Module 5

5.0 Quadratic Equations

An equation is a statement
that two quantities are equal and to ‘solve an By factorization.
equation’ means ‘to find the value of the unknown’.
The value of the unknown is called the root of the (a) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 = 0
equation. The factors of x2 are x and x.
A quadratic equation is one in which the highest These are placed in brackets thus: (x )(x )
power of the unknown quantity is 2. For example,
The factors of 8 and 8 and
x 0 is a quadratic equation.
+1, or +4 and 2, or 4 and +2. The only
There are four methods of solving quadratic
combination to give a middle term of +2x is +4
equations.
and 2, i.e.
These are:
(i) by factorisation (where possible) x2 + 2x − 8 = (x + 4)(x − 2)
ii) by ‘completing the square’
iii) by using the ‘quadratic formul
(Note that the product of the two inner terms
iv) graphically added to the product of the two outer terms must
equal the middle term, +2x in this
5.2 Solution of quadratic equations by case.)
factorisation The quadratic equation x 0 thus
becomes ( x
Multiplying out ) gives 2x 3,
i.e. 2x 3. The reverse process of moving Since the only way that this can be true is for
either the first or the second, or both factors to
from 2x 3 to ( ) is called
be zero, then
factorising.
If the quadratic expression can be factorised this Either (𝑥 + 4) = 0 ie 𝑥 = −4
provides the simplest method of solving a quadratic Or (𝑥 − 2) = 0 ie 𝑥 = 2
equation.

For example, if 2 , then, by Hence the roots of

factorising:( x 2 + 2x − 8 = 0 are
x=-4 and x= 2
(b) 3
Hence either 0 i.e x.
The factors of 3x2 are 3x and x. These are placed
or (x 0 i.e. x = 3
in brackets thus: (3x )(x )
The technique of factorising is often one of ‘trial and The factors of 4 are 4 and +1, or +4 and
error’. 2 and 2.
Example . Remembering that the product of the two inner
a) Solve the quadratic equations below terms added to the product of the two outer terms
i) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 = 0
ii) 3𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 − 4 = 0

1
 must equal 11x, the only combination to give
this is 4, i.e. −1
or 2 , from which, x=
2

)
The quadratic equation 3x 0 thus which may be checked in the original equation.
becomes ( 0. The factors of 15x2 are 15x
1 and x or 5x and 3x. The factors of - 8 are -4 and
Hence, either ( 0i.e.𝑥 = − +2, or 4 and 8 and +1, or 8 and -1. By
3
or (x 0 i.e. x=4 trial and error the only combination that works
is:
and both solutions may be checked in the
original equation. )
Problem 2. Determine the roots of:
a) 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 0 and Hence ( 0 from which
b) 4𝑥 2 − 25 = 0
either 5x + 4 = 0
by factorisation or 3
0. Hence (x 0, i.e.
(x 0 (the left-hand side is known as a Hence
4
perfect square). Hence x = 3 is the only root of 𝑥=−
5 And 𝑥 =
2
3
the equation x
which may be checked in the original equation.
0 (the left-hand side is the Problem 4. The roots of a quadratic
difference of two squares,( and 52). Thus
( 1
equation are and 2. Determine the
3
5
Hence either ( 0 i.e. x=−
2 equation
If the roots of a quadratic equation are α and 𝛽 then (
5
or ( 0 i.e. x= x – α)(x- 𝛽)=0
2

1
Hence if α = and 𝛽 =2, then
Problem 3. Solve the following quadratic 3
equations by factorising:
(a ) 4 2 8 3 0 (b) 15 2 2 - 8 0.

(a) 4x2 + 8x + 3 = 0. The factors of 4x2 are 4x and x or

2x and 2x. The factors of 3 are 3 and 1, or 3 and
1. Remembering that the product of the inner
terms added to the product of the two outer terms x
must equal +8x, the only combination that is true
(by trial and error) is: x
(4x2 + 8x + 3) = (2x + 3)(2x + 1)
Hence 3x2 + 5x − 2 = 0
Problem 5. Find the equations in x whose
Hence ( 0 from which, either
roots are: (a) 5 and -5 (b) 1.2 and
( 0 or (
(a) If 5 and -5 are the roots of a quadratic equation
3 then:
Thus, 2 , from which, x = −
2
 (x
i.e. x
i.e. x2 − 25 = 0
(b) If 1.2 and 4 are the roots of a quadratic
5.3 Solution of quadratic equations
equation then:
(x by ‘completing the square’

i.e. x An expression such as x2 or (x or ( x is

i.e. x − 0.8x − 0.48 = 0
2 called a perfect square.

