The quadratic equation

🏆Practice the quadratic formula

What is a quadratic equation?

Quadratic equations (also called second degree equations) contain three numbers called parameters:

  • Parameter a a represents the position of the vertex of the parabola on the Y Y axis. A parabola can have a maximum vertex, or a minimum vertex (depending on if the parabola opens upwards or downwards).
  • Parameter b b represents the position of the vertex of the parabola on the X X axis.
  • Parameter c c represents the point of intersection of the parabola with the Y Y axis.

These three parameters are expressed in quadratic equations as follows:

aX2+bX+c=0 aX^2+bX+c=0

They are called the coefficients of the equation.

So, how do we find the value of X X ?

To find X X and be able to solve the quadratic equation, all we need to do is to input the parameters (the number values of a, b and c) from the equation into the quadratic formula, and solve for X X .

For example:

3X2+8X+4=0 3X^2+8X+4=0

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Test yourself on the quadratic formula!

einstein

Solve the following equation:

\( x^2+5x+4=0 \)

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Solving quadratic equations by completing the square

Although this method will not work for all quadratic equations, it is always worth checking because it can provide us with a quick solution without needing to solve the quadratic formula first.

It is important to note that, unlike the quadratic formula, solving a quadratic equation by completing the square is only possible in equations containing three parameters.

For example, with an equation like:

X2+5X=0 X^2+5X=0
it will not be possible to solve by completing the square.

Although in most cases we will use the quadratic formula, we recommend getting familiar this method, as it could save you time.

But let's take a step back. What is an equation?

Equations form the base of most mathematics today, and there are many different types of them. They can be as simple as basic addition equations and as complex as the complicated equations used in advanced physics.

Many of the equations we will encounter in our studies will have variables, which are unknown values, usually represented by the letter X X .

Linear equations, also called first degree equations, have a variable to the power of one. There are also second degree equations, like the quadratic equation, where the variable is squared (to the power of two).

With linear equations (first degree equations), the simplest method to solve them is by isolating the unknown variable.

To do this we must first get rid of any parentheses.

Then, we can move the unknown variable to one side and the known numbers to the other sides using inverse operations.

Then, we reduce to like terms and find the value of the unknown variable.

In order to make sure we arrived at the correct answer, we take our solution and substitute it into the original equation. If both sides of the equation are equal, our solution is correct.


Before diving deeper into quadratic equations, let's review some important terms:

  • Expression: an expression is another name for an equation, a formula, or basically any mathematical exercise.
  • Factor: a factor is any type of number or variable in an expression/equation.
  • Coefficient: a coefficient is a number or a constant that comes before a variable that multiplies the variable in an expression.
    For example, in the expression 4X+5Y+2 4X+5Y+2
    4 4 is the coefficient of X X
    and 5 5 is the coefficient of Y Y
    Note that the coefficient will not always be a number. Sometimes coefficients also appear as a parameter to be found. For example aX+bX aX+bX . In this case a and b b , are the coefficients of X X .
  • Variable: as previously mentioned, a variable is an unknown value that is usually represented by the letter X X , but can also be represented by any other letter, as in equations with two unknowns. For example: X+Y=3 X+Y=3
  • Parameter: a parameter is similar to a variable. It is a quantity whose value is unknown but is used in an expression as a known value in order to solve the equation. It is usually represented by letters. However, unlike a variable, its value does not change.
  • Side of an equation: in an equation there are two sides seperated by the equal sign. Everything on the left side of the equation is called the left side of the equation, and everything on the right side is called the right side of the equation. Often, we will be required to perform the same operation on both sides in order to solve or simplify an equation.

Let's explain what a Linear, or first degree, equation is:

A linear equation, or a first degree equation, is a way of describing a straight line and its position relative to a system of axes, using mathematical language.

(It is called a first degree equation because the highest exponent is one - we will go more into depth on this later.)

These axes consist of a horizontal and vertical plane that intersect each other and form four squares that divide the system into a positive axis (+ + ) and a negative axis ( - ). For example, the equation Y=X+2=0 Y=X+2=0 describes what is happening directly on the axes. When Y Y is equal to zero, X=2 X=-2 . This means that at the point 0 0 on the Y Y axis, the line intersects the X X axis
at the point 2 -2 .

