CHAPTER 2 – QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

In this subtopic you will learn to :

1. Understand the concept of quadratic equation and its roots

1.1 Recognise a quadratic equation and express it in general form.

1.2 Determine whether a given value is the root of a quadratic equation by
a) substitution;
b) inspection.
1.3 Determine roots of quadratic equations by trial and improvement method

1. Understand the concept of quadratic equation and its roots.

IMPORTANT NOTES :
2
(i) The general form of a quadratic equation is ax + bx + c = 0; a, b, c are constants and a ≠ 0.
(ii)Characteristics of a quadratic equation:
(a) Involves only ONE variable,
2
(b) Has an equal sign “ = ” and can be expressed in the form ax + bx + c = 0,
(c) The highest power of the variable is 2
Recognising Quadratic Equations
EXAMPLES1
No Quafratic Equations (Q.E.) NON Q.E. WHY?
2 2
1. x + 2x -3 = 0 2x – 3 = 0 No terms in x ( a = 0)

2 2
2.
2
x = ½ x2  = 0 Term
x x
2 3 2 3
3. 4x = 3x x –2x = 0 Term x
2 -1 -1
4. 3x (x – 1) = 2 x – 3x +2 =0 Term x
2 2 2
5. p – 4x + 5x = 0, p constant x – 2xy + y = 0 Two variables

Exercise 1
1. State whether each of the following equations is a quadratic equation or not.

Equations yes or no Give your reason

1. 2x + 4 = 0 no The highest power of x is one .It’s a linear equation
2
2. x + 4 = 0
2
3. 3x + 2x + 3 = 0

4. 5x = 2 - 3x

5. y(2 – 3y) = 7

6. p(3p – 2) = 4 + 2p

1
7. – 2x = 0
x2
2
8. (x – 7) = 6

9. 5xy + 6 = 0

1
1 Recognise a quadratic equation and express it in general form.
1.1 Rewrite the following quadratic equations in general form and find the value of a, b and c.

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

2
x – 2x = 3 (3x + 1)(x-3) = 4 10
x2  1  x
2
x – 2x – 3 = 0 3

a = 1, b = – 2, c = – 3

2
a) 2x = 3x – 4 a) x(2x – 1) = x + 5 2 2
a) ( x  3 x)  x
3

2
b) n(2n -1 ) = 3n b) (3x + 2) = 8 1
b) 2 x  1 
2
x
4

2
c) x 2  1  5x  3 p c) 3 x – 5 = 4x(1 –x) x
c) 2 x  5
2

3x 2  4 x  1  2 p d) x  2mx  3x  5 2 x 2  5x  p(1  2 x)
2
d) d)

Homework : Text Book page 26 Exercise 2. 1.1

1.2 Determine whether a given value is the root of a quadratic equation by
a) substitution;
b) inspection.
Note : The root of a quadratic equation is the value o the unknown in the equation which satisfies the equation .
If a value is given, it can be determined whether it is a root by substitution or inspection.

1.2.1 Determine whether the x value given are the roots of the following quadratic equations .

Quadratic equations x value Conclusions

Not satisfy the quadratic
2 equations so x =1 is not
x = 1, 1 – 2(1) – 3 = –4
the root of QE

2 Yes
2 x = –1, (–1) – 2(–1) – 3 = 0
1. x – 2x – 3 = 0
2
x = 3, 3 – 2(3) – 3 = 0

2
x = –3, (–3) – 2(–3) – 3 = 12

2
 Quadratic equations x value Conclusions

x = 1,

x = 3,
2
2. 3x – 5x – 12 = 0
x = –3,

4
x=– ,
3
x = 1,

x = 4,

3. (2 x + 1 ) ( x- 4 ) = 0
x = –3,

1
x=– ,
2
Homework : Text Book page 28 Exercise 2. 1.2

1.3 Determine roots of quadratic equations by trial and improvement method.

Trial and improvement method is a primitive method of repeated substitution of integers into a function or
polynomials to find solutions. (Synonymous to trial and error method)

Example 1.3
2
Find the roots of the quadratic equation x - 5x + 6 = 0 by using trial and improvement method
Solution:
2 2
Trial x x - 5x + 6 Trial x x - 5x + 6
First -3 Fourth 2

