Subject Code Math 2 Intermediate Algebra

Module Code 7.0 Zeros of a Quadratic Function

Lesson Code 7.3.2 Zeros of a Quadratic Function – Square Root Property
Time Allocation: 30 Minutes

TARGET
After this lesson, you should be able to determine the zero/s of a quadratic
function using the square root property.

HOOK TA: 2 Minutes* ATA**:

In the previous Learning Guide, we learned how to solve for the zeros of a quadratic function
using factoring methods. Consider the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 25. To solve this, we let 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.
Notice that 𝑥 2 − 25 is the difference of two squares so we can factor the expression this way:

𝑥 2 − 25 = 0
(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 5) = 0

By applying the zero-product property, we get:

𝑥+5 = 0 or 𝑥 − 5 = 0
𝑥 = −5 or 𝑥=5

We can shorten the process if we simply notice that 𝑥 must either be the positive square root
of 25 or the negative square root of 25. That is, if 𝑥 2 − 25 = 0, then

𝑥 = √25 or 𝑥 = −√25

𝑥 = 5 or 𝑥 = −5
In the process above, we applied the square root property which we discussed in SLG 6.1.1
last quarter.

IGNITE TA: 28 Minutes* ATA**:

A function 𝑓 expressed in the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + 𝑘 (where 𝑎, ℎ, and 𝑘 are real
numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0) can be solved using the square root property.

SQUARE ROOT PROPERTY

If a2 = b, where 𝑏 is a real number, then a = √b or a = −√b.
Note: We may also write a = ±√b (“plus or minus square root of b”)

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 1 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Examples Find the zeros of each quadratic function.

1. 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)2 − 50

𝑔(𝑥) = 0 Let 𝑔(𝑥) = 0

(𝑥 − 3)2 − 50 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)2 = 50 Add 50 to both sides of the equation

𝑥 − 3 = ±√50 Square root property

𝑥 = 3 ± √50 Add 3 to both sides of the equation

𝑥 = 3 ± 5√2 Simplify

Check:
If 𝑥 is a zero of 𝑔, then 𝑔(𝑥) = 0.

Let 𝑥 = 3 − 5√2 Let 𝑥 = 3 + 5√2

𝑔(3 − 5√2) = 0 𝑔(3 + 5√2) = 0

2 2
(3 − 5√2 − 3) − 50 = 0 (3 + 5√2 − 3) − 50 = 0
2 2
(−5√2) − 50 = 0 (5√2) − 50 = 0
50 − 50 = 0 50 − 50 = 0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

The zeros of the function are 3 − 5√2 and 3 + 5√2. The function’s graph is found below.

𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)2 − 50

2. ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 144

ℎ(𝑥) = 0 Let h(𝑥) = 0

𝑥2 − 144 = 0
𝑥 2 = 144 Add 144 to both sides of the equation

𝑥 = ±√144 Square root property

𝑥 = ±12 Simplify

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 2 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Check:

If 𝑥 is a zero of ℎ, then ℎ(𝑥) = 0.

Let 𝑥 = −12 Let 𝑥 = 12

ℎ(−12) = 0 ℎ(12) = 0
(−12)2 − 144 = 0 (−12)2 − 144 = 0
144 − 144 = 0 144 − 144 = 0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

The zeros of the function are then −12 and 12. The function is graphed below.

(−12,0) (12,0)

ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 144

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2(𝑥 + 1)2 − 3

𝑓(𝑥) = 0 Let f(x) = 0

2(𝑥 + 1)2 − 3 = 0
2(𝑥 + 1)2 = 3 Add 3 to both sides of the equation
3 Divide both sides of the equation by 2
(𝑥 + 1)2 =
2
3 Square root property
𝑥 + 1 = ±√2
3 Subtract 1 from both sides of the equation
𝑥 = −1 ± √2
√6 Simplify/Rationalize the denominator
𝑥 = −1 ± 𝑜𝑟
2
−2±√6
𝑥= 2

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 3 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Check:
If 𝑥 is a zero of 𝑓, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.
√6 √6
Let 𝑥 = −1 − Let 𝑥 = −1 +
2 2

√6 √6
𝑓 (−1 − ) =0 𝑓 (−1 + ) =0
2 2
2 2
√6 √6
2 ((−1 − )+ 1) − 3 = 0 2 ((−1 + )+ 1) − 3 = 0
2 2
2 2
√6 √6
2 (− ) −3 = 0 2( 2 ) − 3 = 0
2
6 6
2 (4) − 3 = 0 2 (4) − 3 = 0
3−3=0 3−3=0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

√6 −2−√6 √6 −2+√6
The zeros of the function are −1 − or , and −1 + or . The function is
2 2 2 2
graphed below.

