2.

1 Quadratic Expressions
(A) Identifying quadratic expression
1. A quadratic expression is an algebraic expression of the form ax2 + bx +c, where a, b and c are
constants, a 0 and x is an unknown.
(a) The highest power of x is 2.
(b) For example, 5x2 6x + 3 is a quadratic expression.

Example 1
State whether each of the following is a quadratic expression in one unknown.
(a) x2 5x + 3
(b) 8p2 + 10
(c) 5x + 6
(d) 2x2 + 4y + 14
(e) 2p+1p+62p+1p+6
(f) y3 3y + 1

Solution:
(a) Yes. A quadratic expression in one unknown.

(b) Yes. A quadratic expression in one unknown.

(c) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.

(d) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. There are 2 unknowns, x and y in the quadratic
expression.

(e) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.
1p=p11p=p1

(f) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.

2. A quadratic expression can be formed by multiplying two linear expressions.

(2x + 3)(x - 3) = 2x2 3x 9

Example 2
Multiply the following pairs of linear expressions.
(a) (4x + 3)(x 2)
(b) (y 6)2
(c) 2x (x 5)

Solution:
(a) (4x + 3)(x 2)
= (4x)(x) + (4x)(-2) +(3)(x) + (3)(-2)
= 4x2 8x + 3x 6
= 4x2 5x 6

(b) (y 6)2
= (y 6)(y 6)
= (y)(y) + (y)(-6) + (-6)(y) + (-6)(-6)
= y2 -6y 6y + 36
= y2 - 12y + 36

(c) 2x (x 5)
= 2x(x) + 2x(-5)
= 2x2 10x

Example 1:
Form a quadratic expression by multiplying each of the following.
(a) (6p 2)(2p 1)
(b) (m + 5)(4 7m)
(c) (x + 2) (2x 3)

Solution:
(a) (6p 2)(2p 1)
= (6p)(2p) + (6p)(-1) + (-2)(2p) +(-2)(-1)
= 12p2 6p 4p + 2
= 12p2 10p + 2
(b) (m + 5)(4 7m)
= (m)(4) + (m)(-7m) + (5)(4) + (5)(-7m)
= 4m 7m2 + 20 35m
= 7m2 31m + 20

(c) (x + 2) (2x 3)
= (x)(2x) + (x)(-3) + (2)(2x) + (2)(-3)
= 2x2 -3x + 4x 6
= 2x2 + x - 6

2.3 Quadratic Equations

1. Quadratic equations are equations which fulfill the following characteristics:
(a) Have an equal = sign
(b) Contain only one unknown
(c) Highest power of the unknown is 2.

For example,

2. The general form of a quadratic equation is written as:

(a) ax2 + bx + c = 0,
where a 0, b 0 and c 0,
example: 4x2 + 13x 12 = 0
(b) ax2 + bx = 0,
where a 0, b 0 but c = 0,
example: 7x2 + 9x = 0
(c) ax2 + c = 0,
where a 0, c 0 but b = 0,
example: 9x 3 = 0
2

Example 1:
Write each quadratic equation in the general form.
(a) x2 5x = 12
(b) -2 + 5x2 6x = 0
(c) 7p2 3p = 4p2 + 4p 3
(d) (x 2)(x + 6) = 0
(e) 3 13x = 4 (x2 + 2)
(f)

2y=13yy2y=13yy

(g) p4=2p2310p4=2p2310
(h) y2+54=y12y2+54=y12
(i) 4p7=p(7p6)4p7=p(7p6)

Solution:
A quadratic equation in the general form is written as ax2 + bx + c = 0

(a) x2 5x = 12
x2 5x -12 = 0

(b) 2 + 5x2 6x = 0
5x2 6x 2 = 0

(c) 7p2 3p = 4p2 + 4p 3

7p2 3p 4p2 4p + 3 = 0
3p2 7p + 3 = 0

(d) (x 2)(x + 6) = 0
x2 + 6x 2x 12 = 0
x2 + 4x 12 = 0

(e) 3 13x = 4 (x2 + 2)

3 13x = 4x2 + 8

4x2 8 + 3 13x = 0
4x2 13x 5 = 0
4x2 + 13x + 5 = 0

(f)

2y=13yy2y=13yy

2y y2 = 1 3y
2y y2 1 + 3y = 0
y2 + 3y 1 = 0
y2 3y + 1 = 0
(g) p4=2p2310p4=2p2310
10p = 8p2 12
8p2 + 10p +12 = 0
8p2 10p 12 = 0
(h) y2+54=y12y2+54=y12
2y2 + 10 = 4y 4
2y2 4y + 10 + 4 = 0
2y2 4y + 14 = 0
(i) 4p7=p(7p6)4p7=p(7p6)
4p = 7p (7p 6)
4p = 49p2 42p
49p2 + 42p + 4p = 0
49p2 46p = 0