The quadratic formula - Graphing a new equation


Example

Let's take a look at the following example:

If we have the expression: X3=6 X-3=6
X3 X-3 is the left side

  • and 6 6 is the right side.

    Suppose we are asked to find the value of the variable X X in the above equation. To do this, we can add 3 3 in both members to find out what our variable is. In this case, the expression would look like this:
  • X3+3=6+3 X-3+3=6+3

So the answer is

  • X=9 X=9
  • Reduction: when we want to rewrite an expression into a simpler form, we do something called reduction. Suppose we have the expression X+X+X X+X+X We can add the variables together and write them as 3X 3X .

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Another example

We have the equation
X+5Y+3X+2Y X+5Y+3X+2Y

After reducing the terms, it will look like this: 4X+7Y 4X+7Y

  • Exponents: the exponent of a number tells us how many times the number is multiplied by itself. To express this we use the phrase 'to the power of.' For example: 3 to the power of 2 2 (also called 3 3 squared) is actually 3 3 times 3 3. So 3 squared equals 9 9 .
  • Square root: the square root is the number that, mutiplied by itself, gives us the square number. To find the square root of a number, we need to find out what number, multiplied by itself, gives us our square number. For example, 16 √16 is equal to 4 4 . Since 4 4 times 4 4 (or 4 4 to the power of 2 2 ) equals 16 16 . Note that the numbers obtained by a square root are not always whole numbers. For example, 10√10 will give us 3.16227766017 3.16227766017.
  • Parabola: A parabola is a type function with a U-shaped curve. The graph of a quadratic, or second degree, equation takes the shape of a parabola.

Now that we have gone over some important terms, let's see what happens when we use exponents in our equations.

Let's take a look at the following equation. How would you solve it?

X2+10X4=0 X^2+10X-4=0

Our intuition tells us that to get rid of the squared X we should solve for the square root. However, if we choose to do that we will have to find the square root of everything in the equation, which would give us decimal fractions and make our equation more complicated than when we started.

The quadratic formula (and other solutions), allow us to solve quadratic equations (second degree equations) in a relatively simple and efficient way. Here we will learn the two most common methods to solve this type of equation.


Why not just use the square root operation?

The square root operation reverses the exponent operation. Finding the square root means to divide a factor by itself. For example, the square root of X2 X^2 is simply X X .

In order to solve the equation without putting the whole equation under the square root and getting lost in a series of complicated calculations, we will use the quadratic formula.


Do you know what the answer is?

What is the quadratic equation?

The quadratic equation contains three parameters:

  • Parameter a a represents the position of the vertex of the parabola on the Y Y axis. A parabola can have a maximum vertex, or a minimum vertex (depending on if the parabola opens upwards or downwards).
  • Parameter b b represents the position of the vertex of the parabola on the X X axis.
  • Parameter c c represents the point of intersection of the parabola with the Y Y axis.

These three parameters are expressed in quadratic equations as follows:

aX2+bX+c=0 aX^2+bX+c=0


What is the quadratic formula

A quadratic (second degree) equation tells us a completely different story than the linear equation (first degree equation). Instead of a straight line (like in linear equations), here it is a parabola. A parabola is a function, drawn as a U-shaped curve, that intersects with the X X and Y Y axes at different points. A parabola will either open upwards or downwards. If the equation has a solution, the values of X X found are the points of intersection of the parabola with the X X axis. For example, if we have the following quadratic equation:

3X2+8X+4=0 3X²+8X+4=0

explanation of what a second degree equation is 5


Check your understanding

Another example

X2+2X+0=0 X²+2X+0=0

The equation above gives us our coefficients.

To use the quadratic formula, all we need to do is to plug the parameters into the formula, using the coefficients from the equation.

X2+2X+0=0 X²+2X+0=0
The values of the parameters will be:
a=1 a =1
b=2 b =2
c=0 c =0

Now we only need to formulate it like this:

The quadratic formula-Resolution of an equation new

Now it will be much simpler.

quadratic equation 3

Therefore x1=0 x_1=0

To find the x2 x_2 , in our formula we have to subtract as follows:

quadratic equation 4

Therefore x2=2 x_2=-2

If we perform the operations step by step, working carefully, we will arrive at a precise result.

