Alvarez, Bianca Margarita G.

ALGEBRA CUA REVIEWER

August 24, 2015

CUA Coverage:

I.

Solving Quadratic Equations

- Square Root Property
- Factoring
- Completing the Square

Word Problems

Brief Overview of Solving Quadratic Equations Brief

Quadratic Equations in One Variable

An equation that can be written as ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b, and c are real numbers
and a is strictly not equal to zero, is called a second degree polynomial equation or a
quadratic equation in variable x.
If a = 0, it becomes a linear equation.
The word quadratic is derived from the Latin word quadratus which means squared.
To solve a quadratic equation, you may use the following methods (but not limited to):
Square Root Property, Factoring, and Completing the Square.
II.

Square Root Property

EXAMPLE # 1: x2 = 36
1

Isolate the perfect square that contains

the variable.

x2 = 36

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation.

2 = 36

Include a symbol on the right to solve

for both answers.

x=6

Simplify and solve for the variable.

{-6,6} or x = -6, x = 6

EXAMPLE # 2: 5x2 + 4 = 24

Isolate the perfect square that contains

the variable and divide both sides by the
coefficient of the variable.

5x2 = 24 - 4
5x2 = 20
x2 = 4

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation.

2 = 4

Include a symbol on the right to solve

for both answers.

x=4

Simplify and solve for the variable.

{-4,4} or x = -4, x = 4

EXAMPLE # 3: (x + 1)2 = 35

Isolate the perfect square that contains

the variable.

(x + 1)2 = 35

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation.

( + 1)2 = 35

Include a symbol on the right to solve

for both answers and isolate the
variable.

x + 1 = 35
x = 35 - 1

Simplify and solve for the variable.

{ - 1 - 35, - 1 + 35} or x = - 1 35

EXAMPLE # 4: y2 + 36 = 0

Isolate the perfect square that contains

the variable.

y2 + 36 = 0
y2 = -36

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation. Since we are taking the
square root of a negative number in this
equation, make this certain number
positive and multiply it by
-1.

2 = 36
y = 36 1

Include a symbol on the right to solve

for both answers and isolate the
variable. The square root of -1 is i.

y = 6i

Simplify and solve for the variable.

{ - 6i, 6i} or x = 6i

III.

Factoring
Review on Factoring Techniques
We will have to use the trial
and error method.
Get the factors of the first and
last terms.
First term: 2x2 = 2 1
Last term: 6 = 2 3 or 1 6

Factoring Trinomials where

a 1 (ax2 + bx + c)

Example:
2x2 + 7 + 6

The factors accumulated will

be used for the first terms and
last terms respectively.
Try 2 3 and 1 6 until you
achieve the final answer.
Check through FOIL method.
Final answer:
(2x + 3)(x + 2)

Get what is common among

all the terms. Expound if
necessary.

Factoring the GCF

Example:
9x2 + 3x - 6

9x2 = 3 3 x x
3x = 3 x
6=23
In this case, 3 is their common
factor. Enclose the rest within
parentheses.
Final answer:
3 (3x2 + x - 2)

Get the square root of the first

and last terms. After which, plug
the values through the formula
given.
2

Perfect Square Trinomial

(PST)
a2 2ab + b2 = (a b)2

Square root of the first term (x ):

x

Example:
x2 + 10x + 25

Square root of the last term (25):

5
Plug the values and follow the
signs.
Final answer:
2
(x + 5)

Get the square root of the terms

and plug the values through the
formula given.
2

Square root of the first term (m ):

m

Difference of Two Squares

a2 - b2 = (a + b)(a - b)

Example:
m2 - 100

Square root of the last term

(100): 10
Plug the values.
Final answer:
(m + 10)(m - 10)

The second term is the sum and

the last term is the product. In
this case, we must find a pair of
numbers that has a sum of 5 and
a product of 6.
Numbers: 2,3

Factoring Trinomials where

a = 1 (x2 + bx + c)

Example:
x2 + 5x + 6

These numbers will be the last

terms of the factored. Get the
square root of the first term and
the answer that you will get will
be the first terms of the factored.
2

Square root of the first term (x ):

x
Final answer:
(x + 2)(x +3)

EXAMPLE # 1: 6y2 - 3y = 0
1

Write the equation in the form:

ax2 + bx + c = 0

6y2 - 3y = 0
6y2 - 3y = 0

6y2 = 2 3 y y
3y = 3 y

Factor the left-hand side of the

equation. In this case, we can only use
Factoring the GCF method.

The common factor of the two terms is 3y.

3y (2y - 1) = 0
3

Let each factor equal to zero using the

Zero Product Principle*.

Solve each resulting linear equation.

Check the results in the original

equation.

3y = 0; 2y - 1 = 0

3y = 0

2y - 1 = 0
2y = 1

Divide both sides by

the coefficient of the
variable.