If x2 = 3 then x
Now try the following exercise If (x 5 then x + 2 = ±√5 and
Exercise 1 Further problems on solving x
quadratic equations by If (x 8 then x 8 and
factorisation
x
In Problems 1 to 10, solve the given equations
by factorisation. Hence if a quadratic equation can be rearranged so
that one side of the equation is a perfect square and
1. 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 32 = 0 (4, −8) the other side of the equation is a number, then the
solution of the equation is readily obtained by taking
2. 𝑥 2 − 16 = 0 (4, −4) the square roots of each side as in the above examples.
The process of rearranging one side of a quadratic
3. (𝑥 + 2)2 = 16 (2, −6) equation into a perfect square before solving is called
1 ‘completing the square’.
4. 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3 = 0 (−1, 1 )
2
1 1
5. 6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 1 = 0 ( , ) (x
2 3
1 4
6. 10𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 4 = 0 ( ,− ) Thus in order to make the quadratic expression x2 +
2 5
7. 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = 0 2 2ax into a perfect square it is necessary to add (half
1 1
8. 21𝑥 2 − 25 = 4 ( 1 ,− )
3 7
4 1 the coefficient of x2 i.e. or a2
9. 6𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 4 = 0 ( ,− )
3 2

5 3
For example, x2 + 3x becomes a perfect square by
2
10. 8𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 15 ( ,− ) 3
adding ( )2 i.e.
4 2
2

In problems 11 to 16, determine the

quadratic equations in x whose roots are, x
The method is demonstrated in the following worked
problems.
11. 3 and 1 (𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 = 0)
12. 2 and -5 (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10 = 0)
13. -1 and -4 (𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 4 = 0) Problem 6. Solve 2x2 + 5x = 3 by
1 1 ‘completing the square’
14. 2 and − (4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 5 = 0)
2 2
15. 6 and -6 (𝑥 2 − 36 = 0)
16. 2.4 and -0.7 (𝑥 2 − 1.7𝑥 − 1.68 = 0) The procedure is as follows:
1. Rearrange the equation so that all terms are on the
same side of the equals sign (and the coefficient 7. Solve the simple equation. Thus x
of the x2 term is positive).
Hence 2x
2. Make the coefficient of the x2 term unity. In this
i.e .x
case this is achieved by dividing throughout
by 2. Hence

and x

i.e. x

3. Rearrange the equations so that the x1 and x terms Hence x are the roots of the equation
are on one side of the equals sign and the constant 2
2x + 5x = 3
is on the other side. Hence
5 5
𝑥2 + 𝑥 =
2 2 Problem 7. Solve 2x2 + 9x + 8 = 0, correct to
3 significant figures, by ‘completing the square’

4. Add to both sides of the equation (half the

coefficient of x)2. In this case the coefficient of Making the coefficient of x2 unity gives:

9
x is
5
Half the coefficient squared is therefore 𝑥2 + 𝑥 + 4 = 0
2 2
.
and rearranging gives: x

Adding to both sides (half the coefficient of x)2 gives:

Thus, x
The LHS is now a perfect square, i.e.
x

The LHS is now a perfect square, thus:

5. Evaluate the RHS. Thus

Taking the square root of both sides gives:

6. Taking the square root of both sides of the
equation (remembering that the square root of a x
number gives a š answer). Thus
Hence x

i.e. x = −1.22 or −3.28, correct to 3 significant figures.

5 7
Ie. 𝑥 + = ±
2 4
 Let the general form of a quadratic equation be given
Problem 8. By ‘completing the square’,
solve the quadratic equation by:
4. 0, correct to
ax2 + bx + c = 0
3 decimal places
Making the coefficient of y2 unity gives: where a, b and c are constants.

