Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Name: __________________________ Class: __________( )

Lesson Worksheet 3.1 (Lite)

(Refer to Book 4A P.3.3)

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factor Method

General Form of Quadratic Equations

An equation in unknown x written in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 is called a quadratic equation in the
general form, where a, b, c are real numbers with a  0.

Example 1 Level 0
Rewrite each of the following equations in the general form ax2 + bx + c = 0 (where a > 0).
Then write down the values of a, b and c.
(a) x2 – 4x = 8 (b) 5x2 = 6

Solution
(a) x2 – 4x = 8 (b) 5x2 = 6
1x2  4x  8 = 0 5x2 + 0x  6 = 0
x – 4x  8 = 0
2
5x  6 = 0
2
a b c a b c
a = 1, b = 4, c = ‒8 a = 5, b = 0, c = 6

Rewrite each of the following equations in the general form ax2 + bx + c = 0 (where a > 0).
Then write down the values of a, b and c.
Instant Drill 1.1 Instant Drill 1.2
(a) x2 – 7x = 2 (a) 2x2 = 6  3x
(b) 4x2 = 9 (b) 1  8x = 4x2

Solution Solution
2
(a) x – 7x = 2
_________________ = 0
a= ,b= ,c= 1

(b) 4x2 = 9

a= ,b= ,c= 1

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.1 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.2 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Roots of Quadratic Equations

If a certain value of x satisfies the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0,
then the value is called a root (or solution) of the quadratic equation.
Note: x is the unknown and a, b, c are real numbers with a  0.

Example 2 Level 0
Determine whether each of the following values of x is a root of the equation x2 – 4x + 3 = 0.
(a) x = 1 (b) x = 2 (c) x = 3

Solution
(a) Put x = 1 into the L.H.S. of the equation. (b) Put x = 2 into the L.H.S. of the equation.

L.H.S. = 12 – 4(1) + 3 L.H.S. = 22 – 4(2) + 3

=0 = 1

= R.H.S.  R.H.S.

∴ 1 is a root of the equation. ∴ 2 is not a root of the equation.

(c) Put x = 3 into the L.H.S. of the equation.

L.H.S. = 32 – 4(3) + 3

=0
A quadratic equation may
= R.H.S. have more than 1 root.

∴ 3 is a root of the equation.

Instant Drill 2.1 Instant Drill 2.2

Determine whether each of the following values Determine whether each of the following values
of x is a root of the equation x – 3x  4 = 0.
2
of x is a root of the equation 2x2 + x  1 = 0.
(a) x = 1 (a) x = 1
(b) x = 4 (b) x = 0.5

Solution Solution
(a) Put x = ____ into the L.H.S. of the equation.
L.H.S. = ( )2 – 3( )4
=

( = /  ) R.H.S.
∴ 1 ( is / is not ) a root of the equation.

(b) Put x = ____ into the L.H.S. of the equation.

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.3 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.4 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Factor Method
If a quadratic equation is written in the form (px + q)(rx + s) = 0, then
px + q = 0 or rx + s = 0.

Example 3 Level 1
(a) Solve x(x  3) = 0.
(b) Solve (x  1)(2x + 5) = 0.

Solution
(a) x(x  3) = 0
x = 0 or x  3 = 0
x=3

(b) (x  1)(2x + 5) = 0
x  1 = 0 or 2x + 5 = 0

x = 1 or x=

Instant Drill 3.1 Instant Drill 3.2

Solve x(x + 7) = 0. Solve (x + 3)(x  5) = 0.

Solution Solution

x(x + 7) = 0 (x + 3)(x  5) = 0

x=( ) or __________ = 0 __________ = 0 or __________ = 0

Instant Drill 3.3 Instant Drill 3.4

Solve x(2x + 1) = 0. Solve (x + 1)(3x + 4) = 0.

Solution Solution

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.5 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

 Exercise 3A (P.3.8) 1–6|

Example 4 Level 1
Solve x2 – 5x = 0.

Solution
x2 – 5x = 0
x(x – 5) = 0  Factorize x2 ‒ 5x by extracting the common factor x.
x=0 or x–5=0
x=5  0 and 5 are the roots of the equation x2 ‒ 5x = 0.

Instant Drill 4.1 Instant Drill 4.2

Solve x2 + 8x = 0. Solve x2 + 10x = 0.

Solution Solution

x2 + 8x = 0

x( )=0

x= or __________

Instant Drill 4.3 Instant Drill 4.4

Solve 2x2 + 6x = 0. Solve 4x2 ‒ 3x = 0.

Solution Solution
 The H.C.F. of 2x2
and 6x is _______.

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.6 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

2x2 + 6x = 0

( )( )=0

__________ or __________

 Exercise 3A (P.3.8) 7, 8|

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.7 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Example 5 Level 1
Solve x2 – 25 = 0.

