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Example 3 Chapter 2 Quadratic Formula To Solve Quadratic Equations

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14 views

Example 3 Chapter 2 Quadratic Formula To Solve Quadratic Equations

Uploaded by

hyvixalba12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Quadratic formula to solve quadratic

equations
A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 1b. Quadratic functions – factorising, solving, graphs and the discriminants

Key points
• Any quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 can be solved using the formula
-b ± b 2 - 4ac
x=
2a
• If b2 – 4ac is negative then the quadratic equation does not have any real solutions.
• It is useful to write down the formula before substituting the values for a, b and c.

Example 7 Solve x2 + 6x + 4 = 0. Give your solutions in surd form.

a = 1, b = 6, c = 4 1 Identify a, b and c and write down


2
-b ± b - 4ac the formula.
x= Remember that -b ± b 2 - 4ac is
2a
all over 2a, not just part of it.

2 Substitute a = 1, b = 6, c = 4 into the


-6 ± 62 - 4(1)(4)
x= formula.
2(1)
-6 ± 20 3 Simplify. The denominator is 2, but
x= this is only because a = 1. The
2
denominator will not always be 2.
-6 ± 2 5 4 Simplify 20 .
x=
2 20 = 4 ´ 5 = 4 ´ 5 = 2 5
x = -3 ± 5 5 Simplify by dividing numerator and
denominator by 2.
So x = -3 - 5 or x = 5 - 3 6 Write down both the solutions.

A2400 ch2c | Version 1.1 | September 2020


Example 8 Solve 3x2 − 7x − 2 = 0. Give your solutions in surd form.

a = 3, b = −7, c = −2 1 Identify a, b and c, making sure you


-b ± b2 - 4ac get the signs right and write down
x= the formula.
2a
Remember that -b ± b 2 - 4ac is
all over 2a, not just part of it.
-( -7) ± ( -7) 2 - 4(3)( -2)
x= 2 Substitute a = 3, b = −7, c = −2 into
2(3) the formula.

7 ± 73 3 Simplify. The denominator is 6


x= when a = 3. A common mistake is
6 to always write a denominator of 2.
7 - 73 7 + 73 4 Write down both the solutions.
So x = or x =
6 6

Practice questions
1 Solve, giving your solutions in surd form.
a 3x2 + 6x + 2 = 0 b 2x2 – 4x – 7 = 0

2 Solve the equation x2 – 7x + 2 = 0


a± b
Give your solutions in the form , where a, b and c are integers.
c
Hint
3 Solve 10x2 + 3x + 3 = 5
Get all terms onto one
Give your solution in surd form. side of the equation.

4 Choose an appropriate method to solve each quadratic equation, giving your answer in surd form
when necessary.
a 4x(x – 1) = 3x – 2
b 10 = (x + 1)2
c x(3x – 1) = 10

A2400 ch2c | Version 1.1 | September 2020


Answers

3 3 3 2 3 2
1 a x = –1 + or x = –1 – b x=1+ or x = 1 –
3 3 2 2

7 + 41 7 - 41
2 x= or x =
2 2

-3 + 89 -3 - 89
3 x= or x =
20 20

7 + 17 7 - 17
4 a x= or x =
8 8
b x = –1 + 10 or x = –1 – 10
2
c x = –1 or x = 2
3

A2400 ch2c | Version 1.1 | September 2020

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