2.4 Roots of Quadratic Equations

1. A root of quadratic equation is the value of the unknown which satisfies the
quadratic equation.
2. Roots of an equation are also called the solution of an equation.
3. To solve a quadratic equation by the factorisation method, follow the steps
below:
Step 1: Express the quadratic equation in general form ax2 + bx + c = 0.
Step 2: Factorise the quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c = 0 as the product of two
linear expressions, that is, (mx + p) (nx + q) = 0.
Step 3: Equate each factor to zero and obtain the roots or solutions of the quadratic
equation.
mx+p=0
=0

nx+q=0

or

x=pm

or

x=pm

or

x=qnmx+p=0

or

x=qn

Example 1:
Solve the quadratic equation 2x253=3x2x253=3x

Solution:
2x253=3x2x253=3x

2x2 5 = 9x
2x2 9x 5 = 0
(x 5)(2x + 1) = 0
x 5 = 0, x = 5
or 2x + 1 = 0

x=12x=12
Therefore, x = 5 and x = are roots or solutions of the quadratic equation.

nx+q

Example 2:
Solve the quadratic equation 4x2 12 = 13x
Solution:
4x2 12 = 13x
4x2 + 13x 12 = 0
(4x 3)(x + 4) = 0
4x 3 = 0, x=34x=34
or x + 4 = 0
x = 4

Example 3:
Solve the quadratic equation 5x2 = 3 (x + 2) 4

Solution:
5x2 = 3 (x + 2) 4
5x2 = 3x + 6 4
5x2 3x 2 = 0
(5x + 2)(x 1) = 0
5x + 2 = 0, x=25x=25
or x 1 = 0
x=1

Example 4:
Solve the quadratic equation
3x(x3)4=x+3.3x(x3)4=x+3.

Solution:
3x(x3)4=x+33x(x3)4=x+3

3x2 9x = 4x + 12

3x2 5x 12 = 0
(3x + 4)(x 3) = 0
3x + 4 = 0, x=43x=43
or x 3 = 0
x=3

Quadratic Equations Long Questions

Question 1:
Solve the quadratic equation, (y + 3)(y 4) = 30
Solution:
(y + 3)(y 4) = 30
y2 4y + 3y 12 = 30
y2 y 12 30 = 0
y2 y 42 = 0
(y + 6)(y 7) = 0
y + 6 = 0, y = 6
Or
y7=0
y=7

Question 2:
Solve the quadratic equation, 5x2 = 3( x 2) + 8
Solution:
5x2 = 3x 6 + 8
5x2 3x 2 = 0
(5x + 2)(x 1) = 0
5x + 2 = 0, x = 2525
Or
x1=0
x=1

Question 3:
Solve the quadratic equation
2p215p=72p215p=7

Solution:
2p215p=72p215p=7

2p2 15 = 7p
2p2 7p 15 = 0
(2p + 3)(p 5) = 0
2p + 3 = 0, p = 3232
Or
p5=0
p=5

Question 4:
Solve the quadratic equation y(y92)=52y(y92)=52
Solution:

y(y92)=52y29y2=52y(y92)=52y29y2=52
( 2), 2y2 9y = 5
2y2 9y 5 = 0
(2y + 1)(y 5) = 0
2y + 1 = 0, y =
Or
y5=0

y=5

Question 5:

Solve the equation:

(m + 2)(m 4) = 7(m 4).

Solution:

(m + 2)(m 4) = 7(m 4)
m2 4m + 2m 8 = 7m 28
m2 9m + 20 = 0
(m 5)(m 4) = 0
m = 5 or m = 4
Question 6:

Solve the equation:

6y2y=71y6y2y=71y

Solution:
6y2y=71y(6y2)(1y)=7y6y+6y22+2y7y=06y211y2=0(6y+1)

(y2)=06y+1=0

or

y=2y=166y2y=71y(6y2)

(1y)=7y6y+6y22+2y7y=06y211y2=0(6y+1)(y2)=06y+1=0

Question 7:

or

y=2y=16

Solve the equation:

4m7=m(8m9)4m7=m(8m9)

Solution:
4m7=m(8m9)4m=7m(8m9)4m=56m263m56m263m4m=056m267

m=0m(56m67)=0m=0

or

m=675

56m67=0

64m7=m(8m9)4m=7m(8m9)4m=56m263m56m263m4m=056m267m=0m(56m67)=0m=0

or

56m67=0

m=6756

Question 8:

Diagram above shows a rectangle ABCD.

(a) Express the area of ABCD in terms of n.
(b) Given the area of ABCD is 60 cm , find the length of AB.
2

Solution:

(a)
Area of ABCD
= (n + 7) n
= (n2 + 7n) cm2
(b)

Given the area of ABCD = 60

n2 + 7n = 60
n2 + 7n 60 = 0
(n 5) (n + 12) = 0
n = 5 or n = 12 (not accepted)

When n = 5,
Length of AB = 5 + 7 = 12 cm