Quadratic Equations

in One Unknown
1 Conte
nts
1.1 Real Number System
1.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factor Method
1.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Quadratic
Formula
1.4 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphical Method
1.5 The Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations
 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.1 Real Number System

A. Integers

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4,…usually used in counting are called natural

numbers. The natural numbers and their negatives, such as –1, –2, –3, –4,…
together with the number 0 are called integers.

B. Rational Numbers
p
Any number that can be expressed in the form q (where p and q are
integers and q ≠ 0) is called a rational number, for example,
2 5 11 1 21 3 0 −4 7
, − , − , 4 (= ) , 3 (= ) , 0 (= ), − 4 (= ) , 0 .7 ( = )
3 2 19 5 5 1 1 1 10
Content
n
Furthermore, any integer n can be written as , which is a fraction. So, all
integers are also rational numbers. 1

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.1 Real Number System

C. Characteristics of Rational Numbers in Decimals

A rational number that is not an integer can always be expressed as either a

terminating decimal or a recurring (repeating) decimal.

Rational numbers whose decimals Rational numbers whose

terminate decimals repeat
1 1
= 0.2 = 0.11111...(i.e., 0.1 )
5 9
1 5
= 0.25 = 0.83333...(i.e., 0.83 )
4 6
Content 3 1
= 0.375 = 0.142857142857...(i.e., 0.1 42857 )
8 7

Table 1.1

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.1 Real Number System

D. Irrational Numbers

Any number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers

is called an irrational number, for example, 2, − 3 and π.

E. Real Numbers

Real numbers are either rational numbers or irrational numbers.

The line is called a real number line and each point on the line
represents a real number.

Content Fig. 1.1

In Fig. 1.1, the rational number 1.41 and the irrational number 2 are
represente d by two different points on the real nubmer line.

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factor Method
A. Quadratic Equations

Consider the equation x 2 − 4 x + 3 = 0........................................(∗).

We call it a quadratic equation in one unknown because it is an

equation of the second degree and it contains one unknown x.

Now, if we put x = 1 into the equation (*), we have

L.H.S. = (1) 2 − 4(1) + 3 = 1 − 4 + 3 = 0 and R.H.S. = 0
Therefore x = 1 satisfies equation (*).

Similarly, putting x = 3 into the equation (*), we have

L.H.S. = (3) 2 − 4(3) + 3 = 9 − 12 + 3 = 0 and R.H.S. = 0
Content
Therefore x = 3 also satisfies equation (*).

Thus, 1 and 3 are called the roots of the equation (*).

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.2 Solving Quadratic Equations by Factor Method

B. Using the Factor Method to Solve a Quadratic Equation

If a quadratic equation can be factorized into a product of two linear factors,

then we can solve it by using the following fact:

For two real numbers u and v,

if uv = 0, then u = 0 or v = 0.

Example:

Solve x − 4 x + 3 = 0.
2

x2 − 4x + 3 = 0
Content x −1 = 0 or x − 3 = 0 < Apply the above fact,
x = 1 or 3

The above method of solving quadratic equations is called factor method.

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Quadratic Formula
A. Completing the Square

A quadratic expression is called a perfect square if it can be factorized

into a product of two identical linear factors.

The Method of Completing the Square

2
k 
By adding the term   to x 2 ± kx, we have the following two
2 
perfect squares.
2 2
k  k 2 2

x + kx +   =  x + 
2 k  k
or x − kx +   =  x − 
2

 2  2  2  2
Content

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Quadratic Formula

B. Using Quadratic Formula to Solve a Quadratic Equation

Quadratic Formula

The roots of the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0

(a ≠ 0), are given by
− b ± b 2 − 4ac
x= .
2a

Content

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.3 Solving Quadratic Equations by Quadratic Formula

Deriving the quadratic formula by completing the square

Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0.
b c  a≠0
x2 + x + = 0
a a
b c
x2 + x = −
a a
2 2
b  b  c  b   Completing the square for the
x + x+  = − + 
2

a  2a  a  2a  left - side expression.

2
 b  b 2 − 4ac
x+  =
 2a  4a 2
b ± b 2 − 4ac
Content x+ =
2a 2a
− b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.4 Solving Quadratic Equations by Graphical Method

Consider the graph of the function y = x 2 + 2 x − 2 :

In Fig. 1.2, the curve cuts the x-axis

at the points x = –2.7 and x = 0.7.
These are the values of x when y =
0, that is x2 + 2x – 2 = 0.

The roots of a quadratic equation

ax2 + bx + c = 0 (a ≠ 0) can be
obtained by finding the x-intercepts
of the graph of y = ax2 + bx + c. Fig. 1.2
Content

When there is no x-intercept, the quadratic equation has no real root.

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.5 The Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations

Consider a quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 ( a ≠ 0)............................(*)

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
In Section 1.3, we know that the roots of (*) are given by x = .
2a

Case 1: If ∆ > 0 (b 2 − 4ac > 0), then b 2 − 4ac is a positive real number.
So, the equation has two unequal real roots :
− b + b 2 − 4ac − b − b 2 − 4ac
and .
2a 2a

Content

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.5 The Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations

Consider a quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 ( a ≠ 0)............................(*)

− b ± b 2 − 4ac
In Section 1.3, we know that the roots of (*) are given by x = .
2a

Case 2 : If Δ = 0 (b 2 − 4ac = 0), then b 2 − 4ac is zero.

−b ± 0 b
So, the roots of the equation are , which can be simplified as − .
2a 2a
Hence the equation has one double real root.

Case 3 : If Δ < 0 (b 2 − 4ac < 0),

Content
then b 2 − 4ac is not a real number. So, the equation has no real roots.

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.5 The Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations

We can also use Δ = b 2 − 4ac to determine the number of x - intercepts of the

graph of y = ax 2 + bx + c.

Let y = ax 2 + bx + c (a ≠ 0) and ∆ = b 2 − 4ac.

Case 1: If Δ > 0, then the graph of y = ax 2 + bx + c cuts the x - axis at two distinct
points. (i.e., there are two x - intercepts.)

Example : Consider y = x 2 − 2 x − 3 as shown in Fig. 1.19(a).

Note that
∆ = (−2) 2 − 4(1)(−3)
= 16
>0
Content

Fig. 1.19(a)

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown
1.5 The Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations

Case 2 : If Δ = 0, then the graph of y = ax 2 + bx + c touches the

x - axis at one point only (i.e., there is only one
x - intercept).
Example : Consider y = x 2 + 4 x + 4 as shown in Fig. 1.19(b).
Note that
∆ = (4) 2 − 4(1)(4)
= 16 − 16 = 0 Fig. 1.19(b)

Case 3 : If Δ < 0, then the graph of y = ax 2 + bx + c does not cut

the x - axis(i.e., there are no x - intercepts).

Example : Consider y = x 2 + x + 2 as shown in Fig.1.19(c).

Content
Note that
∆ = (1) 2 − 4(1)(2)
= −7 < 0 Fig. 1.19(c)

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