−2 − ඥ6 −2 + ඥ6
൭ , 0൱ ൭ , 0൱
2 2

𝑓(𝑥) = 2(𝑥 + 1)2 − 3

4. ℎ(𝑥) = 2(5𝑥 − 6)2 − 32

ℎ(𝑥) = 0 Let h(x) = 0

2(5𝑥 − 6)2
− 32 = 0
2(5𝑥 − 6)2 = 32 Add 32 to both sides of the equation
(5𝑥 − 6)2 = 16 Divide both sides of the equation by 2
5𝑥 − 6 = ±√16 Square root property

5𝑥 = 6 ± √16 Add 6 to both sides of the equation

6±4 Simplify the radical then divide both sides of the
𝑥= 5 equation by 5.
2 Solve for x
𝑥=2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥=5

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 4 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Check:

If 𝑥 is a zero of ℎ, then ℎ(𝑥) = 0.

2
Let 𝑥 = 5 Let 𝑥 = 2
2
ℎ (5) = 0 ℎ(2) = 0
2 2
2 [5 (5) − 6] − 32 = 0 2[5(2) − 6]2 − 32 = 0
2(16) − 32 = 0 2(16) − 32 = 0
32 − 32 = 0 32 − 32 = 0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

2
The zeros of the function are 5
and 2. The function is graphed below.

2
൬ , 0൰
5 (2,0)

ℎ(𝑥) = 2(5𝑥 − 6)2 − 32

5. 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 96

𝑓(𝑥) = 0 Let f(𝑥) = 0

2𝑥 2 + 96 = 0
2𝑥 2 = −96 Subtract 96 from both sides of the equation
𝑥 2 = −48 Divide both sides of the equation by 2
𝑥 = ±√−48 Square root property

𝑥 = ±4√3 𝑖 Simplify

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 5 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Check:
If 𝑥 is a zero of 𝑓, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.

Let 𝑥 = −4√3 𝑖 Let 𝑥 = 4√3 𝑖

𝑓(−4√3 𝑖) = 0 𝑓(4√3 𝑖) = 0
2
2(−4√3 𝑖) + 96 = 0 2(4√3 𝑖)2 + 96 = 0
2(−48) + 96 = 0 2(−48) + 96 = 0
−96 + 96 = 0 −96 + 96 = 0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

Unlike in our previous examples, the zeros that we were able to get are imaginary. Refer to
the graph of the function below.

𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 96

Notice that the graph of the function does not intersect the 𝑥 −axis. This is the case when the
zeros of the function are imaginary because the Cartesian Coordinate System only associates points on
a plane with real numbers. Since the graph of a function with imaginary zeros does not intersect the
𝑥 −axis, the graph is either completely above the 𝑥 − axis (in this case the graph opens upward) or
completely below the 𝑥 − axis (in this case the graph opens downward).
The applet linked below shows you how a quadratic function is graphically represented in a
Cartesian plane and in a complex plane (a plane that sets a correspondence between complex numbers
and points on the plane).

https://www.geogebra.org/m/g9j3mE2E

6. 𝑓(𝑥) = −25𝑥 2 − 150

𝑓(𝑥) = 0 Let f(x) = 0
2
−25𝑥 − 150 = 0
−25𝑥 2 = 150 Add 150 to both sides of the equation
𝑥 2 = −6 Divide both sides of the equation by -25
𝑥 = ±√−6 Square root property

𝑥 = ±√6 𝑖 Simplify
*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 6 of 7
**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.
Check:

If 𝑥 is a zero of 𝑓, then 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.

Let 𝑥 = −√6 𝑖 Let 𝑥 = √6 𝑖

𝑓(−√6 𝑖) = 0 𝑓(√6 𝑖) = 0
2 2
−25(−√6 𝑖) − 150 = 0 −25(√6 𝑖) − 150 = 0
−25(−6) − 150 = 0 −25(−6) − 150 = 0
150 − 150 = 0 150 − 150 = 0
0 = 0, true 0 = 0, true

The function has no real zeros. It has imaginary zeros which are −√6 𝑖 and √6 𝑖. As seen in
the graph below, the function does not intersect the 𝑥 −axis.

𝑓(𝑥) = −25𝑥 2 − 150

Follow these links for more practice problems:

https://bit.ly/33RslR0
https://bit.ly/2VQmqa9

REFERENCES:
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. (Based on Ramos, E.G and N. Apolinario (n.d.) Science
LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.)
Martin-Gay, E. (2017). Intermediate Algebra (Custom Edition for Jones County Junior College).
New Jersey: Pearson Learning Solutions.

McKeague, Charles P. (1986). Intermediate Algebra (3rd Edition). USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,
Inc.

-End-
Prepared by: Ms. Melodee T. Pacio Reviewed by: Mr. Paolo Luis DG. Apolinario
Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) II Position: Special Science Teacher (SST) III
Campus: PSHS – Main Campus Campus: PSHS – Main Campus

*TA – time allocation suggested by the teacher Mathematics 2 |Page 7 of 7

**ATA – actual time allocation spent by the student (for information purposes only)
© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be released to
third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update
notification.