Lesson 1

Review: Algebraic methods for solving quadratic equations

1. Definition
A quadratic equation is an equation that could be written as
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 (1.1)
when 𝑎 ≠ 0.
𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are known values
𝑥 is a variable or unknown (we don’t know it yet!)
Solving a quadratic equation is to find the values of x - called the solutions (they are
also called “roots”, sometimes “zeros”) of the equation - such that (1.1) is satisfied.
It has been shown that a quadratic equation has at most 2 solutions. To be more
specific, a quadratic equation can have:
- Two solutions.
- One solution. Then, we treat the two solutions as being identical and refer to this
solution as a repeated solution.
- No solutions.
Example 1.1:
The equation 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5 = 0 is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = −2, 𝑐 = 5
The equation 2𝑥 2 − 7 = 0 is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = 0, 𝑐 = −7
The equation −5𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 = 0 is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = −5, 𝑏 = 8, 𝑐 = 0
4𝑥 2 = 0 is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = 𝑐 = 0
2. Equations to quadratic equations
There are some equations that don't look like quadratic equations at first, but when we
change them, they become quadratic.

Example 2.1: The equation 7x 2 − 3x − 6 = 3x − 7

Move all terms on the right side to the left side and simply:
 7𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 6 = 3𝑥 − 7 ⇒ 7𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 6 − 3𝑥 + 7 = 0 ⇒ 7𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 1 = 0.

The last is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = 7, 𝑏 = −6, 𝑐 = 1

Example 2.2: The equation:

3 1
− =5
𝑥+2 𝑥+3

We transform as follows:

3(𝑥 + 3) 𝑥+2 5(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)

− = ⇒ 3(𝑥 + 3) − (𝑥 + 2)
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
= 5(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) ⇒ 3𝑥 + 9 − 𝑥 − 2 = 5𝑥 2 + 25𝑥 + 30
⇒ 5𝑥 2 + 25𝑥 + 30 − 3𝑥 + 𝑥 − 9 + 2 = 0 ⇒ 5𝑥 2 + 23𝑥 + 23 = 0

The last is a quadratic equation with 𝑎 = 5, 𝑏 = 23, 𝑐 = 23.

3. Solving quadratic equations in special cases

3.1. The case 𝒃 = 𝒄 = 𝟎

The quadratic equation then has the following form: 𝑎𝑥 2 = 0. This equation always has
one solution (repeated solution): 𝑥 = 0

Example 3.1: Solve the equation: 4𝑥 2 = 0

The solution: 𝑥 = 0 (repeated root)

3.2 Case 𝒃 = 𝟎

The equation then takes the following shape: 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑐 = 0

This type of equation either has two solutions or none at all.

The following property must be kept in mind in order to solve this form:

“Some squares must be greater than and greater than or equal to 0.”
 Example 3.2: Solve the equation: 3𝑥 2 − 15 = 0

Move the constant to right side:

3𝑥 2 = 15

Divide both sides by 3:

𝑥2 = 5

Take the square root of both sides:

𝑥 = ±√5

Hence, the equation has two solutions: 𝑥 = √5 and 𝑥 = −√5

Example 3.3: Solve the equation: 4𝑥 2 + 7 = 0

Move the constant to the right side:

4𝑥 2 = −7

The equation has no solution because 4𝑥 2 ≥ 0

3.3 Case 𝒄 = 𝟎

The equation then takes the following form: 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 = 0.

In this case, the equation always has two solutions, where one solution 𝑥 = 0.

Use factorisation to solve it, setting 𝑥 is a common factor.

Example 3.4: Solve the equation : 5𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 = 0

Factor:

𝑥 (5𝑥 − 8) = 0

Set each factor to zero and solve:

 8
𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 =
5

4. Solving quadratic equations by factorising

This method usually works only when all the solutions of the equation are integers or
rational numbers.

This approach is justified by:

“ If 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 0, then either 𝐴 or 𝐵 must also be zero. Naturally, we may extend to the

multifactor case: if 𝐴 × 𝐵 × 𝐶 × … × 𝑊 = 0, then either 𝐴 = 0 or 𝐵 = 0 or 𝐶 = 0 or…
𝑊 = 0 is required.”

There are two cases of factorising a quadratic.

4.1 The case 𝒂 = 𝟏

In this case, the equation takes the form: 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

We try to find two numbers, 𝑚 and 𝑛 such that: 𝑚 + 𝑛 = 𝑏 và 𝑚. 𝑛 = 𝑐.

