Solving Quadratic EquationsA quadratic equation is an equation that could be written as
ax
2 + bx + c = 0
when a 0.
There are three basic methods for solving quadratic equations:
I. Factoring
II. Using the quadratic formula, and
III. Completing the square.
Factoring⇒ To solve a quadratic equation by factoring, Put all terms on one side of the equal sign, leaving zero on the other side.
⇒ Factor.
⇒ Set each factor equal to zero.
⇒ Solve each of these equations.
⇒ Check by inserting your answer in the original equation
Example 1Solve x
2 – 6 x = 16.
Following the steps,
x
2 – 6x = 16 becomes x
2 – 6 x – 16 = 0
Factor of 16 = -8 and +2 Ie (8 x 2).
( x – 8 )( x + 2) = 0
Then Check >>>
The quadratic formulaMany quadratic equations cannot be solved by factoring. This is generally true when the roots, or answers, are not rational numbers. A second method of solving quadratic equations involves the use of the following formula:
a, b, and c are taken from the quadratic equation written in its general form of
ax
2 + bx + c = 0
where a is the numeral that goes in front of x
2, b is the numeral that goes in front of x, and c is the numeral with no variable next to it.
When using the quadratic formula, you should be aware of three possibilities.
These three possibilities are distinguished by a part of the formula called the discriminant. The discriminant is the value under the radical sign, b
2 – 4 ac. A quadratic equation with real numbers as coefficients can have the following:
⇒ Two different real roots if the discriminant b
2 – 4 ac is a positive number.
⇒ One real root if the discriminant b
2 – 4 ac is equal to 0.
⇒ No real root if the discriminant b
2 – 4 ac is a negative number.
Example 2Solve for x: x
2 – 5x = –6.
Setting all terms equal to 0,
x
2 – 5x + 6 = 0
Then substitute 1 (which is understood to be in front of the x
2), –5, and 6 for a, b, and c, respectively, in the quadratic formula and simplify.
Because the discriminant b
2 – 4 ac is positive, you get two different real roots.
Example produces rational roots. In Example , the quadratic formula is used to solve an equation whose roots are not rational.
Example 3Solve for y,when y
2 = –2y + 2.
Setting all terms equal to 0,
y
2 + 2y – 2 = 0
Then substitute 1, 2, and –2 for a, b, and c, respectively, in the quadratic formula and simplify.
Note that the two roots are irrational.
Example 4Solve for x: x
2 + 2x + 1 = 0.
Substituting in the quadratic formula,
Since the discriminant b
2 – 4 ac is 0, the equation has one root.
The quadratic formula can also be used to solve quadratic equations whose roots are imaginary numbers, that is, they have no solution in the real number system.
Completing the squareA third method of solving quadratic equations that works with both real and imaginary roots is called completing the square.
Put the equation into the form ax
2 + bx = – c.
Make sure that a = 1 (if a ≠ 1, multiply through the equation by equation
before proceeding).
Using the value of b from this new equation, add
equation to both sides of the equation to form a perfect square on the left side of the equation.
Find the square root of both sides of the equation.
Solve the resulting equation.
Example 5Solve for x: x
2 – 6x + 5 = 0.
Arrange in the form of
Because a = 1, add
equation, or 9, to both sides to complete the square.
Take the square root of both sides.
x – 3 = ±2
Solve.
Example 6Solve for y: y
2 + 2y – 4 = 0.
Arrange in the form of
Because a = 1, add equation
, or 1, to both sides to complete the square.
Take the square root of both sides.
Solve.
Example 7Solve for x: 2x
2 + 3x + 2 = 0.
Arrange in the form of
Because a ≠ 1, multiply through the equation by
Take the square root of both sides.
There is no solution in the real number system. It may interest you to know that the completing the square process for solving quadratic equations was used on the equation ax
2 + bx + c = 0 to derive the quadratic formula.