MEI AS Mathematics: Quadratic functions

Section 2: The quadratic formula

Notes and Examples
These notes contain the following subsections:
Solving quadratic equations using the completed square form
The quadratic formula
Using a calculator
The discriminant
Problem solving

Solving quadratic equations using the completed square form

You already know that some quadratic equations can be solved by factorisation. Not all
quadratic equations can be factorised; however this does not mean that they cannot be
solved.

If a quadratic equation is written in the completed square form, it is easy to solve.

Example 1

Write x − 4 x − 5 in the completed square form.

2
(a)

Hence solve the equation x − 4 x − 5 = 0

2
(b)

Solution

(a) x 2 − 4 x − 5 = ( x − 2)2 − 4 − 5
= ( x − 2)2 − 9
(b) ( x − 2)2 = 9
x − 2 = 3
x =23
x = 5 or − 1

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The quadratic formula
The quadratic formula is a generalisation of the completed square method, which is just a
generalisation of the completing the square method.

The quadratic formula for the solutions of the equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 is

−b  b2 − 4ac
x= .
2a
Unless you already have the equation in the completed square form, as in the example
above, it is usually easier to use the quadratic formula to solve a quadratic equation that
can’t be factorised.

Using a calculator
Your calculator may be able to solve quadratic equations, and some calculators will give the
answers in exact form (using surds or fractions).
Make sure you know how to use your calculator to solve a quadratic equation.
However, you may be required to show working in some questions, so you must know the
quadratic formula and be confident in using it.

The discriminant
The expression b − 4ac , found under the square root sign in the quadratic formula, is
2

called the discriminant. This is very important as it tells you something about the nature of
the solutions of the equation.
In each case the solution(s) correspond to the points where the graph meets the x-axis.
If the discriminant is positive, then there are two real solutions. (If the discriminant is a
positive square number, then the two real solutions are rational and it is possible to solve
the equation by factorisation; otherwise the solutions are irrational and you must use the
quadratic formula.)

y = x2 + 2x − 3
Discriminant = 16
Two rational solutions

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 y = x2 + x − 3
Discriminant = 13
Two real, irrational solutions

If the discriminant is zero, then the quadratic is a perfect square and there is one real
solution, which can be found by factorisation.

y = x2 + 2 x + 1
Discriminant = 0
One real solution

If the discriminant is negative, then there are no real solutions.

y = x2 + 2 x + 2
Discriminant = -4
As the graph does not meet
the x-axis, there cannot be
any real solutions.

When you need to solve a quadratic equation, it is

Nouseful to quickly work out the
real solutions
discriminant before you start, so that you know whether there are real solutions, and
whether the equation can be solved by factorisation.

Example 2
For each of the following quadratic equations, find the discriminant and solve the equation,
where possible, by a suitable method. Give your answers in exact form.

(a) 2 x2 − 4 x + 1 = 0
(b) 6 x 2 + 11x − 10 = 0

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(c) 3x 2 − 2 x + 4 = 0
(d) 4 x 2 + 12 x + 9 = 0

Solution

(a) 2 x2 − 4 x + 1 = 0
a = 2, b = −4, c = 1
Discriminant = (−4)² − 4  2  1 = 16 − 8 = 8

Since the discriminant is positive, there are two real solutions. As it is not a
square number, the equation must be solved using the quadratic formula.

−b  b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a
4 8
=
2 2
42 2
=
4
2 2
=
2
You could use a calculator to solve this equation, so long as the calculator will give
you the exact solutions using surds.

(b) 6 x 2 + 11x − 10 = 0
a = 6, b = 11, c = −10
Discriminant = 11
2
− 4  6  −10 = 121 + 240 = 3612
Since the discriminant is positive, there are two real solutions. As it is a square
number (19²), the equation can be solved by factorisation.
6 x ² + 11x − 10 = 0
(3x − 2)(2 x + 5) = 0
x = 23 or x = − 52

You could use a calculator to solve this equation, but again notice that you are asked
to give exact solutions.

(c) 3x 2 − 2 x + 4 = 0
a = 3, b = −2, c = 4

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 Discriminant = (−2) − 4  3  4 = 4 − 48 = −44
2

Since the discriminant is negative, there are no real solutions.

(d) 4 x 2 + 12 x + 9 = 0
a = 4, b = 12, c = 9
Discriminant = 12
2
− 4  4  9 = 144 − 144 = 0
Since the discriminant is zero, there is one solution and the equation can be
solved by factorisation into a perfect square.

4 x 2 + 12 x + 9 = 0
(2 x + 3)2 = 0
x = − 32

Problem solving
Some problems, when translated into algebra, involve quadratic equations.

Example 3
A rectangular box has width 2 cm greater than its length, and height 3 cm less than its
length. The total surface area of the box is 548 cm².
What are the dimensions of the box?

Solution
Let the length of the box be x cm.
The width of the box is x + 2 cm, and the height is x − 3 cm.
The surface area of the box is given by 2 x( x + 2) + 2 x( x − 3) + 2( x + 2)( x − 3) .

2 x( x + 2) + 2 x( x − 3) + 2( x + 2)( x − 3) = 548

As each term is a multiple of 2, it’s useful to divide the equation through by 2 at this point.

x( x + 2) + x( x − 3) + ( x + 2)( x − 3) = 274
x 2 + 2 x + x 2 − 3x + x 2 − x − 6 = 274
3x 2 − 2 x − 280 = 0

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Use a calculator to solve the equation

x = 10 or x = −9.33

3x + 28 = 0 gives a negative value of x, which does not make sense in this context.
So the solution must be x = 10.

The length of the box is 10 cm, the width is 12 cm and the height is 7 cm.

Notice that in Example 3, you could discard one of the possible solutions as a negative
solution did not make sense in the context. This is not always the case. In some situations,
a negative solution can have a practical meaning. For example, if the height of a stone
thrown from the edge of a cliff is negative, this simply means that the stone is below the
level of the cliff at that point. However, if the stone was thrown from level ground, then a
negative height does not make sense.
Some problems leading to quadratic equations do have two possible solutions. Always
consider whether your solution(s) make sense in the context.

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