Obj.

3 Quadratic Equations
Unit 1 Functions and Relations

Concepts and Objectives

Quadratic Equations Simplify complex numbers Solve quadratic equations, finding all solutions Cubic Equations Solve the sum or difference of two cubes

Complex Numbers
As you should recall, there is no real number solution to x2 = 1 so the number i has been defined so that i2 = 1 which means that i = 1 . Complex numbers are numbers in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers. For any positive real number a, a = i a

Complex Numbers
Example: Simplify (a) 16 (a) (b) (c)
16 = i 16 = 4i 48 = i 48 = 4i 3

(b) 48

(c)

( 4)( 9)

( 4)( 9) =

36 = 6

Quadratic Equations
A quadratic equation is an equation that can be written in the form ax 2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b, and c are real numbers, with a 0. This is standard form. A quadratic equation can be solved by factoring, graphing, completing the square, or by using the quadratic formula. Graphing and factoring dont always work, but completing the square and the quadratic formula will always provide the solution(s).

Factoring Quadratic Equations

Factoring works because of the zero-factor property: If a and b are complex numbers with ab = 0, then a = 0 or b = 0 or both. To solve a quadratic equation by factoring: Put the equation into standard form (=0). Find two numbers which multiply to ac and add to b. Split the b term using these two numbers. Find the GCF of each pair. Use the distributive property to re-write the equation into the factors. Set each factor equal to zero and solve.

Factoring Quadratic Equations

Example: Solve 2x 2 x 15 = 0 by factoring.
a = 2, b = 1, c = 15 2x 2 6 x + 5x 15 = 0 2 x ( x 3 ) + 5( x 3 ) = 0

30 6 1 5

(2x + 5)( x 3) = 0
2x + 5 = 0 or x 3 = 0 5 5 x= , 3 The solution set is ,3 2 2

Quadratic Formula
The solutions of the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , where a 0, are
b b2 4ac x= 2a

Example: Solve 2x 2 = x 4

Quadratic Formula
Example: Solve 2x 2 = x 4 a = 2, b = 1, c = 4 2x 2 x + 4 = 0

x=

( 1)

( 1) 4(2)( 4 ) 2( 2 )
1 31 i 4 4

1 1 32 1 31 = = 4 4 1 i 31 = The solution set is 4

Cubic Equations
A cubic equation is an equation of degree 3. We will mainly be working with cubic equations that are the sum or difference of two cubes: a3 b3 = 0 Equations of this form factor as ( a b ) a2 ab + b2 = 0

To solve this, set each factor equal to zero and solve. (Use the Quadratic Formula for the quadratic factor.)

Cubic Equations
Example: Solve 8x3 + 125 = 0 ( 2x ) + 53 = 0
3

(2x + 5) ( 4x 2 10x + 25) = 0

2x + 5 = 0 or 4 x 2 10x + 25 = 0

2x + 5 = 0 2x = 5 5 x= 2 x=

10

( 10) 4( 4 )(25)
2( 4 )

10 300 10 10i 3 5 5i 3 = = = 8 8 4 5 5 5i 3 , The solution set is 4 2 4

Homework & Practice Problems

Page 109: 20-40 (5s) Page 119: 15-30 (5s), 45-55 (5s), 62, 64