Quadratic equations x2 – 5x – 6 = 0

These are equations expressed in the form ax2 (b) (p, q)

+ bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are constants and Solution
a 0 Let x = p or x = q
x–p=0 x–q=0
They have at most two roots which may be  (x – p)(x – q) = 0
real or complex. x2 – (p + q)x – pq = 0
The latter roots are handled exclusively under (c) (-3, -2)
complex numbers Solution
Let x = -3 or x = -2
Example of quadratic equations x+3=0 x+2=0
 (x + 3)(x + 2) = 0
2y2 + 3y + 5 = 0; a = 2, b = 3 and c = 5
x2 + 5x + 6 = 0
x2 + 4x – 10 = 0; a = 1, b = 4, c = -10
Example 2
Forming quadratic equations
Given that the root of the equation
Suppose that the roots of a quadratic x2 + px + q = 0 are α and β, express
equation are α and β, (α - in terms of p and q. Deduce
that for one root to be the square of another
then x – α = 0 and x – β = 0 p3 – 3pq + q2 + q = o must hold
When forming a quadratic equation Solution
(x – α)( x – β) = 0 For x2 + px + q = 0
x2 – (α + )x + αβ = 0 α + β = -p
This means that if the roots of a quadratic αβ = q
equation are given, its equation in terms of x
is x2-(sum of roots)x + product of roots = 0 (α –

Example 1 =

Form quadratic equation I terms of x with But

roots
(α –
(a) (2, 3)
[ ]
Solution
Let x = 2 or x = 3 [ ]
x–2=0 x–3=0
 (x – 2)(x – 3) = 0

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(α – Example 4

If α = β2 Given the equation x3 + x – 10 = 0.

( – (a) Show that x = 2 is a root of the equation

0= Let f(x) = x3 + x – 10

Or Substituting for x = 2

As required f(2) = 23 + x -10

Example 3 = 8 + 2 – 10

Given that the root of the equation = 10 – 10 = 0

x2 + px + q = 0 are α and β, Form quadratic
Hence x = 2 is a root of x3 + x –10 = 0
equations with roots
(b) Deduce the values of α + β and αβ where
(a) α and β are roots of the equation.
Solution
Hence form a quadratic equation whose
Sum of roots =
roots are α2 and β2.
=
 x3 + x –10 = (x-2)( )
Product of roots = =1
Either x – 2 = 0
Required equation
( ) Or ( )=0

Or α+β=2
αβ = 5
(b) pα + qβ and qα + pβ
Sum of roots = α2 + β2 =
Solution
= (-2)2 – 2(5) = 4 – 10 = -6
Sum of roots
Product= = 25
pα + qβ + qα + pβ = p(α +β) + q(α +β)
The equation become
=(p + q)(α +β)

=p(p + q)

Product of roots= (pα + qβ)(qα + pβ)

= pqα2 + p2αβ + q2αβ + pqβ2 Solving quadratic equations

= pq(α2 + β2) + αβ(p2 + q2) Quadratic equations may be solved by
= pq[ ]+ αβ(p2 + q2) (a) Factorization method
(b) Completing square method
=pq(p2-2q) + q(p2 + q2)
(c) Graphical method
Required equation
(a) Factorization method
It is used for quadratic equations that are
easy to factorise

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Example 5
- ( ) ( )
(a) 4x2 + 7x + 3 = 0
- Taking square root on both sides of the
Solution side work
equation
4x(x + 1)+ 3(x + 1) = 0 Product = 4 x 3 = 12
(x + 1)(4x + 3) = 0 Sum = 7 - √
Either x + 1 = 0; x = -1 Factor = (4, 3)
√
Or 4x + 3 = 0; x = - - Solving
√
(b) 2x2 + 5x + 3 = 0 -
Solution side work
2x(x + 1)+ 3(x + 1) = 0 Product = 3 x 2 = 6 This is the general quadratic equation formula
(x + 1)( 2x + 3) = 0 Sum = 5 for finding the square root of any quadratic
Either x + 1 = 0; x = -1 Factors 3, 2 equation. This formula is locally known as bull
Or 2x + 3 = 0; x = dozer formula
(c) x2 + x – 20 = 0 Example 6
Solution Side work
Solve the following equations by completing
x(x – 4) + 5(x – 4) = 0 Product = -20
squares
(x – 4)(x + 5) = 0 Sum = 1
Either x – 4 = 0; x = 4 Factors ( 5, - 4) (a) 2x2 – x – 3 = 0
Or x + 5 = 0; x = -5
(d) 10x2 + x – 3 = 0 Solution