No solution?

Did you get a negative number in the square root?

Maybe the parabola doesn't intersect the X axis.

But, to be safe -> check again. It is important to proceed carefully to get an accurate result. Graphing calculators can be useful to check that we are in the right direction.

Your solution should be: X=0 X=0 y X=2 X=-2
which means that the intersection points on the axis X X will be at 2 -2 and 0 0 .

If so, a quadratic equation can give us:

  • two solutions (two intersections of the function with the X X axis)
parabola with two solutions


Other examples of graphs of quadratic functions

When there is a solution
Parabola tangent to the axis X X , as in the equation:
Y=X2+2X+1 Y=X^2+2X+1

quadratic equation 2


No solution
Parabola "floats" on the axis X X , as in eq:
2=X2+2X+2 2=X^2+2X+2

The parabola (floats)


How to solve quadratic equations without a calculator?

In most cases, we will use the quadratic formula.

The quadratic formula is the fastest and most efficient way to solve quadratic equations.


Why do we call quadratic equations second degree equations?
In a quadratic equation we apply an exponent to our variable X2 X^2 . This is also called a second degree variable because the highest exponent in quadratic equations will be two. Let's take a closer look at exponents.


Exponential numbers

As we have already mentioned, an exponential number is a number multiplied by itself. Instead of writing X×X X\times X , we write it like this: X2 X^2 . The larger number on the left is called the base. The small number to the right of the base, called the exponent, tells us how many times the base must be multiplied by itself.


Do you think you will be able to solve it?

Solving the equation by using the perfect square method

Although this method will not work in every case, if applicable, it can provide us with a quick solution to the equation we need to solve.

It is important to note that, unlike the quadratic formula, solving an equation with the perfect square method is only possible in equations that contain three coefficients.

For example, in the case of X2+5X=0 X^2+5X=0 it will not be possible to solvethe equation using the perfect square method. We recommend being familiar with this method, although in most cases we will use the quadratic formula.


The discriminant

Sometimes, we will not be asked for the specific points where the parabola intersects the X X axis, but only how many points of intersection there are.

By calculating the value of the discriminant, we will know how many solutions to look for.

The discriminant, represented by the symbol delta, represents change. In the quadratic formula the discriminant is what appears just below the square root symbol.

If >0 > 0 positive => the equation will have two solutions.

If =0 = 0 the equation will have one solution.

If <0 < 0 negative => the equation will have no solution.

Test your knowledge

Graphing Calculator

Do you want to test yourself? Or maybe you already understand the material and are trying to solve exercises quickly?

Try using a calculator to solve quadratic equations. All you have to know is how to input the missing values in the equation, and you will get the solution.

Quadratic equation exercises

Exercise 1

Task:

Solve the following equation:

X2+5X+4=0 X^2+5X+4=0

Solution:

a=1 a= 1

b=5 b= 5

c=4 c= 4

We input the values of a,b,c a,b,c of the given equation into the quadratic formula:

X1,2 =b±b24ac2a X_{1,2\text{ }}=\frac{-b±\sqrt{b²-4\cdot a\cdot c}}{2\cdot a}

X1,2 =5±524142a X_{1,2\text{ }}=\frac{-5±\sqrt{5²-4\cdot1\cdot4}}{2\cdot a}

X1,2 =5±25162 X_{1,2\text{ }}=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-16}}{2}

X1,2 =5±92=5±32 X_{1,2\text{ }}=\frac{-5±\sqrt{9}}{2}=\frac{-5±3}{2}

Answer:

The correct answer is:

X1=1, X2=4 X_1=-1,\text{ X}_2=-4


Do you know what the answer is?

