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Quadratic Equations

Notes on quadratic equations

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Leanne Stewart
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15 views

Quadratic Equations

Notes on quadratic equations

Uploaded by

Leanne Stewart
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quadratic Equations

Perfect squares

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

• (a − b)2 = (a − b)(a − b) = a2 − 2ab + b2

■ Difference of two squares

• (a + b)(a − b) = a2 − b2

Factorise expressions with common factors by ‘taking out’ the common factors.

For example: −5x − 20 = −5(x + 4) and 4x2 − 8x = 4x(x − 2).

■ Factorise a d ifference of two squares using a2 − b2 = (a + b)(a − b).

• We use surds when a2 or b2 is not a perfect square, such as 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49…

For example: x2 − 5 = (x + √5)(x − √5) using ( √5)2 = 5 .

■ Factorise four-term expressions if possible by grouping terms and factorising each


pair.
x2 + 5x − 2x − 10 = x(x + 5) − 2(x + 5)
= (x + 5)(x − 2)
LEARNING INTENTIONS
• To understand what it means to write an expression in factorised form
• To know to always look for a common factor before trying other factorising techniques
• To be able to recognise a difference of two squares including ones involving surds
• To be able to factorise using a common factor or a difference of two squares
• To be able to use the grouping technique to factorise
Completing the Square

Recall for a perfect square ( x + a)2 =x2 + 2ax +a2 and ( x − a)2 =x2 − 2ax +a2 .

■ To complete the square for x2 + bx, add (b/2 )2


.
• x2 + bx +(b/2)2=(x + b/2)2

■ To factorise by completing the square:

• Add (b/2)2 and balance by subtracting (b/2)2


.
• Factorise the perfect square and simplify.

• Factorise using difference of two squares:

a2 −b2 = (a + b)(a − b) ; surds can be used.

x2 + 6x + 4 = x2 + 6x +(6/2 )2 − (6/2)2 + 4

= (x + 6/2)2 − 5

= (x + 3)2 −(√5)2= (x + 3 + √5) (x + 3 − √5)

■ Not all quadratic expressions factorise. This will be seen when you end

up with expressions such as (x + 3)2 + 6 , which is not a difference of two


squares.

Finding the number needed to Complete the Square

Decide what number must be added to these expressions to complete the square.
Then factorise the resulting perfect square.

a) x 2 + 10x b) x 2 − 7x

SOLUTION EXPLANATION

a) (10/2)2 = 52 = 25 For x 2 + bx , add (b/2)2


Here b = 10, and evaluate (b/2)2.
x 2 + 10x + 25 = (x + 5)2 x 2 + bx + (b/2)2 = (x + b/2)2

b) (−7/2)2= 49/4 In x 2 − 7x, b = − 7 and evaluate (b/2)2.


x 2 − 7x + 49/4 = (x −7/2)2 Factorise the perfect square.

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