Dividing ax2 + bx + c = 0 by a gives:

y 𝑏 𝑐
𝑥2 + 𝑥 + = 0
𝑎 𝑎
3.5 1.75
and re arranging gives 𝑦 2 + 𝑦= =0
4.6 4.6 Rearranging gives:
2
Adding to both sides (half the coefficient of y gives: 𝑏 𝑐
𝑥2 + 𝑥 = −
𝑎 𝑎
Adding to each side of the equation the square of half
y the coefficient of the term in x to make the LHS a
perfect square gives:
The LHS is now a perfect square, thus:
𝑏 𝑏 2 𝑏 2 𝑐
𝑥2 + 𝑥 + ( ) = ( ) −
𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎 𝑎

Taking the square root of both sides gives: Rearranging gives:

𝑏 2 𝑏 2 𝑐
3.5
(𝑥 + ) = ( ) −
𝑦+ = √0.5251654 = ±0.7246830 𝑎 2𝑎 𝑎
9.5

𝑏 2 𝑏2 𝑐
(𝑥 + ) = 2 −
Hence, y 𝑎 4𝑎 𝑎

i.e. y= 0.344 or −1.105

𝑏 2 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
(𝑥 + ) =
Now try the following exercise 𝑎 4𝑎2

Exercise 2 Further problems on solving Taking the square root of both sides gives:
quadratic equations by
‘completing the square’ 𝑏 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥+ =√
Solve the following equations by completing 2𝑎 4𝑎2
the square, each correct to 3 decimal places.
𝑏 ±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
𝑥+ =
2𝑎 2𝑎
1. x2 + 4x + 1 = 0 [
𝑏 √𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
2. 2x 0 [ Hence 𝑥 = − ±
2𝑎 2𝑎
3. 3 0 [1.468 ,
4. 5 0 [1.290, 0.310]
−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
5. 4 0 [2.443, 0.307] i.e. the quadratic formula is: 𝑥 =
2𝑎

(This method of solution is ‘completing the square’—

as shown in Section 10.3.). Summarising:
5.4 Solution of Quadratic Equation by Formula
 −𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
If ax2 + bx + c = 0 Then 𝑥 =
2𝑎 11 ± 13
This is known as Quadratic formula. 𝑥=
6
Problem 9.
Either
Solve a) x2 + 2x - 8 = 0 and 11 + 13
b) 3x2 -11x - 4 = 0 by using the 𝑥=
6
quadratic formula. 𝑥=4
Or.
a) Comparing x2 + 2x - 8 = 0 with 11 − 13 1
𝑥= =
a2 + bx +c = 0 6 3
Gives 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 2 and 𝑐 = −8 Problem 10. Solve 4x2 + 7x + 2 = 0
giving the roots correct to 2 decimal
Substituting these values into the quadratic places
Formula
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 Comparing 4x2 C+7x + 2 = 0 with ax2 +bx +c =0 gives
𝑥= a = 4, b = 7 and c = 2. Hence,
2𝑎
𝑥
−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
−2 ± √22 − 4(1)(−8) 𝑥= .
2𝑎
=
2𝑥1 −7 ± √72− 4(4)(2)
−2 ± √4 + 32 𝑥=
𝑥= 2𝑥4
2

−2 ± √36
𝑥=
2
−2 ± 6
= 8 8
2
Either Hence, x = −0.36 or −1.39, correct to 2 decimal
−2 − 6
𝑥= = −4 places.
2
Or.
−2 + 6 Now try the following exercise
𝑥= =2
2
Comparing 3x 0 with ax2 + bx + c
Exercise 3 Further problems on solving
Gives 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = −11 and 𝑐 = −4 quadratic equations by formula
Substituting these values into the quadratic
Solve the following equations by using the
Formula
quadratic formula, correct to 3 decimal places
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
−(−11) ± √(−11)2 − 4(3)(−4)
𝑥=
2𝑥3
11 ± √121 + 48
𝑥=
6
11 ± √169
𝑥=
6
 2
1. 2 5 - 4 0 [0.637, 3 137]
2
2. 5 76 2 86 - 1 35 0
=0.2874 or
[0.296, 0 792]
Thus the radius r of the cylinder is 0.2874 m (the
2
3. 2 - 7 4 0 [2.781, 0.719] negative solution being neglected).
3 Hence the diameter of the cylinder
4. 4 5 [0.443, 1 693]

5 = 2 x 0.2874
5. 2 1 [3.608, 1 108]
3 = 0.5748 m or 57.5 cm
correct to 3 significant figures
Problem 12. The height s metres of a
mass projected vertically upwards at time t
1
seconds is 𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡 2 Determine how
2

5.5 Practical problems involving long the mass will take after being projected to
reach a height of 16 m (a) on the ascent and (b)
quadratic equations
on the descent, when u = 30 m/s and g = 9.81
There are many practical problems where a m/s2
quadratic equation has first to be obtained, from given When height s = 16 m,
information, before it is solved. 1
16 = 30𝑡 − (9.81)𝑡 2
2
Problem 11. Calculate the diameter of a solid
cylinder which has a height of 82.0 cm and a i.e 4.905𝑡 2 − 30𝑡 − 16 = 0
total surface area of 2.0 m2 using the quadratic formula,