Then the equation can be writen as : (𝑥 + 𝑚)(𝑥 + 𝑛) = 0

Example 4.1: Solve the equation: 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 = 0

We find two numbers 𝑚 and 𝑛 that satisfy the conditions: 𝑚 + 𝑛 = −1 và 𝑚. 𝑛 = −6

Usually, we should start from the product 𝑚. 𝑛 first. What two numbers 𝑚, 𝑛 whose
product 6? There are whole number pairs: (-1, 6); (6, -1); (2, -3); (-2, 3)… We choose
the pair (2, -3) because 𝑚 + 𝑛 = 2 + (−3) = −1

Knowing the values of 𝑚 and 𝑛, we rewrite the equation:

(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 0

Set each factor to zero and solve:

𝑥 + 2 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = −2
 𝑥−3=0⇒𝑥 =3

Then, the equation has two solutions: 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑥 = 3

4.2 Case 𝒂 ≠ 𝟏

In this case, the equation takes the following shape: 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

We try to find two numbers, 𝑚 and 𝑛 such that: 𝑚 + 𝑛 = 𝑏 and 𝑚. 𝑛 = 𝑎𝑐

After we know the values of 𝑚 and 𝑛, we rewrite the equation:

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 ⇒ 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑛𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

and combine the four terms into two pairs. We then find the common factor to factorize
the quadratic.

Example 4.2: Solve the equation 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 15 = 0

We look for two numbers, 𝑚 and 𝑛 such that: 𝑚 + 𝑛 = −7 and 𝑚. 𝑛 = (−15) × 2 =

−30.

Also start from product 𝑚. 𝑛. What are two numbers whose product is -30? Pretty
much! We have: (1, -30); (30, -1); (2, -15); (-2, 15); (3, -10); (-3, 10);… We choose (3,
-10) because their sum is -7.

Rewrite the equation:

2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 15 = 0 ⇒ 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10𝑥 − 15 = 0

Combine four terms into two pairs:

(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥) − (10𝑥 + 15) = 0

Factor:

𝑥 (2𝑥 + 3) − 5(2𝑥 + 3) = 0 ⇒ (2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 5) = 0

Set each factor to zero and solve:

 3
2𝑥 + 3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = −
2

𝑥−5=0⇒𝑥 =5

3
Hence, the equation has two solutions: 𝑥 = − and 𝑥 = 5
2

5. Solving quadratic equations using the quadratic formula

This is a general, universal method. It help us to solve a quadratic equation in all

situations: there are two solutions, there is one solution (repeated solution), there is no
solution, integer solutions, rational solutions, irrational solutions, etc.

Solution steps:

Step 1: Calculate the determinant Delta:

Δ = 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐

Step 2:

- If Δ < 0, the equation has no solution.

𝑏
- If Δ = 0, the equation has one solution (repeated solution): 𝑥1 = 𝑥2 = −
2𝑎

- If Δ > 0, the equaiton has two distinct solutions:

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 −𝑏 ± √Δ
𝑥1,2 = =
2𝑎 2𝑎

Example 5.1: Solve the equation 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 11 = 0

𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −7, 𝑐 = 11

Δ = (−7)2 − 4 × 1 × 11 = 49 − 44 = 5 > 0

The equation has two solutions:

 −(−7) + √5 7 + √5
𝑥1 = = = 4.618 (3 𝑑. 𝑝)
2×1 2

−(−7) − √5 7 − √5
𝑥2 = = = 2.381 (3 𝑑. 𝑝)
2×1 2

Example 5.2: Solve the equation 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 = 0

𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = −2, 𝑐 = −1

Δ = (−2)2 − 4 × 3 × (−1) = 4 + 12 = 16 > 0

The equation has two solutions:

−(−2) + √16 2 + 4
𝑥1 = = =1
2×3 6

−(−2) − √16 2 − 4 1
𝑥2 = = =−
2×3 6 3

Example 5.3: Solve the equation 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 = 0

𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = −4, 𝑐 = 5

Δ = (−4)2 − 4 × 2 × 5 = 16 − 40 = −24 < 0

Hence, the equation has no solutions.

Example 5.4: Solve the equation 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 0

𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −6, 𝑐 = 9

Δ = (−6)2 − 4 × 1 × 9 = 36 − 36 = 0

Thus, the equation has a repeated solution:

−(−6)
𝑥1 = 𝑥2 = =3
2

6. Solving the quadratic equations by completing the square

This is also a universal approach that enables us to solve a quadratic equation in all
situations (there are solutions, there are no solutions, etc.). However, compared to the
quadratic formula method, this approach is less popular. It is typically only employed in a
few unique situations, such as those we will see in the coming sections, or when the
examination specially requires us to use it.[1]

We can use the following formula to derive the complete square form:

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑚)2 + 𝑛

𝑏 𝑏2
with 𝑚 = và 𝑛 = 𝑐 −
2𝑎 4𝑎

Alternatively, re-writing the quadric step-by-step using formulas:

𝐴2 + 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵2 = (𝐴 + 𝐵)2

𝐴2 − 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵2 = (𝐴 − 𝐵)2

Once we have the complete square form, we may use logic to solve the equation.

