Section 11 Quadratic Equations

11.1 Solving Quadratics byFactorising

Ifp x q=0then either p = 0 or q=0. This can be used to solve quadratic equations byfactorisation.
E.g. if you can factorise an
cquation to give (x - a)(x b) )= 0, then either x-a==0 or x-b=0, so x=a or x= b.
Example 1
Solve the equation x-3x +2 =0.
1. Factorise the left-hand side.
2. Put each
factor equal to (x- 1)(r -2) = 0
3. Solve to find the zero. x-l= 0 or x-2 =0
two possible values for x. X=1 or x=2

Exercise 1
Find the possible values ofx for each of
the following.
a) x(* + 8) = 0
b) (x-5)(* - 1) = 0
c) (x+2)(x +6)=0
d) (r- 9)(x + 7) =0
2 a) Factorise the following
expressions.
()x+6x (ii) x2 +x-2 (iii) x²--2
(iv) x+ 2r- 24 (v)x+ 13x +36
b) Use your answers to part (a) to solve the
following equations.
(i)+6x = 0 (ii) x²+x-2=0 (ii)x x-2 = 0
(iv) + 2x-24 =0 (v)x+13x + 36 = 0
3 Solve the following equations by
factorising.
a) -3x=0 b) x'+5x =0 c) -x = 0
d) + 12x =0 e) x+ 3x+2=0 f) x-3x +2 =0
g) x'+4x +4 = 0 h) -4x + 4=0 i) x+3x 4 =0
i) -3x -4 = 0 k) +5x+4= 0 I) -5x +4 = 0
m) -4x 5 =0 n) x- 5x +6 =0 o) x-7x +6=0
p) -x- 12= 0 ) x+ 8x + 12 = 0 r) -2x- 24 =0
s) -15x + 36 =0 t) + 16x 36 =0

Example 2
Solve the cquation 8x?+ 6x-9= 0.
1. Factorise the left-hand side.
(2x + 3)(4x- 3) =0
2. Put cach factor equal to zero. 2x +3 =0 or 4x
3. Find the values ofx which make each factor cqual zero. 2.x =-3 or 4x
-3 =0
=3
X=5 or x=0,75

Section llQuadratic Equations

 Exercise 2
Find the possible
a) x(2x -3) =0 values of x for each of the
c) (3x t 4)(2x + 5) = 0 b) following.
(x-2\(3x - 1)
d) (4x- 0
2 a) Copy and complete the 7)(5x + 2) = 0
() 2x² + 7x+5 = +following factorisations.
(iüil) 4x + 4x 15 (2x 5)(
= (2x - 3)
(v) 6x+ 7x- 10 = (ii) 3x + 5x + 2 = (3x + Xx + )
(6x 2) (iv) 4x + 11x + 6 =(4x +
b) Use your (vi) (x+ )
answers to part (a) to solve the 12x?- 21x 6 3( + 1)( -2)
(i)) 2x² + 7x+5 =0 following equations.
(ii)) 4x?+ 4x 15 =0 (iü) 3x² + Sx + 2 =0
(v) 6x+ 7x- 10 =0 (iv) 4x+ llx +6=0
(vi) 12r?- 21x-6 = 0
Solve the following
a) 3x + 5x = (0 equations by factorising.
b) 2x' +x-3 = 0
e) 3 llx+ 6 =0 f) 6x'- llx +3 =) c) 3x + 10x +7 =0 d) Sx² + 3r-2 =0
i) 4x? t+ 5x-21 =0 g) 4x2 + 17x + 4=0 h) 4x'- 16x + 15 =0
i) 6x? +tx- 22 =0
m) 12r + 4x-5 0 k) 10x? + 23x + 12 = 0 I) 12x²-x-l =0
n) 9x 18x + 8 =0 o) 18* tx-4 = 0
p) 18x-29x - 14=0

