ADDITIONAL MATHEMATICS

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS (FORM 4)

When a real number a is multiplied by itself n times, the result is the nth power of a.

Example: 5555 = 54 (5 to the power of 4)

In general, if a is any real number and n is a positive integer, then

The integer n is called the index or exponent and a is the base.

Solving Quadratic Equations

To solve a quadratic equation means to find all the roots of the quadratic equations.
Example:
Find the roots of the quadratic equations
a. x2=9x2=9
b. 2x298=02x298=0
Answer:
a.
x2=9x=9x=3x2=9x=9x=3
b.
2x298=02x2=98x2=982=49x=49=72x298=02x2=98x2=982=49x=49=7

A quadratic equation may be solve by using one of the following method

a. Factorisation
b. Completing the square
c. Using quadratic formula
2.2a Solving Quadratic Equations Factorisation
1. If a quadratic equation can be factorised into a product of two factors such that

(x p)(x q) = 0
Hence
x p = 0 or x q = 0
x = p or x=q
p and q are the roots of the equation.

Notes
1.The equation must be written in general form ax2 + bx + c = 0 before factorisation.
2. This method can only be used if the quadratic expression can be factorised
completely.

Example 1:
Find the roots of the quadratic equations
(a) x (2x 8) = 0
(b) x2 16x = 0
(c) 3x2 75x = 0
(d) 5x2 100x = 25x

Solution:
(a)
x (2x 8) = 0
x = 0 or 2x 8 = 0
2x 8 = 0
2x = 8
x=4
x = 0 or x = 4
(b)
x2 16x = 0
x (x 16) = 0
x = 0 or x 16 = 0
x = 0 or x = 16

(c)
3x2 75x = 0
3x (x 25) = 0
3x = 0 or x 25 = 0
x = 0 or x = 25

(d)
5x2 100x = 25x
5x2 100x 25x = 0
5x2 125x = 0
x (5x 125) = 0
x = 0 or 5x 125 = 0
5x = 125
x = 25
x = 0 or x = 25

Example 2:
Solve the following quadratic equations
(a) x 4x 5 = 0
2

(b) 1 5x + 2x = 4
2

Solution:
(a)
x 4x 5 = 0
2

(x 5) (x + 1) = 0
x 5 = 0 or x + 1 = 0
x = 5 or x = 1

(b)
1 5x + 2x = 4
2

2x 5x + 1 4 = 0
2

2x 5x 3 = 0
2

(2x + 1) (x 3) = 0
2x + 1= 0 or x 3 = 0
2x = 1 or x = 3
x = or x = 3
2.2b Solving Quadratic Equations Completing the Square

(A) The Perfect Square

1. The expression x + 2x + 1 can be written in the form (x + 1)2, it is called a perfect
2

square.
2. If the algebraic expression on the left hand side of the quadratic equation is a
perfect, the roots can be easily obtained by finding the square roots.

Example:
Solve each of the following quadratic equation
(a) (x + 1)2 = 25
(b) x 8x + 16 = 49
2

Solution:
(a)
(x + 1)2 = 25
(x + 1)2 = 25
x = 1 5
x = 5 or x = 6

(b)
x 8x + 16 = 49
2

(x 4)2 = 49
(x 4) = 49
x=47
x = 11 or x = 3

(B) Solving Quadratic Equation by Completing the Square

1. To solve quadratic equation, we make the left hand side of the equation a perfect
square.
2. To make any quadratic expression x2 + px into a perfect square, we add the
term (p/2) to the expression and this will make
2

3. The following shows the steps to solve the equation by using completing the square
method for quadratic equation ax2 + bx = c.
(a) Rewrite the equation in the form ax2 + bx = c.
(b) If the coefficient a 1, reduce it to 1 (by dividing).
(c) Add (p/2) to both sides of the equation.
2
(d) Write the expression on the left hand side as a perfect square.
(e) Solve the equation.
2.2c Solving Quadratic Equations Quadratic Formula

The quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0ax2+bx+c=0 can be solved by using the quadratic formula
bb24ac2abb24ac2a

Example
Use the quadratic formula to find the solutions of the following equations.
a. x2+5x24=0x2+5x24=0
b. x(x+4)=10x(x+4)=10

a. For the equation x2+5x24=0x2+5x24=0

a = 1, b = 5, c = -24
x=bb24ac2ax=(5)(5)24(1)(24)2(1)x=51212x=8 or x=3
x=bb24ac2ax=(5)(5)24(1)(24)2(1)x=51212
x=8 or x=3