SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

A 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:

 factoring,
 using the quadratic formula,
 and completing the square.

FACTORING

To solve a quadratic equation by factoring,

1. Put all terms on one side of the equal sign, leaving zero on the other side.
2. Factor.
3. Set each factor equal to zero.
4. Solve each of these equations.
5. Check by inserting your answer in the original equation.

Example 1

Solve 𝑥 2 – 6 𝑥 = 16.

Following the steps, 𝑥 2 – 6 𝑥 = 16 becomes x 2 – 6 x – 16 = 0

Factor.

( 𝑥 – 8)( 𝑥 + 2) = 0

(𝑥 − 8) = 0 𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 + 2) = 0

Setting each factor to zero, 𝑥 = 8 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = −2

82 − 6 × 8 = 16 (−2)2 − 6 × (−2) = 16

64 − 48 = 16 4 + 12 = 16

16 = 16 16 = 16

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Then to check,

Both values, 8 and –2, are solutions to the original equation.

EXAMPLE 2

Solve 𝑦 2 = – 6 𝑦 – 5.

Setting all terms equal to zero,

𝑦2 + 6 𝑦 + 5 = 0

Factor.

( 𝑦 + 5)( 𝑦 + 1) = 0

Setting each factor to 0

𝑦+5=0 𝑦+1=0

𝑦 = −5 𝑦 = −1

To check, 𝑦 2 = – 6 𝑦 – 5

(−5)2 = −6(−5) − 5 (−1)2 = −6(−1) − 5

25 = 30 − 5 1= 6−5

25 = 25 1=1

A QUADRATIC WITH A TERM MISSING IS CALLED AN INCOMPLETE

QUADRATIC (AS LONG AS THE AX 2 TERM ISN'T MISSING).

EXAMPLE 3

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Solve 𝑥 – 16 = 0.

Factor

(𝒙 + 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟒) = 𝟎

𝑥+4 =0 𝑥+4 =0

𝑥 = −4 𝑥 = −4

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 2
To check, 𝑥 – 16 = 0

(−4)2 − 16 = 0 (4)2 − 16 = 0

16 − 16 = 0 16 − 16 = 0

0=0 0=0

EXAMPLE 4

2
Solve 𝑥 + 6𝑥 = 0

Factor.

𝑥=0 or 𝑥+6=0

𝑥=0 𝑥 = −6
2
To check, 𝑥 + 6𝑥 = 0

(0)2 + 6(0) = 0 or (−6)2 + 6(−6) = 0

0+0=0 36 + (−36) = 0

0=0 0=0

EXAMPLE 5

Solve 2 𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 – 1 = 𝑥 2 + 6 𝑥 – 5.

First, simplify by putting all terms on one side and combining like terms.

2 𝑥2 + 2 𝑥 – 1 − 𝑥2 − 6 𝑥 + 5 = 0

𝑥2 − 4 𝑥 + 4 = 0

Now, factor

(𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟐) = 𝟎

𝒙−𝟐 =𝟎

𝒙=𝟐
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To check, 2 𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 – 1 = 𝑥 2 + 6 𝑥 – 5.

2( 2)2 + 2(2) − 1 = (2)2 + 6(2) − 5

8 + 4 − 1 = 4 + 12 − 5

11 = 11

THE QUADRATIC FORMULA

Many 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 (a.k.a., “the constant”).
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 𝒃𝟐 – 𝟒 𝒂𝒄.

A quadratic equation with real numbers as coefficients can have the following:

Two different real roots if the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 – 𝟒 𝒂𝒄 is a positive number.

One real root if the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 – 𝟒 𝒂𝒄 is equal to 0.

No real root if the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 – 𝟒 𝒂𝒄 is a negative number.

EXAMPLE 6
Solve for x:
𝒙𝟐 – 𝟓 𝒙 = – 𝟔.
Setting all terms equal to 0,
𝒙𝟐– 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟔 = 𝟎
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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.

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

−(−5) ± √(−5)2 − 4(1)(6)

𝑥=
2(1)

5 ± √25 − 24
𝑥=
2 (1)
5 ± √1 5 ± 1
𝑥= =
2 (1) 2
6 5−1 4
∴𝑥= = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = = =2
2 2 2
∴ 𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2

Because the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 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 7
Solve for y: 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.

