QUADRATIC EQUATIONS AND

APPLICATIONS
I. Defnition
A quadratic equation in one variable is
any equation that can be written in the
form
2
0 0 ax bx c a + + Standard form
where x is a variable and a, b, and c are
constants.
II. Solving Quadratic Equations by
Factoring
Solve by factoring:
1.
2
6 19 7 0 x x
2.
2
6 5 4 x x +
3.
2
2 3 x x
1.
2
6 19 7 0 x x
( ) ( ) 2 7 3 1 0 x x + Factor left side
2 7 0 or 3 1 0 x x +
7 1
or
2 3
x x
The solution set is
1 7
,
3 2

' ;

.
2.
2
6 5 4 x x +
2
6 5 4 0 x x + +
2
6 9 0 x x + Writeinstandardform
( )
2
3 0 x Factor left side
3 x
The solution set is { } 3 . The equation has one
root, 3. But since it came from two factors,
we call 3 a double root.
3.
2
2 3 x x
2
2 3 0 x x
( ) 2 3 0 x x
0 or 2 3 0 x x
3
2
x
The solution set is
3
0,
2

' ;

.
III. Solving Quadratic Eqns by
Square Root
Solve using the square root property:
1.
2
2 3 0 x
2.
2
3 27 0 x +
3.
2
1 5
2 4
x
_
+

,
1.
2
2 3 0 x
2
3
2
x
3 6
or
2 2
x t t
The solution set is
6 6
,
2 2


' ;


.
2.
2
3 27 0 x +
2
3 27 x
2
9 x
9 or 3 x i t t
The solution set is { } 3 , 3 i i .
3.
2
1 5
2 4
x
_
+

,
1 5
2 4
x + t
1 5
2 2
x t
1 5
2
x
t

Solve by factoring:
1.
2
3 7 20 0 x x +
2.
2
4 12 9 0 x x + +
3.
2
4 5 x x
Solve using the square root property:
1.
2
3 5 0 x
2.
2
2 8 0 x +
3.
2
1 2
3 9
x
_
+

,
IV.Solving Quadratic Equations by
Co!leting t"e Square
Solve by completing the square:
1.
2
6 2 0 x x +
2.
2
2 4 3 0 x x +
1.
2
6 2 0 x x +
2
6 2 x x +
2
6 2 x x + + + 9 9
( )
2
3 11 x +
3 11 x + t
3 11 x t
2.
2
2 4 3 0 x x +
2
3
2 0
2
x x +
2
3
2
2
x x
2
3
2
2
x x + + 1 1
( )
2 1
1
2
x
1
1
2
x t
1
1
2
x i t
2
1
2
x i t
V. Solving Quadratic Equations by
Quadratic Forula

Solve
2
3
2
2
x x + by using the quadratic
formula. Leave the answer in simplest
radical form.
2
3
2
2
x x +
2
4 3 2 x x + Multiplybothsidesby.
2
2 4 3 0 x x Write in standard form.
2
4
2, 4, 3
2
b b ac
x a b c
a
t

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
2
4 4 4 2 3
2 2
t

4 40 4 2 10 2 10
4 4 2
t t t

Solve by completing the square:
1.
2
8 3 0 x x +
2.
2
3 12 13 0 x x +
To complete the square of a quadratic of the
form
2
x bx + , add the square of one!half
the coe"cient of x# that is, add
( )
2
2 b .
Thus,
2
x bx +

2
5 x x +
2 2 2 2
2 2
5 5
5
2 2 2 2
b b
x bx x x x x
_ _ _ _
+ + + + + +

, , , ,
If
2
0 0 ax bx c a + + , then
2
4
2
b b ac
x
a
t

Solve
2
5
3
2
x x by using the quadratic
formula. Leave the answer in simplest
radical form.
EXERCISES
Solve by any method:
1.
2
12 7 10 x x +
2.
( )
2
2 3 5 y
3.
2
3 1 x x +
#.
2
7 4 n n
$.
2
8 4
1
x x
+
%.
2 4 1
2 3 1 x x x

+
&.
2
2
2 1
1
3 9 3
x x x
x x x
+

+
APPLICATIONS
1. $f %P are invested at an interest rate r
compounded annually, at the end of
years, the amount will be
( )
2
1 A P r + . At
what interest rate will %&,''' increase to
%&,((' in years) *+ote, $1, 440 A and
$1, 000 P -.
2. $n a certain city, the price!demand and
price!supply equations for ./s are,

75, 000
p
q

/emand
equation
0.0005 12.5 p q + Supply
equation
where p represents the price in dollars
and q represents the quantity.
Find the equilibrium price and equilibrium
quantity.