Divide both sides by

the coefficient of the
variable.

y=0

y=

6(0 ) - 3(0) = 0
0=0

6(122) - 3(12) = 0
3 - 3 = 0
2
2

Zero Product Principle

For any real numbers x and y, if xy = 0, then x = 0 or y = 0 and if either x = 0 or y = 0, then
xy = 0.

EXAMPLE # 2: m2 + 10x + 21 = 0
1

Write the equation in the form:

ax2 + bx + c = 0

Factor the left-hand side of the

equation. In this case, we can only use
the Factoring Trinomials where a = 1
method.

m2 + 10m + 21 = 0
Sum: 10
Product: 21
Numbers: 7,3
(m + 7)(m + 3)

Let each factor equal to zero using the

Zero Product Principle.

Solve each resulting linear equation.

m+7=0
m = -7

m+3=0
m = -3

Check the results in the original

equation.

(-7)2 + 10(-7) + 21 = 0
-49 + -70 + 21 = 0
0=0

(-3)2 +10(-3) + 21 = 0
-9 + -30 + 21 = 0
0=0

IV.

m + 7 = 0; m + 3 = 0

Completing the Square

EXAMPLE # 1: 2x2 + 12x + 82 = 0

Transpose the constant part on the
other side.

2x2 + 12x = - 82

Complete the square of the side with the

variable.

Make the numerical coefficient of the

first term equal to 1 by dividing the
whole equation by the numerical
coefficient of the squared term.
Divide the second term by two (if the
second term is a fraction, multiply it
by ), then square the quotient to
get the third term.
**Whatever you add on one side must
also be added to the other side.

2 2 + 12 = 82
2
x2 + 6x = - 41
6
6
x + 6x + ( )2 = - 41 + ( )2
2
2
x2 + 6x + 9 = -32
2

x2 + 6x + 9 = -32
3

Factor out the result in the previous step

through the Perfect Square Trinomial
Method.

Square root of the first term (x2): x

Square root of the last term (9): 3
(x + 3)2 = -32

( + 3)2 = 32
x + 3 = 16 2 1
x + 3 = 4i 2
x = 3 4i 2

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation.

EXAMPLE # 2: 4x2 - 2x - 5 = 0
Transpose the constant part on the
other side.

4x2 - 2x = 5
4 2 2 = 5
4

Complete the square of the side with the

variable.

Make the numerical coefficient of the

first term equal to 1 by dividing the
whole equation by the numerical
coefficient of the squared term.
Divide the second term by two (if the
second term is a fraction, multiply it
by ), then square the quotient to
get the third term.

x2 - 2x = 4
1

5
4

1
4

x2 - 2x + [(2 )( 2 )]2 = 4 + [(2 )( 2 )]2

1
2

1
4

x2 - x + ( )2 = + ( )2
1

**Whatever you add on one side must

also be added to the other side.

x2 - 4x = 4

x2 - 2x + 16 = 4 + 16

1
2

x2 - x +

1
16

5
4

= +

1
16

Square root of the first term (x2): x

1

Square root of the last term (16): 4

Factor out the result in the previous step

through the Perfect Square Trinomial
Method.

20

(x - 4)2 = 16 + 16
Get their Least Common Denominator, so it
will be easier for you to combine like terms.
1

21

21

(x - 4)2 = 16

(x - 4)2 = 16
1

21

( )2 =
4
16
4

x-4=

Take the square root of both sides of

the equation.

21
4

You may combine like terms.

x=

V.

1 21
4

Word Problems

Maximum or Minimum Point Formula :

Problem: 800 feet of fencing is available for a rectangular pasture alongside a river, where the
river acts as one of the sides. Find the dimensions which yield the greatest area.
Upon analyzing the problem, only THREE sides need fencing.
y

STEP-BY-STEP SOLUTION
2x + y = perimeter
2x + y = 800
y = 800 - 2x
1

Analyze the problem and match the

given details with the perimeter formula.

Since only three sides need fencing, the

original formula (2x + 2y) will be revised.
Isolate one variable for future use.

area = (x)(y)

Analyze the problem and match the

given details with the area formula.

Substitute y with its equivalent from the

previous step.
area = x(800 - 2x)
area = 800x - 2x2
area = -2x2 + 800x

a = -2 and b = 800

Use the figures gained from the

previous step to find x through the
maximum/minimum point formula.

You may get these figures from the solution of

the area.
800

x = 2 (2)
x = 200 ft

With the value of x, find the value of y

by substituting x in the solutions for the
perimeter.

y = 800 - 2x
y = 800 - 2(200)
y = 400 ft

Express x and y with proper labels as

the final answer.

The dimensions of the rectangular pasture are

200 ft x 400 ft.