Solving Quadratic Equations Using the

Quadratic Formula

Objective:
1. Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula.
 Solve: ax 2  bx  c  0 Coefficient of squared term is NOT 1.

2b c
x  x 0
a a
2
2 b b b2 c b 2
4ac
x  x 2
   
a 4a 4a 2 a 4a 2 4a 2
1 b b
  
2  a  2a ½ squared
b 2 b 2  4ac b b 2  4ac
x    x   
2a 4a 2 2a 2a
2 2
 b  b  4ac
x     b b 2  4ac
 2a  4a 2 x 
2a
b b 2  4ac
x   Quadratic Formula
2a 2a
Quadratic Formula
To solve ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a 0, use
b  b 2  4ac
x
2a
Solve: 2x 2  7 x  3

2x 2  7 x  3  0
7  25
x
a = 2 , b = –7 , c = 3 4
75
x
b  b 2  4ac 4
x
2a 75
75 x
x
4 4
  7    7   4  2   3
2

x 1
x3 x
2  2 2
1 
7  49  24  ,3 
x 2 
4 2 real rational solutions
Solve: x2  2x  5  6

x 2  2 x  11  0
a = 1, b = –2, c = –11.
2
1
  2    2   4  1  11
2
24 3
x x
2  1 21
2 4 3
x 
2  4  44 2 2
x
2 x  1 2 3

16 ∙3
2  48
x
2
1 2 3, 1  2 3 

2 real irrational solutions

 Solve: x 2  5  4x

x 2  4x  5  0
a = 1, b = -4, c = 5

   4    4 2  4 1 5 
x 
2 1

4 4
x 
2
2 1

x 
4  2i  2  i, 2i 
21

2 non-real complex solutions

x  2i
 Solve using the quadratic formula.
3x 2  8 x  2  0

8  2 10
a)
6

b) 8  10
3

c) 4  10
3
d) 2 22
3

11.2 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 11- 7

 Solve using the quadratic formula.
3x 2  8 x  2  0

8  2 10
a)
6

b) 8  10
3

c) 4  10
3
d) 2 22
3

11.2 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 11- 8

 Methods for Solving Quadratic Equations
Method When the Method is Beneficial

1. Factoring Use when the quadratic equation

can be easily factored.

2. Square root principle Use when the quadratic equation

can be easily written in the form
ax 2  c, or (ax  b)2  c.
No middle term.
3. Completing the square Rarely the best method, but
important for other topics.

4. Quadratic formula Use when factoring is not easy, or

possible.