Example 3
Solve the equation 12x? - 8x = 15.
1. Rearrange to get zero on one side. 12x² -8x- 15 =0
2. Factorise the left-hand side of the equation. (2x-3)(6x + 5) =0
3. Put cach factor cqual to zero. 2x-3 =0 or 6x + 5 =0
4. Solve foreach x. 2x =3 or 6x =5

or x=

Exercise 3
Rearrange the following equations, then solve them by factorising.
1 a) x?=x b) +2x =3 c) x-3x = 10 d) 10x-=21
e) x=6x 8 ) =4x +21 g) 8x-=12 h) 3x = 6x +9
i) x+21x = 11 -x i) 4r + 4x =3 k) 6x +x= 1 I) 6r = 7x-2
m) 3r =2+x n) 4x'+|=4x o) 6x? = llx + 7 p) 9x² + 25 = 30x

a) x(r- 2) = 8 b) x(r + 2) =35 c) x(*- 1) = 72

d) (x+3)(r +9) +9 = 0 e) (*-6)(x8) + l =0 ) (r+3Xx + 1) = 4x +7

h) (3x +4)° = 7(3r + 4) i) (3r-4Yr - 2) -S=0
g) (2x +1)(x 1)=-16x- 8
j) (3x + 2)\(4x+ 1)-3 =0
k) 2(4x +l)(x- 1) +3 =0 I) (3r-2)\3r +I)=-21x +6)
b) x-2= c) x+2=
3 a) x+l =
e) 3x-1=21
4
) 6x- l= 4
d) 2r +1l= 10
Section l l-Quadratic Equations
 formn ( P)'
11.2 Completing the Square cmeans writingitinthe
eypression+Art
Completing the square of aquadratie
To complete the square ofa + r te:
I. Write out the bracket (r $)
expression.
2. Wor out what to add or subtract to getthe original

Example1
a) Writer+ ír-S in completed square fom. (x+ 3) P+6r+9
1. =6, so -3. Expand (x t 3). 6r+ 9-14
+ 6r -S=x' +
2. To getc =-§ instead of +9, subtract 14. = x+3)-14

b) Write+ Zr +l in completed square form.

I. b=7,so -. Lcaving this as afraction, expand ( t) 49 45
2. To get e = +l instead of+4 ,subtract . x+ 7r + l =+ Zx + 4

-(*+)

Exercise 1
1 Find the value of c in cach of the following equations.
a) r+2r +2=(r+ I} +c b) +2x 9 = (+ 1) + c
c) r+4r + 2 =(x+ 2) + c d) -4r +7=(*-2) + c
e) -6x + 1l =(r-3 tc f) -8x+3 =(x4)? + c
g) +10x + 64 =(r+ S) +c h) x'+ 12x-24 = (x+ 6)+c
i) + l6x + 56 = (x+ 8 +c ) + 20x +500 = (x+ 10) +c
In Questions 2-3, write cach expression in completed square form.
2 a) + 2r+ 6 b) -2x + 4 c) x - 2x-10
d) -4x + 10 e) x t 4x+ 20
f) x+ 6x+ 1
g) r+ 8x+ 60 h) x+8x +81
i) +10x-2
j) -12x + 100 k) x*+ 12x + 44
I) x+ 14x
m) x -14x + 96 n) -20x -200
o) ²+ 20x-150
3 a) 3x+1 b) +3x-1
d) x+5x +12
) x-3x + 1
e) x+ 5x +3
+7x+ 10 h)
f) ?-5x +20
g) -7x-1 i)
) + llx+ 25 k) x+ 19x + 90 -9x-10
I) + 13x+ 40
m) - 13x- 1 n) + 15x 125
o) x-2lx + 110