Solution Side work 2x2 – x – 3 = 0

5x(2x -1) + 3(2x – 1) = 0 product 10 x – 3 = -30 x2 - x =

(5x + 3)(2x – 1) = 0 sum = 1

x2 - x + ( ) = +( )
Either 5x + 3 = 0; x = - Factors (6, -5)
( )
Or 2x – 1 = 0; x =
√
(b) Method II: Completing squares
approach
Either
The idea is to create a perfect square on one
side of the equation: Or

Given the equation ax2+ bx + c = 0 Hence x = -1 and x =

- Dividing the equation by and transposing
(b) 18x2 + 7x – 1 = 0
the constant term to the RHS
Solution
- Marking the LHS a perfect square, add a 18x2 + 7x – 1 = 0
half the coefficient of x squared on both
sides x2 + x =

( ) ( ) x2 + x+( ) = +( )

- Factorise the terms on the LHS

( )

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 (c) 6x2 -5x – 6 = 0
√

Either
√ √
=
Or
Either or
Hence x = or x =
Hence
(c) 3x2 + 7x + 2 = 0
Method 3: Graphical approach
Solution
Here, the roots of the equations are
3x2 + 7x + 2 = 0 established by plotting suitable graphs. It may
done by:-

(i) Single graph plot

( ) ( ) (ii) Two graph plot

Single graph method

( )
Given the function y = f(x), tabulate the
√ selected values of x closer to zero within a
given range which must be substituted in the
function given to obtain the corresponding
Either x =
values of y. These values are plotted on the
Or x = same x and y axes and joined by a curve. The
roots of the function f(x) = 0 are the values of
Hence x = -2 and x = x where the function y = f(x) crosses the x-
axis.
Example 7
Two graphs method
Solve the following equations by using the
Here the function y = f(x) is split into two and
quadratic formula
the equations plotted separately on the same
(a) 7x2 – 5x – 2 = 0 axes. The points of intersection of the two
graphs are noted and the corresponding
Solution
values of x are read off on the x – axis.
√ √
= Example 8

Either or Solve the following equation by using

graphical approach
Hence (a) 2x2 + 3x – 3 = 0
(b) 3x2 – 7x – 6 = 0 Solution
√ √ Using a single graphs
=
Let y = 2x2 + 3x – 3 taking -3 x 2
Either or

Hence

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Table of values Table of values

X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 X -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 6 -1 -4 -3 2 11 y 6 0 -4 -6 -6 -4 0 6

From the graph, the roots of the equation are

x = -3 and x = 2
From the graph, the roots of the equation are
x = -2.2 and x = 0.7 Using two graphs

Using two graphs By splitting the equation x2 + x – 6 = 0

By splitting the equation 2x2 + 3x – 3 = 0 into into two we have x2 = 6 - x

two we have 2x2 = -3x + 3
Let y1 = x2 and y2 = 6 - x
Let y1 = 2x2 and y2 = 3 - 3x
Table of results
Table of results
X -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 y1 16 9 4 1 0 1 4 9
y1 18 8 2 0 2 8 y1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
y1 12 9 6 3 0 -3

From the graph, the roots of the equation are

From the graph, the roots of the equation are x = -3 and x = 2
x = -2.2 and x = 0.7

