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Secondary 2 · Mathematics
Linear and quadratic equations · Equations

Quadratic Equations

Before you start, make sure you know: First-degree equations (Secondary Year 1)
Before you start, make sure you know: Square root (Secondary Year 1)

You want a square rug of $144$ m² for your bedroom. How long should each side be? You are looking for a number $x$ such that $x^2 = 144$. This is a different kind of equation from the ones you know: the unknown is raised to the second power (it is squared). These are called quadratic equations (equations of second degree), and here you will learn to solve all of them, even the ones that don't look like it at first glance.

General form

Steps for putting an equation not set equal to zero in order and turning it into its general form. 3x² − 5 = x + 2 put everything on one side 3x² − x − 7 = 0

Graphically, $y = ax^2 + bx + c$ is a parabola. The solutions of the equation are the points where the parabola crosses the $x$-axis. Change $a$, $b$, and $c$ and watch what happens:

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Identify which of the following equations are quadratic. For those that are, write them in general form ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$) and state the value of their coefficients…

Identify which of the following equations are quadratic. For those that are, write them in general form ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$) and state the value of their coefficients $a$, $b$ and $c$:

  1. a) $3x^2 - 5 = x + 2$
  1. b) $x^2 + 3x - x^2 = 10$
  1. c) $5x - 3 = 0$
  1. d) $(x + 2) \times (x - 2) = 0$
Solve

Incomplete equations

When a term is missing, they can be solved without the formula and more quickly.

Solution diagram for an incomplete equation with a common factor: each factor is set equal to zero. x · (x − 7) = 0 x = 0 x − 7 = 0 → x = 7 If a · b = 0, then a = 0 or b = 0. (No other product of numbers gives 0.)
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Find the solution to these incomplete quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + c = 0$ (remember that they can have two solutions, one, or none): a) $x^2 - 49 = 0$ b)…

Find the solution to these incomplete quadratic equations of the form $ax^2 + c = 0$ (remember that they can have two solutions, one, or none):

  1. a) $x^2 - 49 = 0$
  1. b) $2x^2 - 32 = 0$
  1. c) $x^2 + 25 = 0$
  1. d) $5x^2 = 0$
Solve
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Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations by factorising out a common factor. Do not forget that one of the solutions is always $x = 0$: a) $x^2 - 7x = 0$ b)…

Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations by factorising out a common factor. Do not forget that one of the solutions is always $x = 0$:

  1. a) $x^2 - 7x = 0$
  1. b) $3x^2 + 12x = 0$
  1. c) $x^2 = 5x$
  1. d) $4x^2 - 2x = 0$
Solve
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Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations using the most appropriate method (taking out a common factor or taking the direct square root): a) $3x^2 - 27 = 0$ b)…

Solve the following incomplete quadratic equations using the most appropriate method (taking out a common factor or taking the direct square root):

  1. a) $3x^2 - 27 = 0$
  2. b) $x^2 + 5x = 0$
  3. c) $2x^2 = 8x$
Solve
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We want to design a square rug for a room. Given that the total area it must cover is $144$ $m^2$, what should the side length of the rug be? Write the corresponding…

We want to design a square rug for a room. Given that the total area it must cover is $144$ $m^2$, what should the side length of the rug be? Write the corresponding quadratic equation and solve it.

Area 144 m² x x
Solve

The quadratic formula

For any equation $ax^2+bx+c=0$ there is a formula that always works:

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

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

Breakdown of the quadratic formula showing the role of each part. x = −b± b² − 4ac 2a change the sign of b discriminant twice a ± → two solutions

When the equation is not in order, first expand and simplify. For example, $(x+2)^2 - 7 = 2x + 1$ becomes $x^2 + 4x + 4 - 7 = 2x + 1$, that is, $x^2 + 2x - 4 = 0$.

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Solve the following complete quadratic equations using the quadratic formula: $$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$$ a) $x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0$ b) $x^2 + 2x - 8 = 0$ c)…

Solve the following complete quadratic equations using the quadratic formula:

$$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$$
  1. a) $x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0$
  1. b) $x^2 + 2x - 8 = 0$
  1. c) $x^2 - 10x + 25 = 0$
Solve
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A garden designer wants to surround a circular fountain with a flower border. The equation relating the measurements of the design is $x(x - 8) = -15$, where $x$ is a…

A garden designer wants to surround a circular fountain with a flower border. The equation relating the measurements of the design is $x(x - 8) = -15$, where $x$ is a measurement in meters. Solve the equation using the quadratic formula to find the possible values of $x$.