Example 6.1: Solve the equation 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6 = 0

Using the formula (1.2):

4 42
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 4, 𝑐 = −6 ⇒ 𝑚 = = 2, 𝑛 = −6 − = −6 − 4 = −10
2 4×1

So, 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 2)2 − 10 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 2)2 = 10 ⇒ 𝑥1,2 = −2 ± √10

We transform as follows:

𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 2 + 2 × 2 × 𝑥 + 22 − 22 − 6 = (𝑥 + 2)2 − 10.

So, we can re-write the equation as:

_____________________________________

[1] In fact, the completing square method was discovered first, and it is this method that is used to prove
the quadratic formula.
 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 6 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 2)2 − 10 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 2)2 = 10 ⇒ 𝑥 + 2 = ±√10 ⇒ 𝑥
= −2 ± √10

Example 6.2: Solve the equation 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 17 = 0.

8 82
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 8 , 𝑐 = 17 ⇒ 𝑚 = = 4, 𝑛 = 17 − = 17 − 16 = 1
2 4

So , 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 17 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 4)2 + 1 = 0 (no solutions)

Alternatively, we can solve it by re-writing:

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 17 = 𝑥 2 + 2 × 4 × 𝑥 + 42 − 42 + 17 = (𝑥 + 4)2 + 1

So, the equation can be written as:

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 27 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 4)2 + 1 = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 4)2 = −1 (no solutions)

Example 6.3: Solve the equation 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 8 = 0

Using the formula (1.2):

1 1 12 1 65
𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = 1, 𝑐 = −8 ⇒ 𝑚 = = , 𝑛 = −8 − = −8 − = −
2×2 4 4×2 8 8

1 2 65 1 2 65 1 2 65
So, 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 8 = 0 ⇒ 2 (𝑥 + ) − = 0 ⇒ 2 (𝑥 + ) = ⇒ (𝑥 + ) = ⇒
4 8 4 8 4 16

1 65 1 √65 1 √65
𝑥 + = ±√ ⇒𝑥+ =± ⇒𝑥= − ± .
4 16 4 4 4 4

Hence, the equation has two solutions:

−1 + √65 −1 − √65
𝑥1 = , 𝑥2 =
4 4

Re-writing the quadratic:

 2
12 2
1 1 2 1 2
2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 8 = 2 (𝑥 + 𝑥 − 4) = 2 (𝑥 + 2 × × 𝑥 + ( ) − ( ) − 4)
2 4 4 4
1 2 1 1 2 1 64
= 2 ((𝑥 + ) − − 4) = 2 ((𝑥 + ) − − )
4 16 4 16 16
1 2 65 1 2 65
= 2 ((𝑥 + ) − ) = 2 (𝑥 + ) −
4 16 4 8

So, the equation can be written as:

2
1 2 65 1 2 65 1 65
2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 8 = 0 ⇒ 2 (𝑥 + ) − = 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + ) = ⇒ 𝑥 + = ±√
4 8 4 16 4 16

1 √65 1 √65
⇒𝑥+ =± ⇒𝑥= − ±
4 4 4 4

7. Solving the quadratic equations using a calculator

We can quickly solve a quadratic equation with a hand-held calculator. However, the
exam frequently calls for us to present our work step by step. So, you have to solve
quadratic equations in one of three ways: factorising, quadratic formula or completing the
square. After that, you can use a hand-held calculator to check your solutions.

To find solutions of a quadratic equation on the Casio fx-580VNX calculator, follow

these steps:
Step 1:

Step 2:

Press “9” button to choose EQN

mode. EQN mode is the mode for
solving equations.
Step 3:

Press the "2" button to specify that you

want to solve a polynomial equation.

Step 4:
 Press the “2” button to specify that you
want to solve a quadratic equation
(quadratic equation is a polynomial
equation has degree of 2).

Step 5:
 The screen displays the general form of a quadratic:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐. Declare the values of a, b, and c one at
a time by pressing the value of a followed by the "="
key, the value of b followed by the "=" key, and so on.

Step 6:

After declaring the values of 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐, you

press the “=” button. The screen displays the
value of the first solution. To see the second
solution, press the “=” button again.