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 −𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑦=
2𝑎

−(2) ± √(2)2 − 4(1)(−2)

𝑦=
2(1)

−2 ± √4 + 8
𝑦=
2
−2 ± √12
𝑦=
2
−2 + √4 ∙ 3 −2 + 2√3
∴𝑦= = = −1 + √3
2 2
or
−2 − √4 ∙ 3 −2 − 2√3
∴𝑦= = = −1 − √3
2 2

∴ 𝑦 = −1 + √3 or 𝑦 = −1 − √3
Note that the two roots are irrational.

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EXAMPLE 8
Solve for x:
𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 + 1 = 0.
Substituting in the quadratic formula,

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

−(2) ± √22 − 4(1)(1)

𝑥=
2(1)

−2 ± √4 − 4
𝑥=
2
−2 ± √0 −2
𝑥= = = −1
2 2
∴ 𝑥 = −1

Since the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 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.
EXAMPLE 9
Solve for x:
𝑥( 𝑥 + 2) + 2 = 0,
Write the equation: 𝑥 2 + 2 𝑥 + 2 = 0.
Substituting in the quadratic formula,

−𝑏 ± √𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

−(2) ± √22 − 4(1)(2)

𝑥=
2(1)

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 −2 ± √4 − 8
𝑥=
2
−2 ± √−4
𝑥=
2
−2 + √−4 √−4 −2 − √−4 √−4
∴𝑥= = −1 + 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = = −1 −
2 2 2 2
Since the discriminant 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟒𝒂𝒄 is negative, this equation has no solution in the real number
system.
But if you were to express the solution using imaginary numbers, the solutions would be:

−2 + √−4 √4(−1) 2√−1

𝑥= = −1 + = −1 + = −1 + 1 ∙ 𝑖 = −1 + 𝑖
2 2 2

−2 − √−4 √4(−1) 2√−1

𝑥= = −1 − = −1 − = −1 − 1 ∙ 𝑖 = −1 − 𝑖
2 2 2

COMPLETING THE SQUARE

A THIRD METHOD of solving quadratic equations that works with both real and imaginary roots
is called COMPLETING THE SQUARE.
2
Put the equation into the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 = – 𝑐.
𝟏
 Make sure that a = 1 (if a ≠ 1, multiply through the equation by before proceeding).
𝒂

𝒃 𝟐
 Using the value of b from this new equation, add ( ) to both sides of the equation
𝟐
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.

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EXAMPLE 10
Solve for x: 𝑥 2 – 6 𝑥 + 5 = 0.
Arrange in the form of:
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 = – 𝑐.
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 = – 5

−𝟔 𝟐 𝟑𝟔
Because a = 1, add ( ) = = 𝟗, to both sides to complete the square.
𝟐 𝟒
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = – 5 + 9
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 4
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = – 5 + 9
(𝑥 − 3) 2 = 4
Take the square root of both sides.

√(𝑥 − 3) 2 = √4

𝑥 – 3 = ±2
Solve.
𝑥 – 3 = ±2
𝑥– 3 = 2 ∴ 𝑥 =2+3 =5 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 − 3 = −2 ∴ 𝑥 = −2 + 3 = 1
𝑥 = 5 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 1

EXAMPLE 11
Solve for 𝑦: 𝑦 2 + 2 𝑦 – 4 = 0.
Arrange in the form of
𝑎𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑦 = – 𝑐.
𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 = 4

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 𝟐 𝟐
Because a = 1, add ( ) = 𝟏, to both sides to complete the square.
𝟐
𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 + 1 = 4 + 1
𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 + 1 = 5
(𝑦 + 1) 2
=5
Take the square root of both sides.

𝑦 + 1 = ±√5

Solve.

𝑦 + 1 = ±√5
∴ 𝑦 + 1 = √5 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 + 1 = −√5
∴ 𝑦 = −1 + √5 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = −1 − √5
EXAMPLE 12
Solve for x: 2 𝑥 2 + 3 𝑥 + 2 = 0.
Arrange in the form of

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 = – 𝑐.
2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 = – 2
1
Because a ≠ 1, multiply through the equation by .
2
3 2
𝑥2+ 𝑥 =–
2 2
3
𝑥2+ 𝑥 =– 1
2

1 3 2 9
Add ( × ) = to both sides.
2 2 16

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 3 9 9
𝑥2+ 𝑥+ =– 1+
2 16 16
3 9 16 9
𝑥2+ 𝑥+ =– +
2 16 16 16
3 9 7
𝑥2+ 𝑥+ =–
2 16 16
3 2 7
(𝑥 + ) = −
4 16

Take the square root of both sides.

3 −7
𝑥+ = ±√
4 16

3 √−7
𝑥+ =±
4 4
3 √−7
𝑥=− ±
4 4
There is no solution in the real number system.

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