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Secondary 3 · Mathematics
Linear and quadratic equations · Equations

Quadratic equations

Before you start, make sure you know: Linear equations (Secondary Year 2 (first cycle))
Before you start, make sure you know: Operations with integers (Secondary Year 2 (first cycle))

At a high school, they are going to tile a square classroom with an area of $144\text{ m}^2$. How long is each side? You are looking for a number $x$ such that $x^2 = 144$. This is a second-degree equation, because the unknown is squared. It can have two solutions, just one, or none, and there are several methods to solve it.

General form

A solution (or root) is a value of $x$ that makes the equality true. To check it, substitute. For example, $x = 2$ in $x^2 - 5x + 6$ gives $4 - 10 + 6 = 0$ ✓.

Graphically, $y = ax^2 + bx + c$ is a parabola. The solutions are the zeros of the function: the points where it crosses the $x$-axis. Change $a$, $b$, and $c$ and see how many crossings there are:

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For each of the following quadratic equations, identify the coefficients $a$, $b$ and $c$ and state whether it is a complete or incomplete equation: a)…

For each of the following quadratic equations, identify the coefficients $a$, $b$ and $c$ and state whether it is a complete or incomplete equation:

  1. a) $x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0$
  2. b) $2x^2 - 32 = 0$
  3. c) $x^2 + 8x = 0$
  4. d) $3 - x^2 + 2x = 0$
Solve
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Check, without solving the equation, whether the proposed values of $x$ are solutions to the equation $x^2 - 4x + 3 = 0$: a) $x = 1$ b) $x = 0$ c) $x = 3$ d) $x = -1$

Check, without solving the equation, whether the proposed values of $x$ are solutions to the equation $x^2 - 4x + 3 = 0$:

  1. a) $x = 1$
  2. b) $x = 0$
  3. c) $x = 3$
  4. d) $x = -1$
Solve

Incomplete equations

They are solved without the formula, and faster.

Solving an equation with no constant term: it is factored and the product equal to zero splits into two branches, x equals zero and x plus three equals zero. x · (x + 3) = 0 x = 0 x + 3 = 0 → x = −3 If A · B = 0, then A = 0 or B = 0.
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Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations of the type $ax^2 + c = 0$. Remember that if the square root does not yield a real number, you must state so: a)…

Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations of the type $ax^2 + c = 0$. Remember that if the square root does not yield a real number, you must state so:

  1. a) $x^2 - 25 = 0$
  2. b) $3x^2 - 12 = 0$
  3. c) $x^2 + 16 = 0$
  4. d) $2x^2 = 50$
Solve
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Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations of the type $ax^2 + bx = 0$ by taking out a common factor: a) $x^2 - 7x = 0$ b) $2x^2 + 10x = 0$ c) $3x^2 = 6x$ d)…

Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations of the type $ax^2 + bx = 0$ by taking out a common factor:

  1. a) $x^2 - 7x = 0$
  2. b) $2x^2 + 10x = 0$
  3. c) $3x^2 = 6x$
  4. d) $x^2 + x = 0$
Solve
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Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations using the fastest method (taking out the common factor or rearranging directly for the square root): a)…

Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations using the fastest method (taking out the common factor or rearranging directly for the square root):

  1. a) $4x^2 - 100 = 0$
  2. b) $3x^2 + 15x = 0$
  3. c) $\frac{x^2}{2} - 8 = 0$
  4. d) $5x^2 = 2x$
Solve

With this you can now solve the case of the square classroom: $x^2 = 144$.

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The area of the square base of a video game storage box is $144\text{ cm}^2$. Calculate the length of the side of the base by setting up a quadratic equation.

The area of the square base of a video game storage box is $144\text{ cm}^2$. Calculate the length of the side of the base by setting up a quadratic equation.

x x Area 144 cm²
Solve

The quadratic formula

For any equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ (complete or not):

$$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$$

The $\pm$ gives two solutions: one by adding the root and one by subtracting it.

