MATH

de 9
Gra

Solving Problems Involving

Quadratic Equations
IVAN T. SALAS
Teacher
Objective:
Solve Problems
Involving Quadratic
Equations
Example 1. The length of a rectangle is
Let x = the width of the rectangle
2 cm greater than the width. The area is
80 cm2. Find the length and width. Then x+2 = the length of the rectangle
Given: length times width = Area of a rectangle
Area of the rectangle = 80 cm2 x (x + 2) = 80
Asked:
x(x) + 2(x) = 80
The length and the width of the rectangle
x2 + 2x = 80
Solution:
Length = x + 2 x2 + 2x - 80 = 80 - 80

Width = x A = 80 cm2 x2 + 2x – 80 = 0
Cont….
The length of a rectangle is 2 cm
By factoring , -80 greater than the width. The area is 80
x2 + 2x – 80 = 0 10 -8 cm2. Find the length and width.
8 (x + 10
(x - __) __) = 0 2 Length = x + 2

Applying Zero Product Property, Width = x A = 80 cm2

x–8=0 x + 10 = 0
x = 8 x = -10 (not a solution) Check:
x2 + 2x – 80 = 0
lw = Area 82 + 2(8) – 80 = 0
Thus, the width of the rectangle is 8 cm
10 x 8 = 80 64 + 16 – 80 = 0
and the length is 8 + 2 = 10 cm.
80 = 80 (True) 0 = 0 (True)
Example 2. The hypotenuse of a right Let x = the length of one leg
triangle is 25 cm long. One leg is 17 cm Then x + 17 = the length of other leg
longer than the other. Find the length of
the legs. Using the Pythagorean Theorem,

Given: x2 + (x + 17)2 = 252

The Pythagoras
Length of the hypotenuse = 25 cm x2 + x2 + theorem is a mathematical law
34x + 289 = 625
that states that the sum of squares of the
lengths of2 the legs of the right triangle is equal
Asked: 2x + 34x
to the square +289
of the – 625
length = 0hypotenuse.
of the

Length of the legs 2x2 + 34x – 336 = 0

hyp
o 2 2 2 2
Solution: ten
u se =
x 25 x2 + 17x – 168 = 0
cm

x + 17
cont…
The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 cm
Solve by factoring, -168 long. One leg is 17 cm longer than the
-7 24 other. Find the length of the legs.
x2 + 17x – 168 = 0
hy
p ote
7 (x + 24
(x - __) __) = 0 17 nu
x cm se =
2 5
Applying Zero Product Property,
x-7=0 x + 24 = 0 x + 17
x=7 x = -24 ( not a solution) Check:
72 + 242 = 252 x2 + 17x – 168 = 0
49 + 576 = 625 72 + 17(7) – 168 = 0
Thus, one leg is 7 cm and the other leg 49 + 119 – 168 = 0
625 = 625 (True)
is 7 + 17 = 24 cm 0 = 0 (True)
Example 3. − 240
The product of two consecutive positive By factoring:
𝑥 + 𝑥 −240=0 − 15+16
2
numbers is 240. Find the numbers.
(−
𝑥15) ( +16
𝑥 ) =0 1
Solution:
Applying Zero Product Property,
Let x = the first number 𝑥 −15= 0𝑥+ 16=0
Then x + 1 = the second number 𝑥 =15𝑥=− 16 (disregard)
Their product is 240
𝑥 ( 𝑥+ 1 )=240 Thus, the two positive consecutive
𝑥 ¿ numbers are 15 and 16.
2
𝑥 + 𝑥 = 240
2
𝑥 + 𝑥 −240=0
Height of Falling Objects Example 4. An object is dropped from a
The general formula is: height of 1600 ft. How long will it take for
h = -16t2 + vot + ho the object to hit the ground.
Where: Given:
h = object’s height in feet (h = 0 when object
reaches the ground) Initial height, ho = 1600 ft.
t = time in seconds
Asked:
vo = object’s initial velocity (speed when t = 0)
in feet per second, If the object is thrown or Time t when the object hits the ground
fired upward, vo is positive and negative if
thrown downward. If the object is dropped vo Solution:
=0 h = -16t2 + vot + ho
ho = initial height (height when t = 0) in feet
Because object is dopped, vo = 0
Note: The effect of air resistance is ignored
 h = -16t2 + (0)t + 1600
𝑡 =− 10
is not a solution
h = -16t2 + 1600
When the object hits the ground, h = 0 Thus, the object will hit the ground
0 = -16t2 + 1600 10 seconds after it is dropped
16t2 = 1600
t2 =

t2 = 100
By extracting the square root

√ 𝑡 =√ 100
2

𝑡 =± 10 𝑜𝑟 𝑡 =10 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡=−10

Work Problem
The equation to solve is:
Work formula: Q=r•t W1rate + W2 rate = Together rate
But Q is usually 1 and
Where: Q = quantity The equation becomes:
r = rate
1 1 1
t = time + =
𝑊 1𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑊 2 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑇𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡h𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

Solve work problem by filling in the table below:

Worker Quantity Rate Time
W1 1 W1 time
W2 1 W2 time
Together 1 Together time
Example 5:
Together Jack and Poy can paint a wall in 18 minutes. Alone, Jack needs 15
minutes longer to paint the wall than Poy needs. How much time does Jack and Poy
each need to paint the wall by himself?

Solution: Let t - be the number of minutes Poy needs to paint the wall; and
t + 15 – be the number of minutes Jack needs to paint the wall
Using the table:
Worker Quantity Rate Time

Poy 1 t
Jack 1 t + 15

Together 1 18
The equation to solve is:
1 1 1
+ =
𝑡 𝑡 +15 18
Multiply each term by the LCD: LCD = 18t(t + 15)

1 18 𝑡 ( 𝑡 +15) 1 18 𝑡 (𝑡 +15) 1 18 𝑡 (𝑡 +15)

∙ + ∙ = ∙
𝑡 1 𝑡 +15 1 18 1

18 ( 𝑡 +15 ) +18 𝑡 =𝑡 ( 𝑡 +15)

2
18 𝑡 + 270+18 𝑡 =𝑡 +15 𝑡 ¿
2
𝑡 − 21 𝑡 − 270= 0
Cont….

By factoring: 2 Thus,
𝑡 − 21 𝑡 − 270= 0
Poy needs 30 minutes to paint the
(𝑡 − 30 ) ( 𝑡 + 9 ) =0 wall by himself, and

Applying Zero Product Property John needs 30 + 15 = 45 minutes.

𝑡 −30=0 𝑡 + 9= 0
𝑡 =30 𝑡 =− 9(disregard)