Illustration of Quadratic Equations
A Quadratic Equation in one variable is a mathematical sentence of degree 2. It can be
written in the standard form ofax 2 +bx +c=0 , where a, b, and c are real numbers anda ≠ 0.
In the equation, ax 2 is the quadratic term, bx is the linear term, and c is the constant term.
Example 1: 2 x2 −3 x +7=0 is a quadratic equation in the standard form with the values
of a, b, and c are 2, -3, and 7 respectively.
Note: When looking for the values of a, b, and c simply use the specific equivalent
of numerical coefficients of each term.
Example 2: Given the quadratic equation2 x2 −3 x +7=0, what is the value of a, b, and c?
Answer:a=2 ; b=−3; c=7
Note: However, when asked to determine the quadratic term and the linear term,
you must include the variable which comes along with the numerical coefficient.
Example 3: Given the quadratic equation2 x2 −3 x +7=0, what is the quadratic term, the
linear term, and the constant term?
Answer: Quadratic term = 2 x2
Linear term = −3 x
Constant term= 7
There are instances when the equations are not written in the standard form.
Example 4: 3 x ( x +3 )=5 is a quadratic equation but is not written in the standard form.
To write the equation in the standard form expand the product and make one side of the
equation zero.
Illustrative Example:
a. Distribute the equation on the left following the principle of left distributive law then
equate.
3 x ( x +3 )=5
3 x ( x ) +3 x ( 3 ) =5
3 x 2+ 9 x =5
b. Eliminate the term on the on the right side to make it zero. In the process of
elimination, apply the subtraction property of equality (use the same value present
on the right side of the term but with an opposite sign. In the equation, 5 is in the
right side so we use the same value but with an opposite sign which is -5. Add the
same value on the left side.).
3 x 2+ 9 x −5=5−5
3 x 2+ 9 x −5=0
So the standard form of 3 x ( x +3 )=5 is3 x 2+ 9 x −5=0 , where a = 3, b = 9, and c = -5
Example 5: ( 2 w+7 )( 3 w +7 )=0 is a quadratic equation but is not written in the standard
form. To write the equation in the standard form use the distributive property of
multiplication. We will use the distributive property of multiplication twice
Illustrative Example:
a. Treat the second binomial as a single term and distribute to the first binomial.
( 2 w+7 )( 3 w +7 )=0
2 w ( 3 w+7 ) +7(3 w +7)=0
b. Use the distributive property over the second binomial. The result should have 4
terms and each is a combination of a term in the first binomial and a term in the
second binomial.
2 w ( 3 w )+ 2 w (7 ) +7 ( 3 w ) +7(7)=0
6 w 2+ 14 w+ 21w +49=0
c. Simplify the result by combining like terms.
6 w 2+ [ 14 w+21 w ] + 49=0
6 w 2+ 35 w+ 49=0
So the standard form of ( 2 w+7 )( 3 w +7 )=0 is6 w 2+ 35 w+ 49=0 , where a = 6, b = 35, c = 49.
There is another way of transforming a quadratic equation involving two binomials in its
standard form by using the FOIL Method.
Example 6: ( 2 x+7 )( 3 x +7 )=0 is a quadratic but is not written in standard form. To write
the equation in the standard form use the FOIL Method.
Illustrative Example:
( 2 w+7 )( 3 w +7 )=0
( 2 w+7 )( 3 w +7 )=0
F O I L
2 w ( 3 w )+ 2 w (7 ) +7 ( 3 w ) +7(7)=0
6 w 2+ 14 w+ 21w +49=0
6 w 2+ [ 14 w+21 w ] + 49=0
6 w 2+ 35 w+ 49=0
1. F, multiply the first terms of the binomials[ 2 w(3 w) ].
2. O, multiply the outer terms of the binomials[ 2 w(7) ].
3. I, multiply the inner terms of the binomials[ 7(3 w) ].
4. L, multiply the last terms of the binomials[ 7(7) ].
When c=0 in the equationax 2 +bx +c=0 , it results to a quadratic equation of the form of
ax 2 +bx=0
Example 7: Equations such as 2 s ( s−4 )=0 and 3 ( x 2+ 7 x ) =0 are quadratic equation of
the form ofax 2 +bx=0 . In each equationc=0.
Illustrative Example:
a. 2 s ( s−4 )=0
2 s 2−8 s=0, wherea=2,b=−4, and c=0.
b. 3 ( x 2+ 7 x ) =0
3 x 2+21 x=0 , wherea=3,b=21, and c=0.
Whenb=0 in the equationax 2 +bx +c=0 , it results to a quadratic equation of the form of
ax 2 +c=0 .
Example 8: Equations such as 5 x ( x+2)=0 and ( 8−3 x ) ( 8+3 x )=0 are quadratic equation
of the form ofax 2 +c=0 .
Illustrative Example:
a. 5(x 2 +2)=0
5 x 2+10=0, wherea=5,b=0, and c=10.
b. ( 8−3 x ) ( 8+3 x )=0
8 ( 8+3 x )−3 x ( 8+3 x ) =0
8 ( 8 ) +8 ( 3 x )−3 x ( 8 )−3 x (3 x)=0
64+ 24 x−24−9 x 2=0
−9 x 2 [ +24 x−24 ] +64=0
−9 x 2+ 64=0
−[−9 x 2 +64 ] =−[ 0 ]
9 x 2−64=0
(Note: Sincea ≠ 0, then we multiply both sides by−1)
Other Examples:
1. 3 x−2 x2 =7
3 x−2 x2 −7=7−7
3 x−2 x2 −7=0
−[−2 x 2+3 x−7 ]=[ 0 ] −¿
2 x2 −3 x +7=0
2. 25−2 x 2=1 0 x
25−2 x 2−10 x=10 x−10 x
25−2 x 2−10 x=0
−[−2 x 2−10 x+25 ]=[ 0 ] −¿
2 x2 +10 x−25=0
3. (2 x+3)(5 x−4)=0
2 x ( 5 x−4 ) +3(5 x−4)=0
2 x¿
10 x 2−8 x+15 x−12=0
10 x 2+7 x−12=0
4. ( x−3)2 +9=0
( x−3 ) ( x−3 ) +9=0
x ( x−3 )−3( x −3)+ 9=0
x¿
x 2−3 x−3 x−9+ 9=0
x 2−[ 3 x−3 x ]− [ 9+ 9 ] =0
x 2−6 x=0
5. 3 y ( y+ 2 )=( y +2)2
3 y ( y )+3 y (2)= y( y+ 2)+2( y +2)
3 y 2 +6 y= y 2 + [ 2 y+2 y ] +4
3 y 2 +6 y= y 2 +4 y+ 4
3 y 2 +6 y− y 2−4 y−4= y 2 +4 y+ 4− y 2−4 y−4
3 y 2− y 2 +6 y−4 y−4= y 2− y 2 + 4 y−4 y +4−4
2 y 2+ 2 y −4=0