Quadratic formula with colors highlighting minus b, plus or minus the square root of the discriminant, and two a in the denominator. x = −b± b² − 4ac 2a change the sign of b discriminant Δ twice a ± → two solutions
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Apply the quadratic formula $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$ to find the solutions to the following complete equations: a) $x^2 - 6x + 8 = 0$ b)…

Apply the quadratic formula $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$ to find the solutions to the following complete equations:

  1. a) $x^2 - 6x + 8 = 0$
  2. b) $x^2 + x - 12 = 0$
Solve
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Solve the following quadratic equation by first simplifying the algebraic expressions through expanding the algebraic identities: $$(2x - 3)^2 - (x + 1)^2 = -5$$…

Solve the following quadratic equation by first simplifying the algebraic expressions through expanding the algebraic identities:

$$(2x - 3)^2 - (x + 1)^2 = -5$$

Remember that to apply the quadratic formula, you must first reduce the equation to the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$.

Solve

Solving by factoring

If the trinomial can be factored (you saw this in the polynomials chapter), you don't need the formula. You use the same idea as for the incomplete ones: a product is zero if a factor is zero.

The other cases work too: the difference of squares ($x^2 - 49 = (x-7)(x+7)$) and the perfect square trinomial ($x^2 - 6x + 9 = (x-3)^2$, double solution $x = 3$).

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Given the quadratic equation $x^2 + kx + 12 = 0$, calculate the value of the coefficient $k$ knowing that one of the solutions to the equation is $x = 3$. Once $k$ is…

Given the quadratic equation $x^2 + kx + 12 = 0$, calculate the value of the coefficient $k$ knowing that one of the solutions to the equation is $x = 3$. Once $k$ is found, find the other solution of the equation.

Solve

Completing the square

Another way: turn the left side into a perfect square. It is the method the quadratic formula comes from. It is based on $(x + p)^2 = x^2 + 2px + p^2$.

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Apply the quadratic formula $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$ to find the solutions to the following complete equations: a) $x^2 - 6x + 8 = 0$ b)…

Apply the quadratic formula $x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$ to find the solutions to the following complete equations:

  1. a) $x^2 - 6x + 8 = 0$
  2. b) $x^2 + x - 12 = 0$
Solve

The discriminant: how many solutions?

What is inside the square root, $\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$, is called the discriminant. It tells you how many solutions there are without solving.

Three parabolas: with a positive discriminant they cross the axis twice, with zero they touch it once, and with a negative one they do not cross it. Δ > 0two solutions Δ = 0one (double) Δ < 0none
$\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$ Solutions
$\Delta > 0$ Two distinct solutions
$\Delta = 0$ One double solution: $x = -\frac{b}{2a}$
$\Delta < 0$ No real solution
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Calculate the value of the discriminant $\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$ for each equation and state whether it has two real solutions, a repeated root, or no real solutions (you do…

Calculate the value of the discriminant $\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$ for each equation and state whether it has two real solutions, a repeated root, or no real solutions (you do not need to calculate the solutions):

  1. a) $x^2 - 4x + 4 = 0$
  2. b) $x^2 + 2x + 5 = 0$
  3. c) $x^2 - 5x - 1 = 0$
Solve
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Study the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) of the following equations and determine, without solving them, how many real solutions each one has. Justify your answer…

Study the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) of the following equations and determine, without solving them, how many real solutions each one has. Justify your answer in each case:

  1. a) $x^2 - 6x + 9 = 0$
  2. b) $2x^2 + 3x + 5 = 0$
  3. c) $3x^2 - 4x - 2 = 0$

What value should the constant term take in equation a) so that it suddenly has no solution?

Solve
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Given the quadratic equation $x^2 - (k-2)x + k = 0$, determine what values the parameter $k$ must take so that the equation has a single real solution (a repeated root).

Given the quadratic equation $x^2 - (k-2)x + k = 0$, determine what values the parameter $k$ must take so that the equation has a single real solution (a repeated root).

Solve

Equations that need preparing

Sometimes the equation does not come in general form. You have to expand special products or clear denominators before solving.

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Solve the following equation by simplifying both sides first and using standard algebraic identities where necessary:…

Solve the following equation by simplifying both sides first and using standard algebraic identities where necessary:

$\frac{(2x - 3)^2}{8} - \frac{x(x + 1)}{2} = \frac{x - 5}{4} - 1$

Solve
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Solve the following equation. To do this, find the lowest common multiple of the denominators to eliminate the unknowns from them, and check that the solutions obtained…

Solve the following equation. To do this, find the lowest common multiple of the denominators to eliminate the unknowns from them, and check that the solutions obtained do not make any denominator zero:

$\frac{x}{x - 2} + \frac{2}{x} = \frac{x^2}{x^2 - 2x}$

Solve

Extension: biquadratic equations

In $x^4 - 13x^2 + 36 = 0$ only $x^4$ and $x^2$ appear. With the substitution $t = x^2$ (so $x^4 = t^2$) you get a quadratic equation.