Exercise 2

Task:

Solve the following equation:

2X210X12=0 2X²-10X-12=0

Solution:

a=2 a=2

b=10 b=-10

c=12 c=-12

We input the values of a,b,c a,b,c of the given equation into the quadratic formula:

X1,2=b±b24ac2a X_{1,2}=\frac{-b±\sqrt{b²-4\cdot a\cdot c}}{2\cdot a}

X1,2=(10)±(10)242(12)22 X_{1,2}=\frac{-(-10)±\sqrt{(-10)²-4\cdot2\cdot(-12)}}{2\cdot2}

X1,2=10±100+964 X_{1,2}=\frac{10±\sqrt{100+96}}{4}

X1,2=10±1964=10±144 X_{1,2}=\frac{10±\sqrt{196}}{4}=\frac{10±14}{4}

X1=10+144=244=6 X_1=\frac{10+14}{4}=\frac{24}{4}=6

X2=10144=44=1 X_2=\frac{10-14}{4}=\frac{-4}{4}=-1

Answer:

The correct answer is:

X1=6, X2=1 X_1=6,\text{ X}_2=-1


Exercise 3

Task:

Solve the following equation:

81X2+54X9=0 -81X^2+54X-9=0

Solution:

a=81 a=-81

b=54 b=54

c=9 c=-9

We input the values of a,b,c a,b,c of the given equation into the quadratic formula:

X1,2=b±b24×a×c2×a X_{1,2}=\frac{-b±\sqrt{b²-4\times a\times c}}{2\times a}

X1,2=54±5424×(81)×(9)2×(81) X_{1,2}=\frac{-54±\sqrt{54²-4\times (-81)\times(-9)}}{2\times(-81)}

X1,2=54±29162916162X_{1,2}=\frac{-54±\sqrt{2916-2916}}{-162}

X1,2=54±0162=54162=13X_{1,2}=\frac{-54±\sqrt{0}}{-162}=\frac{-54}{-162}=\frac{1}{3}

Answer:

X=13 X=\frac{1}{3}


Check your understanding

Exercise 4

Task:

Solve the following equation:

6X2+12X14X=0 -6X²+12X-14X=0

Solution:

The number under the square root symbol is a negative number. Since a negative number has no square root, this equation has no solution.

Answer:

There is no solution.


Exercise 5

Task:

Given triangle ABC ABC :

Exercise 4 Given the figure of the triangle

Given:

a+b=7 a+b=7

We are given that the ratio between CB CB and AC AC is 5:3 5:3

Task:

Find the length of aa and bb.

Solution:

Use the Pythagorean theorem

AB2+AC2=BC2 AB²+AC²=BC²

for ABC \triangle ABC

Because:

CBAC=53 \frac{CB}{AC}=\frac{5}{3}

We know that:

CBa=53 \frac{CB}{a}=\frac{5}{3}

Therefore, to reduce we must multiply both terms ×a \times a

Which gives us:

CB=53a CB=\frac{5}{3}a

Now we can input the values into the quadratic equation:

b2+a2=(53a)2 b²+a²=(\frac{5}{3}a)²

a+b=7 a+b=7 ,b=7a b=7-a

(7a)2+a2=(53a)2 (7-a)²+a²=(\frac{5}{3}a)²

72+a22×7×a+a2=259a2 7²+a²-2\times7\times a+a²=\frac{25}{9}a²

2a214a+49=259a2 2a²-14a+49=\frac{25}{9}a²

0=79a2+14a49 0=\frac{7}{9}a²+14a-49

Using the quadratic formula, we get:

X1,2=b±b24×a×c2×a X_{1,2}=\frac{-b±\sqrt{b²-4\times a\times c}}{2\times a}

X1,2=14±1424×79×(49)2a X_{1,2}=\frac{-14±\sqrt{14²-4\times\frac{7}{9}\times(-49)}}{2a}

X1,2=14±31369149=14±563149X_{1,2}=\frac{-14±\sqrt{\frac{3136}{9}}}{\frac{14}{9}}=-\frac{14±\frac{56}{3}}{\frac{14}{9}}

X1=(14+563):149=143×914=93=3X_1=(-14+\frac{56}{3}):\frac{14}{9}=\frac{14}{3}\times\frac{9}{14}=\frac{9}{3}=3

a=3cm a=3\operatorname{cm}

b=73=4cm b=7-3=4\operatorname{cm}

X2=(14563):149=983×914=21 X_2=(-14-\frac{56}{3}):\frac{14}{9}=\frac{98}{3}\times\frac{9}{14}=-21

Remember that the answer cannot be negative since it represents the length of a side.