Second 3 Fifth -2

Third 1 Sixth 6

2
Conclusion : The roots of quadratic equation x - 5x + 6 =0 are ………………………………………………………

Homework : Text Book page 29 Exercise 2. 1.3 and Skill Practice 2.1 page 29

What we should learnt in this subtopic are :

2. Understand the concept of quadratic equations

. 2.1 Determine the roots of a quadratic equation by
a) factorisation;
b) completing the square
c) using the formula.
2.2 Form a quadratic equation from given roots

3
2.1 Determine the roots of a quadratic equation by
a) factorisation; b) completing the square c) using the formula d) using calculator
2. SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

2.1 Factorisation

Example 1 Example 2

.x2 + 6x + 5 = 0 x + 3 3x 4(x +3) = x(2x – 1)

( x + 3)(x + 2) = 0 x + 2 2x 4x + 12 = 2x2 - x
.x + 3 = 0 or x + 2 = 0 2x2 – 5x – 12 = 0
.x = -3 x =-2 x2 + 6 5x (2x + 3)(x – 4) = 0
2x + 3 = 0 or x – 4 = 0
Therefore, The roots of the equation are 3
.x = –3 and –2 .x = x= 4
2
Therefore, The roots of the equation are
3
.x = and 4
2

Exercises 3
Solve the following quadratic equation by factorisation

1. x2 + 3x – 4 = 0 2. x2 –2x = 15

x  1,4 x  3,5

3. 4x2 + 4x – 3 = 0 4. 3x2 – 7x + 2 = 0

1 3 1
x , x ,2
2 2 3
5. 8x2 + 10x – 3 = 0 6) . 6x2 + 5x – 4 = 0

1 4
x  ,
1 3 2 3
x  ,
4 2

4
2.2. Completing the square

Example 1 Example 2
Rearrange in the
form
x2 – 6x + 7 = 0 .x2 + px = q 2x2 – 5x – 1 = 0
x2 – 6x = –7 2x2 – 5x = 1
Change the
5 1 coefficient
6 6
2 2
x2 – x = of x2 to 1
x2 – 6x +   =–7 +   2 2
 2   2 
 5 1  5
2 2
x – 6x + (–3) = –7 + (–3)
2 2 2 5
Add x –
2
x +  = + 
(x – 3)2 = 2  coefficien t..of .x 
2 2  4  2  4 
x–3 =  2   2
 2   5 1 25
x  = +
x= 3  2 To both sides  4 2 16
33
x = 3 + 2 or 3 – 2 =
16
5 33 33
x = 4.414 or 1.586 x– =  =
4 16 4
5 33 5 33
x= + or –
4 4 4 4
x = 2.686 or – 0.186

Exercise 4
Solve the following quadratic equations by completing the square:

1. (x + 1)(x – 5) = 4 2. 3x2 + 6x – 2 = 0

x  5.6056,  1.6056 x  0.2910,  2.2980

3. 5x – 7x + 1 = 0
2
4. 2x – 3x – 4 = 0
2

x  1.2385, 0.1615 x  2.3508,  0.8508

5
 1 2 1 6. (5x – 4)2 = 24
5. x  x3
4 2

x  1.780,  0.1798
x = 2.606 or x = - 4.606

2.3 Quadratic formula

 b  b 2  4ac
EXAMPLE : Solve the following quadratic equation by using formula x=
2a
and give your answer correct to 4.s.f

1. x (x – 3 ) = 5 2. 3x2 = 5(x+2)

x = 4.193 , x = –1.193 x = 2.840 or x = - 1.174

6
Exercise 5
Solve the following quadratic equations by using the quadratic formula

1. 3x2 + 6x – 2 = 0 2. – x2 – 3x + 5 = 0

x  0.2910,  2.2980 x  4.1923, 1.1926

1 x 7 4. (x – 1)(4x – 9) + 7 = 10x
3. +3=
x x5

x  0.4037,  3.0963 x  4.9403, 0.8097

Note : Solve all quadratic equations above using calculator
Homework : Text Book page 32 Exercise 2. 2.1

2.2 Form a quadratic equation from given roots

1. If a and b are the roots of a quadratic equation then

x = a or x = b
x – a = 0 or x – b = 0
(x – a)(x – b) = 0, hence x 2 – (a + b)x + ab = 0
Therefore , the quadratic equation with roots P and q is
x2 – ( a+b) x + ab = 0