Section l l -Quadratic Equations

 Solving Quadratice by
Youcan use
Thismethod completing the
often gives an square to solve
Gompleting the Square
Remember that if the questionanswer quadratics,
containing a including ones that can't be factorised.
asks for an exact surd.
answer,that means you should leave it in
Example2
Find the
surd form.
exact solutions to the
1. b4, so2. Expandequation
(x-2).
- 4x +|0 by
completing the square.
2. Complete the (r-2) '- 4x + 4
3
square.
Use the x-4x + | = (r- 2) -3
and solvecompleted square to rewrite
the original x-4x t+ |=0
cquation. so (r-2) -3 -0
4.
There's a positive and negative square (r-2)? 3
5. For the exact solutions, leave in root. x-2 =+3
surd form.
X=2-3 or x=2+ 3
Exercise 2
1 Find the exact solutions of the
a) '+ 4x +4 0
following cquations by completing the square.
b) x-6x+9 = 0 c) x-2x - 4= 0
e) x²+ 6x-4=0 d) x?+ 4x +3 = 0
) x+&x +4 = 0 g) x'+ 8x + 5 = 0
i) h) x'-x- 1 =0
-Sx + 4= 0 i) - 7x+9= 0 k) x+9x +8 =0 I) -11x + 25 =0
Solve the following equations by completing the square. Give your answers to 2
decimal places.
a) + 6x+4= 0 b) x²-7x +8 =0 c) x-2x- 5 = 0 d) x?+ 4x+1= 0
e) r+ 6x-3 = 0 )+8x +8 =0 g) -6x + 2 = 0 h) x-x- 10 = 0
i) -5x +3 =0 j) r-7x +2 =0 k) +9x +10 = 0 I) -1lx +20 = 0

Example 3
Solve the cquation 2r-8x +3 =0 by completing the square.
Giveyour answers to 2 decimal places.
1. Divide by 2 so that the coefficient of x² is 1. *-4x+=0
2. b=-4, so -2. Expand (r - 2)'. (x-2) ==-4x + 4

3. Complete the squarc. r-4r t -(-2)' -

4. Use the completed square to rewrite -4x + -0, so (x -2)'- 0
and solve the original equation.
(x-2) =
-2=*/
x=2-/8 or x=2+

x=0.42 or x=3.58 (to 2 d.p.)

Section l l -Quadratic Equations

 square. 12r-5
the d) 2r² =
by completing
c) 4r'- 6 r - ) 102+ 7r- 1
=0
3 Find the exact solutions of the following cquations h)
a) 3r + 2x -2 =0 b) 5x + 2r= 10 10- Sr
g) 3r'= dccimal places.
44 + 3r to 2
e) 2r²- l6x-7 =0 ) answers 12r-2r?
square. Givc your d) 15 = 9r-7=0
4 Solve thc following cquations by complcting the c) 4r+8r =
|1
h) 3r? +
a) 2r + 2r-3 = 0 b) 3.r + 2x-7=0 10r- 1l= 0
g) 5r't
e) 21- l6x 19 = 0

11.3 The Quadratic Formula

The general form of a quadratic cquation is: ar? + bx +c=0

The formula for solving this equation is: 4ac

2a

Example1
2 decimal places.
Solve the equation -5x +3 =0. giving your answers to
a=1,b=-5, c=3
1. Write down a, b and c.
2. Substitute these values into the formula. St/-5) - 4x lx 3
2x1
5± /25 - 12
2

or x +3.606
$-3,606 2

X=0,70 or x=4.30 (to 2 d.p.)