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Biquadratic equations can be solved by using a substitution $t = x^2$. Use this technique to find the four real solutions of the following equation: $$x^4 - 13x^2 + 36 =…

Biquadratic equations can be solved by using a substitution $t = x^2$. Use this technique to find the four real solutions of the following equation:

$$x^4 - 13x^2 + 36 = 0$$
Solve

Quadratic word problems

Steps: define the unknown, set up the equation, solve it, and discard the solutions that make no sense (a negative length, a number of people with decimals…). Then check against the problem statement.

An equation with two solutions: twelve is accepted and negative thirteen is discarded because it is not a natural number. x(x + 1) = 156 x = 12 ✓ x = −13 ✗not natural
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If we add three times an integer to its square, we get zero as a result. What numbers could these be? Set up the equation and find the possible solutions.

If we add three times an integer to its square, we get zero as a result. What numbers could these be? Set up the equation and find the possible solutions.

Solve
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The product of two consecutive natural numbers is equal to their sum increased by $19$ units. What are these numbers?

The product of two consecutive natural numbers is equal to their sum increased by $19$ units. What are these numbers?

Solve

Area and border problems

In many geometry problems, the area gives the equation. If you add a border of width $x$ around a rectangle, each side grows by $2x$ (a strip at each end).

Inner rectangle surrounded by a border of width x; each dimension of the outer rectangle grows by two times x. inner xx length + 2x
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We want to put a wooden frame of constant width $x$ around a rectangular photograph measuring $10\text{ cm}$ by $15\text{ cm}$. If we know that the total area (photo…

We want to put a wooden frame of constant width $x$ around a rectangular photograph measuring $10\text{ cm}$ by $15\text{ cm}$. If we know that the total area (photo plus frame) must be $300\text{ cm}^2$, what should the width $x$ of the frame be?

x x 10 cm 15 cm Photo Frame A = 300 cm²
Solve
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A video game programmer is designing an interface for a new app. They need to create a rectangular button whose base is $5\text{ cm}$ longer than its height. If the…

A video game programmer is designing an interface for a new app. They need to create a rectangular button whose base is $5\text{ cm}$ longer than its height. If the total area the button must occupy on the screen is $84\text{ cm}^2$, what should the dimensions (base and height) of the button be?

Set up a quadratic equation and solve it.

Area = 84 cm² UI BUTTON x x + 5
Solve
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Calculate the dimensions of a right-angled triangle knowing that its sides are three consecutive integers.

Calculate the dimensions of a right-angled triangle knowing that its sides are three consecutive integers.

x x + 1 x + 2
Solve

Problems with time, height, and two unknowns

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A surveillance drone takes off and follows a trajectory whose height in meters relative to time in seconds is given by the expression $h(t) = -2t^2 + 20t + 5$. Calculate…

A surveillance drone takes off and follows a trajectory whose height in meters relative to time in seconds is given by the expression $h(t) = -2t^2 + 20t + 5$. Calculate at what times the drone is at a height of exactly $53 \text{ meters}$.

Solve
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Two 3D printers working together take $2$ hours to complete a complex scale model. If they worked separately, the older printer would take $3$ hours longer than the new…

Two 3D printers working together take $2$ hours to complete a complex scale model. If they worked separately, the older printer would take $3$ hours longer than the new printer. How long would each printer take to make the model on its own? (Hint: remember that the work done in one hour is the reciprocal of the total time).

Solve
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A piece of wire of length $40 \text{ cm}$ is cut into two pieces to form two different squares. If the sum of the areas of the two squares is $58 \text{ cm}^2$, how long…

A piece of wire of length $40 \text{ cm}$ is cut into two pieces to form two different squares. If the sum of the areas of the two squares is $58 \text{ cm}^2$, how long is the side of each of these squares?

40 cm CUT x 40 - x A₁ x/4 A₂ (40-x)/4 A₁ + A₂ = 58 cm²
Solve

Back to the beginning: in the classroom, $x^2 = 144$ gives $x = \pm 12$. Since a length cannot be negative, each side measures $12\text{ m}$.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section