Answer:

a=3cm a=3\operatorname{cm}

b=73=4cm b=7-3=4\operatorname{cm}


Do you think you will be able to solve it?

Exercise 6

Task:

Solve the following equation:

10x265x+135=4x2+13x45 10x^2-65x+135=4x^2+13x-45

Solution:

First, we have to rewrite the equation in standard form

aX2+bX+C=0 aX²+bX+C=0

By moving all of the numbers and variables to the left side:

10X265X+135=4X2+13X45 10X²-65X+135=4X²+13X-45 / Shift

4X213X+45 -4X²-13X+45

10X24X265X13X+135+45=0 10X²-4X²-65X-13X+135+45=0

6X278X+180=0 6X²-78X+180=0

Our parameters are:

a=6 a=6

b=78 b=-78

c=180 c=180

We input the parameters into the quadratic formula:

X1,2=(78)±(78)24618026X_{1,2}=\frac{(-78)±\sqrt{ \left(-78\right)^2 -4\cdot6\cdot180}}{2\cdot6}

Answer:

X1=10 X_1=-10

X2=3 X_2=-3


Test your knowledge

Examples with solutions for The Quadratic Formula

Exercise #1

a = coefficient of x²

b = coefficient of x

c = coefficient of the constant term


What is the value of c c in the function y=x2+25x y=-x^2+25x ?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's recall the general form of the quadratic function:

y=ax2+bx+c y=ax^2+bx+c The function given in the problem is:

y=x2+25x y=-x^2+25x c c is the free term (meaning the coefficient of the term with power 0),

In the function in the problem there is no free term,

Therefore, we can identify that:

c=0 c=0 Therefore, the correct answer is answer A.

Answer

c=0 c=0

Exercise #2

Solve the following equation:

x2+5x+4=0 x^2+5x+4=0

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The parameters are expressed in the quadratic equation as follows:

aX2+bX+c=0

 

We substitute into the formula:

 

-5±√(5²-4*1*4) 
          2

 

-5±√(25-16)
         2

 

-5±√9
    2

 

-5±3
   2

 

The symbol ± means that we have to solve this part twice, once with a plus and a second time with a minus,

This is how we later get two results.

 

-5-3 = -8
-8/2 = -4

 

-5+3 = -2
-2/2 = -1

 

And thus we find out that X = -1, -4

Answer

x1=1 x_1=-1 x2=4 x_2=-4

Exercise #3

Solve the following equation:

2x210x12=0 2x^2-10x-12=0

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's recall the quadratic formula:

Quadratic formula | The formula

We'll substitute the given data into the formula:

x=(10)±10242(12)22 x={{-(-10)\pm\sqrt{-10^2-4\cdot2\cdot(-12)}\over 2\cdot2}}

Let's simplify and solve the part under the square root:

x=10±100+964 x={{10\pm\sqrt{100+96}\over 4}}

x=10±1964 x={{10\pm\sqrt{196}\over 4}}

x=10±144 x={{10\pm14\over 4}}

Now we'll solve using both methods, once with the addition sign and once with the subtraction sign:

x=10+144=244=6 x={{10+14\over 4}} = {24\over4}=6

x=10144=44=1 x={{10-14\over 4}} = {-4\over4}=-1

We've arrived at the solution: X=6,-1

Answer

x1=6 x_1=6 x2=1 x_2=-1

Exercise #4

x2+9=0 x^2+9=0

Solve the equation

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

The parameters are expressed in the quadratic equation as follows:

aX2+bX+c=0

 

We identify that we have:
a=1
b=0
c=9

 

We recall the root formula:

Roots formula | The version

We replace according to the formula:

-0 ± √(0²-4*1*9)

           2

 

We will focus on the part inside the square root (also called delta)

√(0-4*1*9)

√(0-36)

√-36

 

It is not possible to take the square root of a negative number.

And so the question has no solution.

Answer

No solution

Exercise #5

Solve the following equation:

x2+9x+8=0 x^2+9x+8=0

Video Solution

Answer

x1=1 x_1=-1 x2=8 x_2=-8

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