Lesson 3: Solving

Quadratic Equations
Drill:
Solve the following equations.
1) x+9=0
2) x – 32 = 17
3) x + 1.6 = 3.4
4) x – 4.5 = -8.9
5) x+3=8
The following methods may be used to solve quadratic
equations:
1. By extracting the square root
2. By factoring
3. By completing the squares
4. By using the quadratic formula.
Extracting the Square Root
 Consider the quadratic equation:
x2 = 16
x= or
x = 4 or x = -4
The Square Root Property
If x is an algebraic expression and a is a real number and a
≠ 0, then x2 = a has exactly two solution
If x2 = a,
then x = or x =
Or if x2 = a, then x =
 Example 1:
Find the solution for 5x2 – 125 = 0.

Solution:
5x2 – 125 = 0
5x2 = 125

x2 = 25

x=±5
 Example 2:
Find the solution to the quadratic equation x2 – 25 = 0.

Solution:
x2 – 25 = 0
x2 = 25

x=±5
 Example 3:
Solve 15r2 – 45 = 0.

Solution:
15r2 – 45 = 0
15r2 = 45

r2 = 3

r=±
 Example 4:
Solve the quadratic equation 3p2 – 32 = 16.

Solution:
3p2 – 32 = 16
3p2 = 16 + 32
3p2 = 48

p2 = 16
p=
p = ±4
 Example 5:
Solve (k – 1)2 = 9.

Solution:
(k – 1)2 = 9

k – 1 = ±3
k – 1 = 3 k – 1 = -3
k = 3 + 1 k = -3 + 1
k=4 k = -2
 Example 6:
Solve (r – 5)2 = 40.

Solution:
(r – 5)2 = 40

r–5= 4(10)

r–5=2 r – 5 = -2
r=5+2 r=5-2
or 5 ± 2
Example 7:
Solve for s in 5s2 + 20 = 0.

Solution:
5s2 + 20 = 0
5s2 = -20
s2 = -4
The square root property can only be applied when the
right side of the equation is a nonnegative real numbers.