2. The Step of forming a quadratic equation from given roots are

i. Find the sum of the roots

ii. Find the product of the roots
iii. Form a quadratic equation by writing in a following form

x2 – ( sum of the roots ) x + product of the roots = 0

7
Example 2.2(i) Form the quadratic equation whose roots are shown below
2 c) 3  and 2
a). 3 and -5 b). 4 and
3

Exercise 2.2
1 1 1 c) 4r and 5r
a) .  b). and  2
7 2 3

Example 2.2(ii) State the sum and product of the roots of the following quadratic equations.
2 2
a) . x - 9x - 4 = 0 b). 3x + 5x + 4 = 0 c) x(x – 1) = 2(1 – x)

Exercise 2.2(ii) State the sum and product of the roots of the following quadratic equations.
2 2 2
a) . x  4 x  5  0 b). 2x - 6x + 3 = 0 c) ). 2x +( t +2) x + t = 0
2

Example 2.2(ii)
If  and  2
are the roots of the equation 2x + 5x – 6 = 0, Form the equations whose roots are

a)  1 ,  1 2 2
b) ,
 

8
Exercise 2.2(ii)
If  and  2
are the roots of the equation 3x - 2x + 4 = 0, Form the equations whose roots are

a) 2  1 , 2  1 1 1
b) ,
 

Example 2.2(iii) Solve the following problems.

2 2
1. If One root of the equations 27x + kx – 8 = 0 is 2. If one root of the equations 2x + x – c = 0 is two
square the other .Find the value of k times the other, find the value of c
.

2 2
3. Find q if the equation 3x - 4x + q = 0 has equal 4. If the roots of the equation x + px + 7 = 0 are
roots denoted by  and  , and  2   2  22 .find the
possible values of p (camb)

9
5. Given that  and  are the roots of the equation 6. . Given that  and  are the roots of the equation
2 2
x – 2x + 3 = 0, Find a quadratic equation whose roots 2x – 3x + 4 = 0,Write down the value of
are  2   2 and 2 (Camb    and 2 . Find an equation whose roots
1 1
are  and   (camb)
 

Homework : Text Book page 34 Exercise 2. 2.2 and Skill Practice 2.2

3. Understand and use the conditions for quadratic equations to have

a) two different roots;
b) two equal roots;
c) no roots / no real roots
2
3.1 Determine types of roots of quadratic equations from the value of b - 4ac.
3.2 Solve problems involving
2
b - 4ac in quadratic equations to:
a) find an unknown value;
b) derive a relation.

3.1
2
Determine types of roots of quadratic equations from the value of b  4ac.
2 2
For the quadratic equation ax + b x + c = o, the discriminant of the equation is b  4ac
2
Types of roots of quadratic equations from the value of b  4ac
2
(i) b  4ac > 0 ….Two different roots ( the roots are distinct)
2
(ii) b  4ac = 0 …Two same roots
2
(iii) b  4ac < 0 …. No real roots

Example 3.1 Determine the type of the roots of the following quadratic equations
2 2
ax + bx + c = 0 a b c b -4ac Type of roots
1 5 6 1 Two different roots
2
1. x + 5x + 6 = 0
2
2. x + 6x + 9 = 0

2
3. 4x - 4x + 1 = 0

2
4. 2x - 4x - 5 = 0

2
5. 2x - 5x + 4 = 0

Homework : Text Book page 36 Exercise 2. 3.1.

10
 2
3.2 Solve problems involving b - 4ac in quadratic equations to:
a) find an unknown value;
b) derive a relation.
2
The value b  4ac can be used to find the unknown value of coefficients or to derive a relation which involves
unknown in the quadratic equations
Example 3.2
2 2
a) Find k if x + 8x + k = 0 has equal roots b) Find p if 3x + 2x + 3p = 0,has two different roots

Exercise 3.2
a) Find The range of value of p if Find The range of value of p if
2 2
3x – 1 = 6x – 2p has two distinct roots x + 2x +9 = p(2x – p) has two different roots

[p<2] [p > - 4]
2
c) .The quadratic equation 3x + 2x + h = 0 has d) Show that the roots of the equations
equal roots . Find the value of h 2 2 1
6x – 6 -2px = x are complex if p >
4

