UNIT VIII.

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

Overview

In this unit, we shall discuss the three methods of solving a quadratic equation and
solve equations of quadratic form.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the unit, I am able to:

1. find the roots of a quadratic equation using three methods;

2. solve equations involving radicals; and
3. solve equations that will lead to quadratic form.

Lesson Proper

Quadratic Equations in One Variable

An equation of the second degree in its variable or variables is called a quadratic equation.
An equation of the form or reducible to the form ax² + bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are constants and
a ≠ 0 is called a quadratic equation in the variable x. The zeros or values of x when y = 0 of the
function are the elements of the solution set of the quadratic equation which can be found by three
algebraic methods.

a. Solution by Factoring:
In solving quadratic equations by factoring, we are the fact that if the product of the two factors is
equal to zero, then either of the factors is equal to zero. Thus, the procedure of solving ax² + bx + c
= 0 by this method simply consists of factoring the left number of the equation and then setting each
factor to zero and after which we solve for x.

Example:
1.) Solve the equation 3𝑥² − 5𝑥 − 2 = 0

Solution:

3𝑥² − 5𝑥 − 2 = 0

(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) = 0

1
3𝑥 + 1 = 0 ; 𝑥 = − 3
 𝑥−2=0; 𝑥 =2

1
Solution Set (− 3 , 2)

2.) Solve the equation 𝑥² − 4 = 0

Solution:

𝑥2 − 4 = 0

(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2) = 0

𝑥+2=0 ; 𝑥 = −2

𝑥−2=0 ; 𝑥=2

Solution Set: (−2, 2)

3.) 3 Solve the equation 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2 = 0

Solution:

Find the 1st factor by synthetic division:

1 − 2 − 1 2 ∶ 1 ; (𝑥 − 1) is a factor
1 −1−2 ∶
1 −1 −2 0
The equation is reduced to 𝑥² − 𝑥 − 2 = 0 by factoring;

(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2) = 0

(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 0

Solution Set: (1, 2, −1)

b. Solution by Completing Square

The following steps are used in solving a quadratic equation by completing the square.

1.) Obtain an equivalent equation of the type 𝑎𝑥² + 𝑏𝑥 = −𝑐

1
2.) Multiply each member of the equation in step 1 by to obtain an equation in which the
𝑎
coefficient of 𝑥² is 1.

3.) Add the square of one – half the coefficient of 𝑥 to each member of the equation obtained
in step 2. This is “completing the square”.

4.) Express both members as square.

5.) Equate the square roots of the members of the equation in step 4, prefixing the
square root of the right member with plus and minus signs. This procedure yields two
linear equations.
6.) Solve the two linear equations obtained in step 5 for x.

Example:
1.) 𝑥² + 4𝑥 − 21 = 0

Solution:

𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 21 Step 1
Step 2 is omitted since the coefficient of x2 is 1.

𝑥² + 4𝑥 + (2)2 = 21 + (2)² Step 3

(𝑥 + 2)² = 25 Step 4

𝑥+2 = ±√25

𝑥+2 = ±5 Step 5

𝑥+2 =5 ; 𝑥=3 Step 6

𝑥+2 = −5 ; 𝑥 = −7
Solution Set: (3, 7)

2.)2𝑥² − 𝑥 − 6 = 0
 Solution:

2𝑥² − 𝑥 =6 Step 1

1
𝑥² − 2 𝑥 =3 Step 2

1 1 2 1 2
𝑥 2 − 2 𝑥 + (4) = 3 + (4) Step 3

1
(𝑥 − 4) ² = 49/16 Step 4

1
𝑥 − = ±√49/16 Step 5
4

𝑥 − 1/4 = ±7/4 Step 6

𝑥 − 1/4 = 7/4 ; 𝑥 = 2

𝑥 − 1/4 = −7/4 ; 𝑥 = −3/2

Solution Set: (2, −3/2)

3. Solution by Quadratic Formula:

The solution set of a quadratic equation can also be obtained by

substituting the numbers corresponding to the constants a, b and c in
a formula known as a quadratic formula.

The formula can be derived by completing the square.

Steps:

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

𝑎𝑥²1𝑏𝑥 = −𝑐 Adding – c to both members

𝑥² + 𝑏𝑥/𝑎 = −𝑐/𝑎 Dividing each member by a
𝑥² + 𝑏𝑥/𝑎 + (𝑏/2𝑎)² = −𝑐/𝑎 + (𝑏/2𝑎)² Adding 1/2(b/a) to each
member
𝑏 2 𝑏2−4𝑎𝑐
(𝑥 + 2𝑎) = 4𝑎²
Factoring Left Member

𝑏 𝑏²−4𝑎𝑐
(𝑥 + 2𝑎) = ±√ 2𝑎
Taking Square Roots

−𝑏±√𝑏²−4𝑎𝑐
𝑥= 2𝑎
Solving for x
Example:
1. Solve by Quadratic Formula.
2x2 -3x -9 = 0

Solution:

a = 2, b =-3 and c = -9

Substitute in the formula

−𝑏±√𝑏²−4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

−(−3) ± √(−3)² − 4(2) (−9)

𝑥=
2(2)
3 ± √9 + 72
𝑥=
4

3 ± √81
𝑥=
4

3±9
𝑥=
4
12
𝑥= 4
(by using the + sign)

X1 = 3

−6
𝑥= 4
(by using the - sign)

−3
x2 = 2

2. Solve by Quadratic Formula.

3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 12 = 0

Solution:

a = 3, b =-12 and c = 12

Substitute in the formula

−𝑏±√𝑏²−4𝑎𝑐
𝑥= 2𝑎

−(−12) ± √(−12)² − 4(3) (−12)

𝑥=
2(3)
12 ± √144 − 72
𝑥=
6

12 ± √0
𝑥=
6

12 ± 0
𝑥=
6

𝑥 = 2 (by using the + sign)

x1 = 2

𝑥 = 2 (by using the - sign)

x2 = 2