Exercise1
Use the quadratic formula to solve the following cquations. Give your answers to 2 decimal places.
a) x'+3x +| =0 b) x'+2x-2 = 0 c) x'-3x 3 =0 d) -2r- 5=0
e) Sx+-4 =0 ) -8x +1| =0 g) x-6- 7x =0 h) +6x-2 = 0
i) x'+4r-1=0 ) x'+ 5x -9 = 0 k) 10 + +8r = 0 I) -7x-1l =0
2 Find the cxact solutions to the following cquations.
a) x'-3x +| =0 b) x-2x- 12 =0 c) x-3x-8 =0 d) a-4- 2x =0
e) x+5x-1 =0 ) -8x-5 =0 g) 2-7:x +x=0 h).+6r -5 = 0
I) 4x +x-6=0 J) x'-Sx -3 = 0 k) 8r + 13 +x?= 0 I) 2+3-7x =0
nthe following cquations and solve them using the
3 quadratic formula. Give your answers to 2 d.p,
a) x'+3x=6 b) x'=7+3x ) x²+1 =4x d) x-Sx + ll = 2x +3
e) 2r2- 7x +14=+7 ) (*+ 1y= 12 g) x-x +8=x+ 1S
h) Sx + 12 = (r+ 1)(& + 7)

Section ll -Quadratic Equations

4
Rearrange the
a) x1- 3x following cquations, then use the
b) 3(r +3)
quadratic formula to find their exact
e) x(x - 4) = 2(x - 2)
) 2(x +S5) ( + 2 c) (r+ 1X(x + 2) 7x solutions.
d) &-8)3-x
R) (r-Iy 14 h) (2x-1lx 2) r +9

Example 2
Show that the equation 2.r + 2x + 5
=0 has no rcal
1. Write down a, b and
c.
solutions.
2. a2, b 2, c=5
Substitute these values into the formula. x=2 /2- 4 x 2 x 5
2x2
-2 + 4 - 40
4

-2+ -36
4
3. You can't go any further, because youcan't find
-36. There is no real value for -36.
So there arc no rcal solutions to
the equation 2.r + 2x + 5 =0.

5 Solve the following equations if possible. Give your answers to 2 decimal places.
a) 3r-x- l=0 b) 2r-2x-3 = 0 c) 2x? + 2x +3= 0 d) 2x² - 3x- 1 =0
e) 2.r² +x-5=0 f) 3x'-x+5 =0 g) 4x- 10x - 1=0 h) 2r? + 3x12 =0
i) 3x²- 4x-2 =0 i) 5x 10x + 4 =0 k) 3r + 3x- 1 =0 I) 10: t 4x1=0
m) 3r-5x-l=0 n) 22- 7x-3=0 o) 2r?+ 3x + 5 =0 p) 3x' + 9x+ 2 =0

6 Rearrange the following equations and solve them where possible. Give your answers to 2decimal places.
a) 8x+ 8=-3x? b) 2(xl) =x ) 3r? +7 =4(x+ 1)
d) x-12x +13 =--x e) (5x+ 1)(x +1) = 3x-1 ) (2x +l²= Ilx-1
g) 2(2x -5)\(x + 1)=-1lx h) (x-5) =x(1-3x) i) (2r + 3)(x + 3) = 10x

7 Find the exact solutions, where possible, of the following equations.

a) x+ 5x =3 b) r?+4x =7 c) x-8x= 14 d) 2x' + Sx = 13

g) 2x? = 3x-23 b) =S- 9x

e) '=3x -3
) x= k) x-5 =
i) 3r² =6- 10x x+3
3
m) 3x +l= n) 4x -1=H o) 3x +=
2 5
= 5

Section ll - Quadratic Equations

 Quadratic Equations Problems
11.4
or
completing the squarc
Exercise 1 factorising, appropriate.
possible, cither by where 3 0
1 Solve the following equations where answersto 2decimal places =0 d) .r- 8r -
your 27
using the quadratic formula. Give tr- 20=0 c) x-2lx + h) 3r'-
4r-15 )
a) -8r-20 ) b) g) x+2.r 48= 0
+2x-64 =0 I) 5 x - 7
e) r-SN - 50 = 0 f) 0
k) 81'+ 18r-5 =
6r-S -7=0
i) 2.r-N- 18 =0 j) + 1) =10 P)
o) (3r +2)(4x
m) (r + 1l)(x - 1)- 80 =0 n) (2r + l)(r9) = 2
s)
q) r)

