Chapter 6

Section 5

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

6.5
6.5 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

1
Solve quadratic equations by factoring.
2
Solve other equations by factoring.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring.
A quadratic equation is an equation that can be written
in the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0,
where a, b, and c are real numbers, with a ≠ 0.

The form ax2 + bx + c = 0 is the standard form of a

quadratic equation. For example,
x 2  5 x  6  0, 2 x 2  5 x  3, and x2  4
are all quadratic equations, but only x2 + 5x +6 = 0 is in
standard form.
Until now, we have factored expressions, including many
quadratic expressions. In this section we see how we can use
factored quadratic expressions to solve quadratic equations.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 3
Objective 1

Solve quadratic equations by

factoring.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 4
Solve quadratic equations by factoring.

We use the zero-factor property to solve a

quadratic equation by factoring.
If a and b are real numbers and if ab = 0,
then a = 0 or b = 0.
That is, if the product of two numbers is 0, then at
least one of the numbers must be 0. One number must,
but both may be 0.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 5
 EXAMPLE 1 Using the Zero-Factor Property

Solve. Solution:
 2 x  3  5 x  7   0 2 x  3  0or 5x  7  0
2 x  3  3  0  3 5x  7  7  0  7
2 x 3 5 x 7
 
2 2 5 5
 3 7 3 7
 ,   x x
 2 5 2 5
x  2x  4  0 x  0or 2x  4  0
2x  4  4  0  4
2 x 4

 0, 2 2 2
x  2
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 6
 EXAMPLE 2 Solving Quadratic Equations

Solve. Solution:
x2  2x  8 x40 or x20
x2  2 x  8  8  8 x44  04 x22  02
x2  2x  8  0 x  4 x2
 x  4  x  2  0  4, 2
x 2  x  30 x  6  0 or x5 0
x 2   x  30   x  30   x  30  x  6  6  0  6 x 55  05
x 2  x  30  0 x6 x  5
 x  6   x  5  0
 5, 6
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 7
Solve quadratic equations by factoring. (cont’d)

In summary, follow these steps to solve quadratic equations by

factoring.

Step 1: Write the equation in standard form— that is, with

all terms on one side of the equals sign in descending
power of the variable and 0 on the other side.
Step 2: Factor completely.
Step 3: Use the zero-factor property to set each factor with
variable equal to 0, and solve the resulting equations.
Step 4: Check each solution in the original equation.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 8
 Solving a Quadratic Equation
EXAMPLE 3 with a Common Factor

Solve 3m2 − 9m = 30. m2  0

Solution: m22  02
3m 2  9m  30  30  30 m  2
3m  9m  30  0
2
m5  0
3  m  3m  10   0
2

m55  05
3  m  2   m  5  0
m5
 2,5
A common error is to include the common factor 3 as a solution.
Only factors containing variables lead to solutions.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 9
 EXAMPLE 4 Solving Quadratic Equations

Solve.
49 x 2  9  0 7 x  3  3  0  3 7x  3  3  0  3
Solution: 7x 3 7 x 3
 
 7 x  3  7 x  3  0 7 7 7 7
3 3
x x
 3 3 7 7
 , 
 7 7

x 2  3x x0 x 33  03

x 2  3x  3x  3x x3
x  x  3  0  0,3

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 10
 Solving Quadratic Equations
EXAMPLE 4 (cont’d)

Solve. x20
x22  02
x  4x  7  2 x  2
Solution:
4x  7x  2  2  2
2

4x  7x  2  0
2 4x 1  0
4x 11  0 1
 x  2   4 x  1  0 4x 1

4 4
 1 1
2,  x
 4 4
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 11
Objective 2

Solve other equations by factoring.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 12
 Solving Equations with More
EXAMPLE 5 than Two Variable Factors

Solve. 2 x3  50 x  0
Solution: 2 x x  25  0
2
 
2 x  x  5  x  5  0

2x  0 x 55  05 x55  05

2x 0 x  5 x5

2 2
x0
 0, 5,5
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 13
 Solving Equations with More
EXAMPLE 5 than Two Variable Factors
(cont’d)

Solve.  2 x  1   7 x  15  0
2 x 2

Solution:  2 x  1  2 x  3  x  5   0
2x 1 1  0 1 2x  3  3  0  3 x 55  05
2 x 1 2x 3
  x  5
2 2 2 2
1 3
x x
2 2
 1 3
5,  , 
 2 2
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 Solving an Equation Requiring
EXAMPLE 6 Multiplication before Factoring

Solve.
 x  1  2 x  1   x  1
2

Solution: 2 x 2  3x  1  x 2  2 x  1
2 x  3x  1   x  2 x  1  x  2 x  1   x  2 x  1
2 2 2 2

x  5x  0
2

x  x  5  0

x0 x 55  05

x5  0,5
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 6.5 - 15