QUADRATIC

EQUATIONS
A quadratic equation is an equation containing the
second power of an unknown but no higher power.  

The equation x2 + 5x+6 = 0
is a quadratic equation.  A quadratic equation has two
roots, both of which satisfy the equation.   

The two roots of the quadratic equation 

x2 + 5x+6 = 0 are x = 2 and x = 3.   
Substituting either of these values for x in
the equation makes it true.
The general form of a quadratic equation is the following:
• The a represents the numerical coefficient of x2 , b represents
the numerical coefficient of x, and c represents the constant
numerical term.  
• One or both of the last two numerical coefficients maybe  zero.
  The  numerical  coefficient  a  cannot  be  zero.  
•  If  b=0,  then  the  quadratic  equation  is termed a
"pure" quadratic equation.
•  If the equation contains both an x and  x2  term, then it is a
complete  quadratic  equation.   
Some examples of
quadratic equations
include:

3x2 + 9x - 2 = 0 6x2 + 11x = 7 4x2 = 13

•The name quadratic
comes from "quad"
meaning square,
because the variable
is squared (in other
words x ).
2
METHODS USED TO SOLVE QUADRATIC
EQUATIONS
• GRAPHING
• FACTORING
• SQUARE ROOT PROPERTY
• COMPLETING THE SQUARE
• QUADRATIC FORMULA
GRAPHING
•Graphing to solve quadratic equations does not always
produce an accurate result.

•If the solutions to the quadratic equation are irrational or

complex, there is no way to tell what the exact solutions
are by looking at a graph.

•Graphing is very useful when solving contextual problems

involving quadratic equations.
GRAPHING (EXAMPLE 1)

2
y = x – 4x – 5

Solutions are
-1 and 5
The green parabola has 2 x-intercepts. Its corresponding
quadratic equation has 2 distinct solutions (x=1 and x=4). This
happens when the discrimant Δ>0

The yellow parabola has one x-intercept. Its corresponding

quadratic equation has 1 solution (x=-3). Δ = 0

The purple parabola has no x-intercepts. Its corresponding

quadratic equation has no solutions. Δ < 0
FACTORING
•Factoring is typically one of the easiest and quickest ways
to solve quadratic equations;

•however,

•not all quadratic polynomials can be factored.

•This means that factoring will not work to solve many

quadratic equations.
FACTORING (EXAMPLES)
•Example 1 Example 2
•x2 – 2x – 24 = 0 2
x – 8x + 11 = 0
•(x + 4)(x – 6) = 0 2
x – 8x + 11 is prime;
therefore, another
•x + 4 = 0 x–6=0
method must be
used to solve this
• x = –4 x=6 equation.
SQUARE ROOT PROPERTY
•This method is also relatively quick and easy;

•however,

•it only works for equations in which the quadratic

polynomial is written in the following form.

• x2 = n or (x + c)2 = n
SQUARE ROOT PROPERTY (EXAMPLES)
•Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

2
• x = 49
2
(x + 3) = 25
2 x – 5x + 11 = 0

x2  49 ( x  3)2  25 This equation is

• not written in the
correct form to
• x=±7 x+3=±5 use this method.

• x+3=5 x + 3 = –5

• x=2 x = –8
COMPLETING THE SQUARE
•This method will work to solve ALL quadratic equations;

•however,

•it is “messy” to solve quadratic equations by completing

the square if a ≠ 1 and/or b is an odd number.

•Completing the square is a great choice for solving

quadratic equations if a = 1 and b is an even number.
COMPLETING THE SQUARE
(EXAMPLES
Example 2
•Example 1
a ≠ 1, b is not even
•a = 1, b is even
3x2 – 5x + 2 = 0
x 51
x2  5 x  2  0 6 6
•x2 – 6x + 13 = 0 3 3 OR

x2  5 x  25   2  25 x 51
•x2 – 6x + 9 = –13 + 9 3 36 3 36 6 6
• (x – 3)2 = –4 
5
x 

2
1
 6  36 x = 1 OR x = ⅔
• x – 3 = ± 2i 

x5 1
6 6
• x = 3 ± 2i
QUADRATIC FORMULA
•This method will work to solve ALL quadratic equations;

•however,

•for many equations it takes longer than some of the methods

discussed earlier.

•The quadratic formula is a good choice if the quadratic

polynomial cannot be factored, the equation cannot be written
as (x+c)2 = n, or a is not 1 and/or b is an odd number.
The solution(s) to a quadratic equation can always be calculated
using the Quadratic Formula:
QUADRATIC FORMULA (EXAMPLE)
8  (8) 2  4(1)(17)
•x2 – 8x – 17 = 0 x
2(1)

8  64  68
x
•a = 1 2

•b = –8 x
8  132
2
•c = –17
8  2 33
x
2

4  33
Solving Systems of
Linear Equations
SOLVING SYSTEMS
OF LINEAR
EQUATIONS IN TWO
VARIABLES:
WHEN YOU HAVE TWO EQUATIONS, EACH WITH X AND
Y, AND YOU FIGURE OUT
ONE VALUE FOR X AND ONE VALUE FOR Y
THAT WILL MAKE BOTH EQUATIONS TRUE.
Three methods of solving systems:

•Graphing Method

•Substitution Method

•Elimination Method
Graphing Method
Solve each equation for y, then
graph each equation on a
rectangular coordinate plane, then
observe where the two lines
intersect. The coordinates of the
intersection point are the solutions of
the system.
Benefit: very easy to do
Drawback : requires graph paper
might be imprecise
Example:
Solve by graphing :
2x + 3y = 7
- x + 2y = 14

(Go to Sketchpad sketch)

In both of the next two methods, the
Substitution Method and the Elimination
Method, the process will involve the sub-
goal of “getting rid of” one of the two
variables, in order to form an equivalent
equation in ONE variable (remember, it is
easy to solve a linear equation in one
variable!). After you solve for the one
variable, you then plug the solution back
into either of the original equations, and
solve for the other variable.
Substitution Method
In one of the equations, solve for one of
the variables, either
“ y = some expression with x” or
“ x = some expression with y”.
Then, substitute that new expression into
the other equation, thereby getting rid of
one of the variables. Then, simply solve
the linear equation for the remaining
variable.
Example: Solve by substitution :
2x + 3y = 7 and – x + 2y = 14
Elimination Method
Multiply both sides of one (or both)
equation(s) by the same number(s) in order
to get the coefficients of one of the
variables in each equation to be
OPPOSITES (like 12y and -12y). Then, add
the two equations to form a new
equivalent expression in ONE variable,
since the other variable has been
“eliminated”. Now, solve the linear
equation for the remaining variable.
Example: Solve by elimination :
2x + 3y = 7 and – x + 2y = 14
When does each method work best?
Graphing Method
• good if you have graph paper AND if your
solution does not have to be precise
Substitution Method
• good if one of the variables has a coefficient of
(invisible) 1, like 6x + y = 15
Elimination Method
• good if the coefficients of one of the variables
divides evenly into the same variable’s
coefficient in the other equation, like 3x + 5y =
9, and -2x + 10y = -8
SOLVING THREE EQUATIONS
WITH THREE UNKNOWNS
1.)

2.)
WORD PROBLEMS
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