Example1
square the answer. The result is 1o.
Ithink of a number, add 2 then thought of? number.
What are the possible valucs of the number I Let x be the
unknown
1. Choose a variable. +2
add 2...
cquation: Think of anumber and (r+ 2) = 16
2. Turn the words into an
result is 16.
3. ...then square the answer. The x'+ 4x +4= 16

4. Rearrange and solve the quadratic. '+ 4x-12 = 0

(x+6)(x -2) = 0
x+6=0 or x-2 =0
X=-6 or x=2

Exercise 2
In cach of the following cases,
let x be the unknown number.
of x.
For each one, set up and solve an equation to find all possible values
the answer. The result is 9.
1 Ithink of a number, add one and square
3. The result is 147.
2 think of a number, square it and add
Ithink of a number, square it, then subtract
the original number. The result is 30.
3 22.,
original number is
The square of a number plus the
of a number makes 9.
5 25 subtract the square original number and the result is 24
6 Ithink of a number, squarc it and add 5 times thc is 36,
squared. The result
A number is doublcd, then
A number is squared, then doubled and then 4 is subtracted. The result is the original nunbe.
the answer. The result is 100
Ithink of a number, add 5, then squarc
number, double it and subtract l and then squarc thc answer. The result is 64,
10 Ithink of a

Exercise 3
following describes a different rectangle. Find the value of xin cach case.
1 Each of the m.
= (*+3)m, area = 28 b) Width =x m, length =(x+ 7)
a) Width =x m, lcngth Xm, arca = 28 m?.
m, area = 30 m".
(2) m,length d) Width xm, length = (x+
c) Width = 10) m, area = 144 m'.

Equations
Section ll -Quadratic
2 A
fence is crected adjoining a wall, as
The rectangle
length ymandenclosed by the shown in the
arca Am'. Thefence and the wall has diagram.
a) Show that y tolal lcngth of fence width xm.
b) IfA= S0, 20 - 2x. used is 20 m. wall
c) Solve the show that x(20 - 2x) - 50,
equation
Hence find the x(20 - 2r) S0. Am'

Ouestions dimensions of the rectangle if its area is 50 m'.

3-5 describe a y m
as in Question 2. ln rectangle bounded on threc
Give your answers toeach case, find sides by a fence and on one
2 d.p. where allthe possible values of the side by a wall,
3 Total
length of fence used = 13 appropriate.
m,
dimensions of the
rectangle.
4 Total
length of fence used =200 m,area of rectangle =8 m'
5 Total
length of fence used = 150 m, area of rectangle= 5000 m²
arca of rectangle = 2000 m²
6 Each of the following
In each casc, write outdescribes a different rectangle.
and solve a quadratic
a) Width =x cm, equation to find all possible values of x.
b) Width =x cm, perimetcer = 24 cm, arca = 32 cm?.
c) Width =x cm, perimeter = 30 cm, area = 56 cm?.
d) Width =x m, perimeter= 100 cm, area= 600 cm'.
=
perimeter 17 m, area = 8 m².

Example2
Find the value of x in the triangle
shown.

1. Use Pythagoras' Theorem to sct up an cquation. (2x +3)² =+ (21)?

2. Expand the brackets.
4x + 12x+9=+4x
3. Simplify the cquation. -12r-9 =0
4. Solve the quadratic.
Using the quadratic formula,
x= 12.71 or x =-0.71 (to 2 d.p.)
S. Since x represents a length, it can't be negative. X= 12.71(to 2d.p)

Exercise 4
Find the value of xin cach of the following triangles. Give your answers to 2decimal places where appropriate.
2 3

N+ 10 - N+12 2x+
-x+5 r+7 X+9

* mArea XCm Area X cm |Area

I m|Area
= 17 m 38 cm? 100 cm
=]m?
<-( +6) m -(3r + 1) cm -(4x - 1) cm
(x+7) m
Section 11 - Quadratic Equations