1
[h= ]
3
2
e) Given that x +(p- 2)x + 10 - p = 0 has two f) Find the range of values of h for the quadratic equation
2
equal roots, find the values of p . 2x + 3x +4p = 1 which has no roots

17
[p> ]
[p= 6 ] 32

Homework : Text Book page 37 Exercise 2. 3.2. and skill Practice 2.3
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 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS – SPM QUESTIONS

1. (1997)
Given that m + 2 and n – 1 are the roots of the equation x 2  5x  4 . Find the possible values of m
and n.
[3 marks]
2. (1998)
1
The equation px 2  px  3q  1  2 x has the roots of and q.
p
(a) Find the value of p and of q. [1 mark]

(b) Hence, by using the value of p and q from (a) , form the quadratic equation with roots p and – 2q.
[4 marks]
3. (1999)
Given that one of the root of the equation 2 x 2  6 x  2k  1 is twice the other root,
where k is the constant. Find the roots and the value of k.
[4 marks]
4. (1999)
(a) Given that the equation of x 2  6 x  7  h(2 x  3) has equal roots. Find the values of h .
[4 marks]
(b) Given that  and  are the roots of the equation x  2 x  k  0, while 2 and 2 are the
2

roots for the equation x 2  mx  9  0. Calculate the possible values of k and m.

[6 marks]
5. (2000)
The quadratic equation 2 x 2  px  q  0 has the roots of - 6 and 3. Find
(a) the value of p and of q. [3 marks]

(b) the range of values of k such that 2 x 2  px  q  k has no real roots.

[2 marks]
6. (2001)
Given that 2 and m are the roots of the equation (2 x  1)( x  3)  k ( x  1) where k is the constant.
Find the value of m and of k.
[4 marks]

7. (2001)
If  and  are the roots of the equation 2 x 2  3x  1  0 , form the quadratic equation with roots
3  2 and 3  2 .
[5 marks]

8. (2002)
Given that the quadratic equation x 2  3  k ( x  1), where k is the constant, has the roots of p and q .
Find the range of values of k if the equation has two different roots.
[5 marks]
9. (2002)
 
Given that and are the roots of the equation kx( x  1)  2m  x. If     6 and   3, find
2 2
the value of k and of m.
[5 marks]
10. (2003)
Solve the quadratic equation 2 x( x  4)  (1  x)( x  2) . Give your answer correct to
four significant figures. [3 marks]

12
11. (2003)
The quadratic equation x( x  1)  px  4 has two distinct roots. Find the range of values of p.
[3 marks]

12. (2004)
1
Form the quadratic equation which has the roots - 3 and . Give your answer in the form
2
ax 2  bx  c  0, where a , b and c are constants. [2 marks]

13. (2005)
The straight line y = 5x – 1 does not intersect the curve y  2 x 2  x  p. Find the range of values of p.
[3 marks]

14. (2005)
Solve the quadratic equation x(2 x  5)  2 x  1. Give your answer correct to three decimal places.
[3 marks]
15. (2006)
A quadratic equation x 2  px  9  2 x has two equal roots. Find the possible values of p.
[3 marks]

16. (2007)
(a) Solve the following quadratic equation:
3x 2  5 x  2  0

(b) The quadratic equation hx 2  kx  3  0 , where h and k are constants, has two
equal roots. Express h in terms of k.
[4 marks]
17. (2008-P1.Q4)
It is given that - 1 is one of the roots of the quadratic equation x 2  4 x  p  0 . Find the value of p.
[2 marks]

ANSWERS

1. m = -3 , - 6 n=-3,0 7. 2 x2  x  19  0 13. p  1
2 1 8. k  6 , k  2 14. x = 8.153 , 0.149
2. (a) p  , q
3 2
(b) 3x 2  x  2  0
3 1 3 15. p = 8 , p = - 4
3. k   9. k   , m
2 2 16
4. (a) h = - 1 , - 2 10. x = 2.591 , - 0.2573 1
16. (a) x  ,  2
9 3
(b) m  4 , k 
4 k2
(b) h 
12
5. (a) p = 6 , q = - 36 11. p  3 , p  5 17. p = 5
(b) k  40.5
6. k = 15 , m = 3 12. 2 x2  5x  3  0

13