = – 7

(vii) Solve by factorization, x2 + 9x = –18

We must first make sure that the three terms of the quadratic expressions are
on one side of the equation while the other side has a value of zero.

Preferably make the squared term positive, which it is given in the equation,
so we therefore transpose – 18 from the RHS to the LHS.
 x2 + 9x + 18 = 0

NOTE: We cannot determine the values of a, b and c unless all three

terms are on the same side of the equation.

x2 + 9x + 18 = 0 ⇒ 1x2 + 9x + 18 = 0

ac = 18

Pairs of factors of 18 are: (1, 18) (2, 9) (3, 6)

b=6+3

x2 + 6x + 3x + 18 = 0

x(x + 6) + 3(x + 6) = 0

(x + 6)(x + 3) = 0

x + 6 = 0 or x + 3 = 0

x = – 6 or x = – 3

Solving Quadratic Trinomial Expressions (Continued)

Type ax² + bx + c = 0

Method of Factorisation November 18, 2021

Solve by factorisation

(i) 6x = – x2 – 8
Step 1: Transpose – x2 and – 8 from the RHS of the equation to the LHS so
that the three terms in the quadratic expressions are on one side and
the other side is zero
 x2 + 6x + 8 = 0

Step 2: Split the middle term (6x) into two terms.

a = 1, b = 6, c = 8

ac = 8

Pairs of factors of 8 are: (1, 8) (2, 4)

b=2+4

x2 + 2x + 4x + 8 = 0

x(x + 2) + 4(x + 2) = 0

(x + 2)(x + 4) = 0

x + 2 = 0 or x+4=0

∴ x = – 2 or x = – 4

(ii) 3y2 – 4 = – 4y

Rewrite in the standard form ay 2 + by + c = 0 by transposing – 4y to the

LHS.

3y2 + 4y – 4 = 0

a = 3, b = 4, c = - 4

ac = – 12

Pairs of factors of 12 are: (1, 12) (2, 6) (3, 4)

 The pair that may be subtracted to give 4 (the value of b) are 2 and 6

b = 6 – 2 or – 2 + 6

3y2 + 6y – 2y – 4 = 0

3y(y + 2) – 2(y + 2) = 0

(y + 2)(3y – 2) = 0

Either y + 2 = 0 or 3y – 2 = 0

y=–2 or 3y = 2

y=

𝟐
∴ y = - 2 or y =
𝟑

(iii) 2n2 + 3n – 9 = 0

a = 2, b = 3, c = – 9

ac = – 18

(1, 18) (2, 9) (3, 6)

b = 6 – 3 or – 3 + 6

2n2– 3n + 6n – 9 = 0

n(2n – 3) + 3(2n – 3) = 0

(n + 3)(2n – 3) = 0

Either n + 3 = 0 or 2n – 3 = 0
 n = – 3 or 2n = 3

n=

∴ n = – 3 or n =

(iv) 3 = – 11n + 4n2

Since the squared term is positive and on the right hand side, we may

transpose the 3 from the left hand side to the right hand side of the equation.

0 = – 3 – 11n + 4n2

We may now choose to write the equation in standard form as

4n2 – 11n – 3 = 0

a = 4, b = – 11, c = – 3

ac = – 12

Pairs of factors of 12 are: (1, 12) (2, 6), 3, 4)

The pair of factors that may either add or subtract to give – 11 are 1 and 12.

– 11 = 1 – 12 or – 12 + 1

Replace – 11n with 1n – 12n in the equation 4n2 – 11n – 3 = 0

 4n2 + 1n – 12n – 3 = 0

n(4n + 1) – 3(4n + 1) = 0

(4n + 1)(n – 3) = 0

Either 4n + 1 = 0 or n – 3 = 0

4n = – 1 or n = 3

n= or n = 3

(iv) Solve 4p2 – 12p = – 9

4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0

a = 4, b = – 12 c = 9

ac = 36

Pairs of factors of 36 are: (1, 36) (6, 6) (3, 12) (2, 18) (4, 9)

The pair that will give the middle term would be (6, 6) but they would have
to be negative since we want – 12 and not + 12.

b= –6–6

Rewrite the equation 4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0 but put – 6x – 6x in place of – 12x

4p2 – 6p – 6p + 9 = 0
 Put the terms into pairs and then factorise each pair.

2p(2p – 3) – 3(2p – 3) = 0

(2p – 3)(2p – 3) = 0

Either 2p – 3 = 0 or 2p – 3 = 0

2p = 3 or 2p = 3

p= or p =

∴p=

This equation has the solutions repeating hence the equation 4p2 – 12p + 9 = 0 is
said to have REPEATED SOLUTIONS or REPEATED ROOTS.

NB. The solutions for a quadratic equations are also known as ROOTS of the
equation.

NOTE: Any expressions that when factorised may be written as the square
of one factor is called a PERFECT SQUARE.

In other words, when you square an expression, the result is called a

perfect square.

Also, if you find the square root of an expression and you get an
EXACT answer, the expression is a perfect square.
Examples of perfect squares include:

(i) 1 = [1 × 1 = 12]

(ii) 4 = [2 × 2 = 22]

(iii) 36 = [6 × 6 = 62]

(iv) 81x2 = [9x × 9x = (9x)2]

(v) 100a4b6 = [10a2b3 ×10a2b3 = (10a2b3)2]

(vi) 4p2 – 12p + 9 =[ (2p – 3)(2p – 3) = (2p – 3)2]

(vi) 25x2 + 10x + 1 = [(5x + 1)(5x + 1) = (5x + 1)2]

Perfect squares may be single term expressions (monomials) such as 1, 4, 9, 16, 25,
36, 49, x2, 121a8, m4n10

NB. Any single term expression, in which the index on any letter is an even
number, is a perfect square.

Perfect squares may also be three term expression (trinomials) such as:
25p2 + 20p + 4

ac = 100

Pairs of factors of 100 are: (1, 100) (2, 50) (4, 25) (10, 10)

20p = 10p + 10p

25p2 + 20p + 4 = 25p2 + 10p + 10p + 4

= 5p(5p + 2) + 2(5p + 2)

= (5p + 2) (5p + 2)

= (5p + 2)2