Quadratic Equations

Notes on Quadratic Equations

Quadratic Polynomial

A polynomial, whose degree is 2, is called a quadratic polynomial. It is in the form of

p(x) = ax² + bx + c, where a ≠ 0

Quadratic Equation

When we equate the quadratic polynomial to zero then it is called a Quadratic Equation i.e. if

p(x) = 0, then it is known as Quadratic Equation. 

Standard form of Quadratic Equation

where a, b, c are the real numbers and a≠0

Types of Quadratic Equations

1. Complete Quadratic Equation  ax² + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0, c ≠ 0

2. Pure Quadratic Equation   ax² = 0, where a ≠ 0, b = 0, c = 0

Roots of a Quadratic Equation

Let x = α where α is a real number. If α satisfies the Quadratic Equation ax²+ bx + c = 0 such that aα² + bα + c = 0, then α is the root of the Quadratic Equation.

As quadratic polynomials have degree 2, therefore Quadratic Equations can have two roots. So the zeros of quadratic polynomial p(x) =ax²+bx+c is same as the roots of the Quadratic Equation ax²+ bx + c= 0.

Methods to solve the Quadratic Equations

There are three methods to solve the Quadratic Equations-

1. Factorisation Method

In this method, we factorise the equation into two linear factors and equate each factor to zero to find the roots of the given equation.

Step 1: Given Quadratic Equation in the form of ax² + bx + c = 0.

Step 2: Split the middle term bx as mx + nx so that the sum of m and n is equal to b and the product of m and n is equal to ac.

Step 3: By factorization we get the two linear factors (x + p) and (x + q)

ax² + bx + c = 0 = (x + p) (x + q) = 0

Step 4: Now we have to equate each factor to zero to find the value of x.

These values of x are the two roots of the given Quadratic Equation.

2. Completing the square method

In this method, we convert the equation in the square form (x + a)² - b² = 0 to find the roots.

Step1: Given Quadratic Equation in the standard form ax² + bx + c = 0.

Step 2: Divide both sides by a

Step 3: Transfer the constant on RHS then add square of the half of the coefficient of x i.e.on both sides

Step 4: Now write LHS as perfect square and simplify the RHS.

Step 5: Take the square root on both the sides.

Step 6: Now shift all the constant terms to the RHS and we can calculate the value of x as there is no variable at the RHS.

3. Quadratic formula method

In this method, we can find the roots by using quadratic formula. The quadratic formula is

where a, b and c are the real numbers and b² – 4ac is called discriminant.

To find the roots of the equation, put the value of a, b and c in the quadratic formula.

Nature of Roots

From the quadratic formula, we can see that the two roots of the Quadratic Equation are -

Where D = b² – 4ac

The nature of the roots of the equation depends upon the value of D, so it is called the discriminant.

∆ = Discriminant

 

Quadratic Equation

When we equate a quadratic polynomial to a constant, we get a quadratic equation.

Any equation of the form p(x)=c, where p(x) is a polynomial of degree 2 and c is a constant, is a quadratic equation.

The standard form of a Quadratic Equation

The standard form of a quadratic equation is ax2+bx+c=0, where a,b and c are real numbers and a≠0.
‘a’ is the coefficient of x2. It is called the quadratic coefficient. ‘b’ is the coefficient of x. It is called the linear coefficient. ‘c’ is the constant term.

 

Solving QE by Factorisation

Roots of a Quadratic equation

The values of x for which a quadratic equation is satisfied are called the roots of the quadratic equation.

If α is a root of the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0, then aα2+bα+c=0.

A quadratic equation can have two distinct real roots, two equal roots or real roots may not exist.

Graphically, the roots of a quadratic equation are the points where the graph of the quadratic polynomial cuts the x-axis.

Consider the graph of a quadratic equation x2−4=0:

Graph of a Quadratic Equation

In the above figure, -2 and 2 are the roots of the quadratic equation x2−4=0
Note:

• If the graph of the quadratic polynomial cuts the x-axis at two distinct points, then it has real and distinct roots.
• If the graph of the quadratic polynomial touches the x-axis, then it has real and equal roots.
• If the graph of the quadratic polynomial does not cut or touch the x-axis then it does not have any real roots.