Fountain x Equation: x(x - 8) = −15
Solve
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Reduce the following expression to general form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ and find its solutions by applying the formula: $$(x + 2)^2 - 7 = 2x + 1$$

Reduce the following expression to general form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ and find its solutions by applying the formula:

$$(x + 2)^2 - 7 = 2x + 1$$
Solve
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A video game programmer is designing the formula to calculate a character's critical experience. After simplifying the code, the resulting equation is as follows:…

A video game programmer is designing the formula to calculate a character's critical experience. After simplifying the code, the resulting equation is as follows:

$$\frac{(x + 2)^2}{3} - \frac{x(x - 1)}{2} = \frac{x^2 + 7}{6}$$

Expand, reduce to general form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ and find the values of $x$ that make the formula work.

Solve

The discriminant: how many solutions?

The expression inside the root, $\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$, is called the discriminant, and it tells you how many solutions the equation has without solving it.

The three cases of the discriminant: the parabola crosses the horizontal axis at two points, at one point, or not at all. Δ > 0two solutions Δ = 0one (double) Δ < 0none
$\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$ Solutions
$\Delta > 0$ Two distinct solutions
$\Delta = 0$ One solution (double)
$\Delta < 0$ No real solution
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Without solving the equations, calculate the value of the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) and state whether they have two solutions, one repeated root, or no real…

Without solving the equations, calculate the value of the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) and state whether they have two solutions, one repeated root, or no real solutions:

  1. a) $x^2 - 6x + 9 = 0$
  1. b) $x^2 - 5x + 4 = 0$
  1. c) $2x^2 + 3x + 5 = 0$
Solve
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In the mathematics lab, we are analysing the behavior of different projectiles. Without solving the following equations, use the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) to…

In the mathematics lab, we are analysing the behavior of different projectiles. Without solving the following equations, use the discriminant ($\Delta = b^2 - 4ac$) to state how many real solutions each one has:

  1. a) $x^2 - 6x + 9 = 0$
  2. b) $2x^2 + 3x + 5 = 0$
  3. c) $x^2 - 5x + 4 = 0$
Solve
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Se va a construir una rampa parabólica para un nuevo skatepark. La trayectoria de la rampa es $y = x^2 - 10x + k$ y el suelo es el eje $x$ (es decir, $y = 0$). Para que…

Se va a construir una rampa parabólica para un nuevo skatepark. La trayectoria de la rampa es $y = x^2 - 10x + k$ y el suelo es el eje $x$ (es decir, $y = 0$). Para que la rampa sea segura y tenga un único punto de apoyo sobre el suelo, el discriminante de la ecuación $x^2 - 10x + k = 0$ debe ser igual a cero.

Diagram of a U-shaped ramp that touches the ground at a single point, the support point x y Support point y = x² − 10x + k

What value must the coefficient $k$ have for the ramp to have a single solution (a double root)? Once you have found $k$, solve the equation to find the support point.

Solve

Building an equation from its solutions

If an equation has solutions $x_1$ and $x_2$, it can be written as $(x - x_1)(x - x_2) = 0$ and then expanded.

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Marta and Javier are playing "guess the equation". Marta says: "My equation has the solutions $x_1 = 3$ and $x_2 = -5$, and the coefficient of the $x^2$ term is $1$".…

Marta and Javier are playing "guess the equation". Marta says: "My equation has the solutions $x_1 = 3$ and $x_2 = -5$, and the coefficient of the $x^2$ term is $1$".

Write Marta's equation in general form ($x^2 + bx + c = 0$). Hint: Use the factorised form $(x - x_1) \times (x - x_2) = 0$.

Solve

Quadratic word problems

When solving a problem, discard the solutions that make no sense: a negative length, a number of people with decimals…

The equation branches into two valid pairs of consecutive integers. x(x+1) = 4x + 10 x = 5 → 5, 6 x = −2 → −2, −1

For areas and measurements, draw the figure, call the unknown measurement $x$, and write the area as an equation. For example, a square of side $x$ to which $2$ m are added on each side has area $(x+2)^2$.

With the Pythagorean theorem

In a right triangle, the sides that form the right angle are called legs and the side opposite that angle is the hypotenuse. The Pythagorean theorem says that the sum of the squares of the legs is the square of the hypotenuse:

$$a^2 + b^2 = c^2$$ Ladder leaning against a wall forming a right triangle with legs x and x − 1 and a hypotenuse of 5 meters. x x − 1 5 m
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The product of an integer and the next consecutive integer is equal to $30$. Translate this problem into a quadratic equation and find which numbers they could be…

The product of an integer and the next consecutive integer is equal to $30$. Translate this problem into a quadratic equation and find which numbers they could be (remember that there are two possible pairs of numbers).