Total surface area of a cylinder −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐

𝑡=
2𝑎
= curved surface area
−(−30) ± √(−30)2 − 4(4.905)(16)
+2 circular ends 𝑡=
2(4.905)
30 ± √586.1
𝑡= = 5.53 0𝑟 0.59
(where r = radius and h = height) 9.81
Since the total surface area = 2.0 m2 and the height
Hence the mass will reach a height of 16 m after
h = 82 cm or 0.82 m, then
0.59 s on the ascent and after 5.53 s on the descent.
2.
i.e. 2 Problem 13. A shed is 4.0 m long and 2.0 m
wide. A concrete path of constant width is
Dividing throughout by 2 gives: laid all the way around the shed. If the area of
the path is 9.50 m2 calculate its width to the
r nearest centimetre
𝜋
Using the quadratic formula:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of the shed with its
surrounding path of width t metres.

r
Area of path 2(2.0𝑥𝑡) + 2𝑡(4.0 + 2𝑡)
i.e. 9.50 = 4.0t + 8.0t + 4t2 or
4
t
t

2.0 m

4.0 m

SHED

(4.0+2t)
Hence radius r D 6.9106 cm (or 21 cm, which is
Figure 1
meaningless, and is thus ignored). Thus the diameter
of the base
−(12.0) ± √(12.0)2 − 4(4)(−9.50)
𝑡= 82 cm
2(4)
−(12.0) ± √296) Now try the following exercise
𝑡=
8

−(12.0) ± 17.20465 Exercise 42 Further practical

= problems involving quadratic
8
equations
Hence t = 0.6506 m or 65058 m
1. 1). The angle a rotating shaft turns through in t
Neglecting the negative result which is meaningless, 1
seconds is given by:𝜃 = 𝜔𝑡 + 𝛼𝑡 2 determone the
the width of the path, t = 0.651 m or 65 cm, correct to 2

the nearest centimetre. time taken to complete 4 radians if 𝜔 is 3.0 rad/s and
𝛼 is 0.60 rad/sec

Problem 14. If the total surface area of a [1.191 s]

solid cone is 486.2 cm2 and its slant height is
2. 2). The power P developed in an electrical circuit is
15.3 cm, determine its base diameter
given by P , where
I is the current in amperes. Determine the current
The total surface area A of a solid cone is given by: necessary to produce a power of 2.5 watts in the
A where l is the slant height and r the circuit.
base radius. If A = 482.2 and l = 15.3, then [0.345 A or 0.905 A]
3. 3). The sag l metres in a cable stretched between two
i.e. r 12
supports, distance x m apart is given by: 𝑙 = + 𝑥 .
𝑥
or r Determine the distance between supports when the
sag is 20 m. [0.619 m or 19.38 m]
using the quadratic formula,
 4). The acid dissociation constant Ka of ethanoic acid is 1. mol dm-3 for a particular solution. Using
𝑥2
the Ostwald dilution law 𝑘𝑎 = , determine the degree of ionization, given that v = 10 dm3. [0.013
𝑣(𝑙−𝑥)

5) A rectangular building is 15 m long by 11 m wide. A concrete path of constant width is laid all the way around
the building. If the area of the path is 60.0 m2, calculate its width correct to the nearest millimetre. [1.066 m]

8. 6). The total surface area of a closed cylindrical container is 20.0 m3. Calculate the radius of the cylinder if
its height is
2.80 m2. [86.78 cm]
3𝑥(20−𝑥)
7). The bending moment M at a in a beam is given by 𝑀 = where x metres is the distance from the
2
point of support. Determine the value of x when the bending moment is 50 Nm.
[1.835 m or 18.165 m]

8). A tennis court measures 24 m by 11 m. In the layout of a number of courts an area of ground must be
allowed for at the ends and at the sides of each court. If a border of constant width is allowed around each
court and the total area of the court and its border is 950 m 2, find the width of the borders. [7 m]
9). Two resistors, when connected in series, have a total resistance of 40 ohms. When connected in parallel
their total resistance is 8.4 ohms. If one of the resistors has a resistance Rx, ohms: a) show that
R 0 and
calculate the resistance of each.
[(b) 12 ohms, 28 ohms]