(b) x2 + x – 6 = 0
Minimum and maximum values of
Solution quadratic expression
Using a single graphs The methods of completing squares and
2
Let y = x + x – 6 = 0, taking -4 x 3 graphing can be used to obtain minimum and
maximum values of quadratic expression

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Completing square method y = -(x2 – 6x + (-3)2 + 4 – (-3)2)

The general form of quadratic equation y =-((x – 3)2 + 4 – 9)

y = ax2 + bx + c can be expressed as
y =-((x – 3)2 + -5)
y = ax2 + bx + c
Since a = -1 < 0, the expression has got a
( ) maximum value when x = 3. Hence ymax = 5

Using graphical method

( ( ) ( ) )
After graphing, y =f(x) the minimum value of
the expression is lowest point if a
( ) ( )
trough/valley like or curving upwards and the
The minimum/maximum value is the constant maximum value is the maximum point if
downwards
which is attained when

Note

- if a < 0, the value of the function is

maximum
- if a > 0, the value of the function is Example 10
minimum
Determine the maximum or minimum values
Example 9 of the following expression using graphical
Determine the minimum or maximum values method
of the following expressions using completing (a) 2x2 + 3x – 3 = 0
squares
Solution
(a) 2x2 – x – 3 = 0
Let y = 2x2 + 3x – 3 taking -3 x 2
Solution
Table of values
Let y = 2x2 – x – 3 = 0
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
( ) y 6 -1 -4 -3 2 11

( ( ) ( ) )

(( ) )

( )

Since a > 0, the function has got a minimum

value at x = . Hence ymin =

(b) -4 + 6x – x2
ymin = - 4.1 at -0.75
2
Let y = -4 + 6x – x
(b) 14 – 2x – 3x2
y = - (x2 – 6x + 4)
Ley y = 14 – 2x – 3x2 ; -3 x 2

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Table of results 4. If α and β are roots of the equation
x2 – px + q = 0, find the equation whose
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
y -7 6 13 14 9 -2 roots are
[qx2 – (p2q – 2q2–p)x + (q3 – p3 + 3pq)+1=0]
5. The roots of the equation 3x2 – ax + 6b = 0
are α and β. Find the condition for one
root to be
(a) Twice the other [81b = a2)
(b) The cube of the other
[a4 – 648(b – 1)b2 – 18(4a2 + 9)b = 0]
6. By Factorization method solve the
following quadratic equations
(a) x2 + 9x + 14 [x = -7, x= -2]
(b) x2 + 2x – 8 = 0 [ x = -4, x = 2)
ymax = 14.3 at x =-0.3
(c) 2x2 + x – 10 = 0 [x= 2, x = - ]
(d) 6x2 – 19x + 10 * +
Revision exercise 7. Solve the following equations by
completing squares
1. Given that the roots of the equation
(a) 2x2 + 5x + 3 = 0 * +
x2 + px + q = 0 are α and β, find the values
2
of: (b) x + 9x + 20 = 0 [x = -5 and x = -4]
(a) [ ] (c) x2 + x – 20 = 0 [x = -5 and x = 4]
(d) x2 – x – 20 = 0 [x = 4 and x = 5]
(b) * +
8. Solve the following equations using the
(c) * + quadratic formula
(a) 2x2 + 5x + 3 = 0 * +
(d) * √ +
2
(b) x + 9x + 20 [-5, -4]
(e) * √ +
(c) x2 + x - 20 [-5, 4]
(f) [ ]
2. If the roots of the equation x2 + 2x + 3 = 0 9. Determine the maximum or minimum
are α and β, form an equation whose values of the following expression
roots are α2 – β and β2 – α. *x2 + 2 = 0]
(a) 3x2 – 2x + 1 * +

3. Given that the roots of the equation (b) 4 – x – x2* +

x2 – 2x + 10 = 0 are α and β, form an 10. Determine the maximum or minimum
equation whose roots are values of the following expression using
graphical method
and [ ] (a) 14 – 2x – 2x2

Thank you

Dr. Bbosa Science

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