Solve
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Find the dimensions of the rectangle in the figure, given that its area is $15$ $cm^2$. To do this, set up a quadratic equation and solve it using the quadratic formula.

Find the dimensions of the rectangle in the figure, given that its area is $15$ $cm^2$. To do this, set up a quadratic equation and solve it using the quadratic formula.

Area = 15 cm² x + 2 x
Solve
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A municipality wants to install a square advertising banner on the facade of a sports center to advertise an eSports event. If the total area covered by the banner is…

A municipality wants to install a square advertising banner on the facade of a sports center to advertise an eSports event. If the total area covered by the banner is $144 m^2$, set up a quadratic equation and calculate the side length of the banner.

A = 144 m² x x
Solve
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Find an integer such that if you add its own square to it, the result obtained is $42$. Hint: Remember to move all the terms to one side to set the equation equal to…

Find an integer such that if you add its own square to it, the result obtained is $42$. Hint: Remember to move all the terms to one side to set the equation equal to zero.

Solve
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The base of a new tablet is rectangular. We know that its base is $4 cm$ more than its height and its total area is $60 cm^2$. Calculate the dimensions (base and height)…

The base of a new tablet is rectangular. We know that its base is $4 cm$ more than its height and its total area is $60 cm^2$. Calculate the dimensions (base and height) of the tablet by solving the corresponding quadratic equation.

x x + 4 Area = 60 cm²
Solve
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An electric scooter $130$ cm long is leaning against a wall. The distance from the foot of the wall to the base of the scooter is $70$ cm less than the height the…

An electric scooter $130$ cm long is leaning against a wall. The distance from the foot of the wall to the base of the scooter is $70$ cm less than the height the scooter reaches on the wall.

If we call $x$ the height on the wall, apply Pythagoras' theorem to set up a quadratic equation and calculate this height.

x x - 70 130 cm
Solve
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The product of two consecutive integers is equal to four times the smaller number plus $10$ units. Set up the corresponding quadratic equation and find these two…

The product of two consecutive integers is equal to four times the smaller number plus $10$ units. Set up the corresponding quadratic equation and find these two numbers. Is there more than one pair of numbers that satisfies the condition?

Solve
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A street artist wants to paint a square mural on a wall. However, he decides to enlarge the original design by increasing its side length by $2$ meters. In doing so, the…

A street artist wants to paint a square mural on a wall. However, he decides to enlarge the original design by increasing its side length by $2$ meters. In doing so, the total area of the mural is three times that of the original design.

Calculate the original side length of the mural (round the result to two decimal places if necessary).

Solve
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A small toy drone is launched vertically upward from the ground. The height $h$ (in meters) of the drone after a time $t$ (in seconds) is given by the expression: $$h =…

A small toy drone is launched vertically upward from the ground. The height $h$ (in meters) of the drone after a time $t$ (in seconds) is given by the expression:

$$h = 30t - 5t^2$$

At what times will the drone be at a height of exactly $25$ meters? Explain why you get two different solutions.

t (s) h (m) 0 h = 30t - 5t² 45 3 25 t₁=1 t₂=5
Solve
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On a photo-sharing social network, the number of "Likes" on an influencer*'s post today was such that, if $10$ units are subtracted from it and the result is squared,…

On a photo-sharing social network, the number of "Likes" on an influencer's post today was such that, if $10$ units are subtracted from it and the result is squared, the value obtained is the same as multiplying the number of "Likes" by $5$ and subtracting $50$ from it.

Calculate how many "Likes" that post received today.

Solve
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A rectangular sheet of cardboard has a base of $20$ cm and a height of $15$ cm. We want to cut out a square of side length $x$ from each of its corners to make an open…

A rectangular sheet of cardboard has a base of $20$ cm and a height of $15$ cm. We want to cut out a square of side length $x$ from each of its corners to make an open box. Given that the base area of the resulting box must be $150$ cm², calculate the length of the side $x$ of the cut-out squares.

Base area 150 cm² x² x² x² x² 20 cm 15 cm x x 20 - 2x 15 - 2x
Solve

Back to the beginning: for the $144$ m² rug you solved $x^2 = 144$, so $x = \pm 12$. Since a length must be positive, the side is exactly $12$ m.

Summary

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