Solving a Quadratic Equation by Factorization method

Consider a quadratic equation 2x2−5x+3=0
⇒2x2−2x−3x+3=0
This step is splitting the middle term
We split the middle term by finding two numbers (-2 and -3) such that their sum is equal to the coefficient of x and their product is equal to the product of the coefficient of x2 and the constant.
(-2) + (-3) = (-5)
And (-2) × (-3) = 6
2x2−2x−3x+3=0
2x(x−1)−3(x−1)=0
(x−1)(2x−3)=0
In this step, we have expressed the quadratic polynomial as a product of its factors.
Thus, x = 1 and x =3/2 are the roots of the given quadratic equation.
This method of solving a quadratic equation is called the factorisation method.

 

 

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Solving QE by Completing the Square

Solving a Quadratic Equation by Completion of squares method

In the method of completing the squares, the quadratic equation is expressed in the form (x±k)2=p2.

Consider the quadratic equation 2x2−8x=10
(i) Express the quadratic equation in standard form.
2x2−8x−10=0

(ii) Divide the equation by the coefficient of x2 to make the coefficient of x2 equal to 1.
x2−4x−5=0

(iii) Add the square of half of the coefficient of x to both sides of the equation to get an expression of the form x2±2kx+k2.
(x2−4x+4)−5=0+4

(iv) Isolate the above expression, (x±k)2 on the LHS to obtain an equation of the form (x±k)2=p2
(x−2)2=9

(v) Take the positive and negative square roots.
x−2=±3

x=−1 or x=5

 

Solving QE Using Quadratic Formula

Quadratic Formula

Quadratic Formula is used to directly obtain the roots of a quadratic equation from the standard form of the equation.

For the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0,

x= [-b± √(b2-4ac)]/2a

By substituting the values of a,b and c, we can directly get the roots of the equation.

 

Discriminant

For a quadratic equation of the form ax2+bx+c=0, the expression b2−4ac is called the discriminant, (denoted by D), of the quadratic equation.
The discriminant determines the nature of roots of the quadratic equation based on the coefficients of the quadratic equation.

 

 

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Solving using Quadratic Formula when D>0

Solve 2x2−7x+3=0 using the quadratic formula.
(i) Identify the coefficients of the quadratic equation. a = 2,b = -7,c = 3
(ii) Calculate the discriminant, b2−4ac
D=(−7)2−4×2×3= 49-24 = 25
D> 0, therefore, the roots are distinct.
(iii) Substitute the coefficients in the quadratic formula to find the roots

x= [-(-7)± √((-7)2-4(2)(3))]/2(2)

x=(7 ±5)/4

x=3 and x= 1/2 are the roots.

Nature of Roots

Based on the value of the discriminant, D=b2−4ac, the roots of a quadratic equation can be of three types.

Case 1: If D>0, the equation has two distinct real roots.

Case 2: If D=0, the equation has two equal real roots.

Case 3: If D<0, the equation has no real roots.

 

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Graphical Representation of a Quadratic Equation

The graph of a quadratic polynomial is a parabola. The roots of a quadratic equation are the points where the parabola cuts the x-axis i.e. the points where the value of the quadratic polynomial is zero.

Now, the graph of x2+5x+6=0 is:

In the above figure, -2 and -3 are the roots of the quadratic equation
x2+5x+6=0.

For a quadratic polynomial ax2+bx+c,

If a>0, the parabola opens upwards.
If a<0, the parabola opens downwards.
If a = 0, the polynomial will become a first-degree polynomial and its graph is linear.

The discriminant, D=b2−4ac

Nature of graph for different values of D.

If D>0, the parabola cuts the x-axis at exactly two distinct points. The roots are distinct. This case is shown in the above figure in a, where the quadratic polynomial cuts the x-axis at two distinct points.

If D=0, the parabola just touches the x-axis at one point and the rest of the parabola lies above or below the x-axis. In this case, the roots are equal.
This case is shown in the above figure in b, where the quadratic polynomial touches the x-axis at only one point.

If D<0, the parabola lies entirely above or below the x-axis and there is no point of contact with the x-axis. In this case, there are no real roots.
This case is shown in the above figure in c, where the quadratic polynomial neither cuts nor touches the x-axis.

Formation of a quadratic equation from its roots

To find out the standard form of a quadratic equation when the roots are given:
Let α and β be the roots of the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0. Then,
(x−α)(x−β)=0
On expanding, we get,
x2−(α+β)x+αβ=0, which is the standard form of the quadratic equation. Here, a=1,b=−(α+β) and c=αβ.

Sum and Product of Roots of a Quadratic equation

Let α and β be the roots of the quadratic equation ax2+bx+c=0. Then,
Sum of roots =α+β=-b/a
Product of roots =αβ= c/a