Solution
x2  25 = 0
x2  52 = 0  Factorize x2 ‒ 25 using
(x + 5)(x  5) = 0 a2  b2 = (a + b)(a  b).

x+5=0 or x5=0
x = ‒5 or x=5

Instant Drill 5.1 Instant Drill 5.2

Solve x2  9 = 0. Solve x2  81= 0.

Solution Solution

x2  9 = 0

x2  (___)2 = 0

(x + ___)(x  ___) = 0

__________ or __________

Instant Drill 5.3 Instant Drill 5.4

Solve 16x2  1 = 0. Solve 9x2  4 = 0.

Solution Solution

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.8 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

 Exercise 3A (P.3.8) 9, 10|

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.9 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Example 6 Level 1
Solve the following equations.
(a) x2 + 3x + 2 = 0 (b) 2x2 + 5x – 3 = 0

Solution
Factorize x2 + 3x + 2:
x +1
x +2
+x +2x =
+3x

Factorize 2x2 + 5x – 3:
2x ‒1
x +3
‒x +6x = +5x

Instant Drill 6.1

Solve the following equations.
(a) x2 ‒ 6x + 5 = 0 (b) 3x2 ‒ 4x – 7 = 0

Solution
(a) x2 ‒ 6x + 5 = 0 x ( )
x ( )
(________)(________) = 0
( )x ( )x = ‒6x
__________ or __________

(b) 3x2 ‒ 4x – 7 = 0 3x ( )
x ( )
(________)(________) = 0
( )x ( )x = ‒4x

Instant Drill 6.2

Solve the following equations.
(a) x2 + 2x ‒ 8 = 0 (b) 2x2 ‒ 7x + 6 = 0

Solution

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.10 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

 Exercise 3A (P.3.8) 13‒17|

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.11 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Example 7 Level 1
Solve x2 + 14x + 49 = 0.

Solution
x2 + 14x + 49 = 0
x2 + 2(x)(7) + 72 = 0  Factorize x2 + 14x + 49 using
a2  2ab + b2 = (a  b)2.
(x + 7)2 = 0
x+7=0 or x + 7 = 0
x = –7 or x = –7
x = –7 (repeated)  When the two roots of an equation are equal,
we say that the two roots are ‘repeated’.

Instant Drill 7.1 Instant Drill 7.2

Solve x2 + 6x + 9 = 0. Solve x2 + 4x + 4 = 0.

Solution Solution

x2 + 6x + 9 = 0

x2 + 2(___)(___) + (___)2 = 0

____________ = 0

Instant Drill 7.3 Instant Drill 7.4

Solve x2 + 64 = 16x. Solve x2 = 10x ‒ 25.

Solution Solution

x2 + 64 = 16x
 Express the equation
_________________ = 0 in the general form
ax2 + bx + c = 0 first.

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.12 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

 Exercise 3A (P.3.8) 20‒22|

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.13 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.14 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

Calculator Tutor
When solving a quadratic equation, we can use a calculator to find the answers.

In Example 6(b) on P.6, for 2x2 + 5x ‒ 3 = 0, we have x = or x = ‒3.

By using calculator:
Step 1: Express the equation in general form.

2x2 + 5x ‒ 3 = 0
Step 2: Keying
a sequence:
b c  i.e. a = 2, b = 5 and c = ‒3
01
2 5 ‒3
(Display: 0.5)  1st root. Press to show the fraction form .

(Display: –3)  2nd root

In Example 7 on P.7, for x2 + 14x + 49 = 0, we have x = ‒7 (repeated).

By using calculator:
Step 1: Express the equation in general form.

Step 2: Keying sequence:

01
2
1x
1 + 14x14+ 49 = 049
a(Display:
b ‒7)c  1st root
i.e. a = 1, b = 14 and c = 49

(Display: –7)  The 2nd root is also ‒7. That means ‒7 is a repeated root.

Solve the following equations with a calculator and complete the table below.
(The first one has been done for you as an example.)
Quadratic
a b c Roots
Equation
x2 ‒ 2x ‒ 15 = 0 1 ‒2 ‒15 5, ‒3

2x 2 ‒ 11x + 12 = 0

2x2 + 10x = 0

4x2 ‒ 25 = 0

x2 ‒ 14x = ‒49

 b or c can be 0.

 Express the equation

in general form first.

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.15 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)
 Senior Secondary Oxford Mathematics for the New Century 4A 3 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown

 Challenging Question 

Exam-type
Solve the equation (y – 1)(y + 2) = 3(y + 2).  We may use letters other than x as the unknown.

Solution
Note:
Do not cancel y + 2 on both sides of the equation.
(y – 1)(y + 2) = 3(y + 2)

© Oxford University Press 2023 P.16 4A03 Lesson Worksheets 3.1 (Lite)