Quadratic equation
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , where x is unknown; a, b and c real numbers, a ≠ 0, is quadratic equation “by x”
with the coefficient a, b and c .
Quadratic equation is complete, if the coefficients b ≠ 0 and c ≠ 0 .
If b = 0 or c = 0 (or both) then quadratic equation is incomplete.
Incomplete square equation is relatively easy to solve.
Incomplete square equations
ax 2 + bx = 0 ax 2 + c = 0 ax 2 = 0
x(ax + b) = 0 ax 2 = −c x=0
x = 0 ∨ ax + b = 0
b c
x=− x2 = −
a a
b
x=± −
a
Examples:
2 x 2 + 5x = 0 4x2 − 9 = 0 5x2 = 0
x(2 x + 5) = 0 4x2 = 9 0
x2 =
x = 0 ∨ 2x + 5 = 0 9 5
x2 = x=0
2 x = −5 4
5 9 x1 = x2 = 0
x=− x=±
2 4
3
x=±
2
3
x1 =
2
3
x2 = −
2
Complete square equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0
Quadratic equation has two solutions: x1 and x 2 .
−b ± b 2 − 4ac
x1,2 =
2a
Example 1. Solve the equations:
a) 6 x 2 − x − 2 = 0
b) x 2 − 2 x + 1 = 0
c) x 2 − 4 x + 5 = 0
Solution:
a) 6 x 2 − x − 2 = 0
a=6
b = −1
c = −2
− b ± b 2 − 4ac − (−1) ± (−1) − 4 ⋅ 6 ⋅ (−2)
2
x1, 2 = =
2a 2⋅6
1 ± 49 1 ± 17
x1, 2 = =
12 12
1+ 7 8 2
x1 = = =
12 12 3
1− 7 − 6 1
x2 = = =−
12 12 2
b) x 2 − 2 x + 1 = 0
− b ± b 2 − 4ac − (−2) ± (−2) − 4 ⋅ 1 ⋅ 1
2
x1, 2 = =
a =1 2a 2 ⋅1
b = −2 2± 4−4 2±0
x1, 2 = =
c =1 2 2
2
x1 = = 1
2
2
x2 = = 1
2
c) x 2 − 4 x + 5 = 0
a =1
b = −4
c=5
− b ± b 2 − 4ac − (−4) ± 16 − 20
x1, 2 = =
2a 2 ⋅1
4 ± − 4 4 ± 2i 2(2 ± i )
x1, 2 = = = = 2±i
2 2 2
x1 = 2 + i Look out for: − 4 = 4(−1) = 2i
x2 = 2 − i −1 = i
Example 2. Solve the equation: (2 x − 3) 2 + ( x − 1)( x + 2) = 2 − 11x
Solution:
(2 x − 3) 2 + ( x − 1)( x + 2) = 2 − 11x
4 x 2 − 12 x + 9 + x 2 + 2 x − x − 2 − 2 + 11x = 0
5x2 + 5 = 0 / : 5
x 2 + 1 = 0 → Incomplete quadratic equation
x 2 = −1
x = ± −1
x1 = +i
x 2 = −i
x 3 8
Example 3. Solve the equation: − = 2
x−2 x+2 x −4
Solution:
x 3 8
− = 2
x−2 x+2 x −4
x 3 8
− = → Multiply all with S = ( x − 2)( x + 2) x≠2 x ≠ −2
x − 2 x + 2 ( x − 2)( x + 2)
x ( x + 2) − 3( x − 2) = 8
x 2 + 2 x − 3x + 6 − 8 = 0
a =1
x − x − 2 = 0 → Now working as a quadratic equation
2
b = −1
c = −2
− b ± b 2 − 4ac − (−1) ± (−1) − 4 ⋅ 1 ⋅ (−2)
2
x1, 2 = =
2a 2
1± 3
x1, 2 =
2
1+ 3 4 x≠2
x1 = = = 2 → Watch out: it is not a solution because
2 2
1− 3 − 2
x2 = = = −1 → So x = −1 is only solution!
2 2
Nature of solutions
ax 2 + bx + c = 0 D = b 2 − 4ac
−b± D
Now , solutions, we can write as: x1, 2 =
2a
For quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c with the real coefficient is:
1) Equation has two different real solutions if and only if D > 0
( x1 = x2 ∈ R x1 ≠ x2 iff D > 0)
2) Equation has a double real solution if and only if D = 0
( x1 = x2 ∈ R iff D = 0)
3) Equation has a pair of complex solutions if and only if D < 0
( x1 = a + bi, x2 = a − bi iff D < 0)
Example 1. Identify the nature of solutions in square equation, depending on the parameters:
a) x 2 + 3 x + m = 0
b) (n + 3) x 2 − 2(n + 1) x + n − 5 = 0
Solution:
a =1
a) x 2 + 3 x + m = 0
b=3
c=m
D = b 2 − 4ac = 32 − 4 ⋅1 ⋅ m = 9 − 4m
1) D > 0 ⇒ 9 − 4m > 0
− 4m > −9 → Watch out: turning the sign
−9
m<
−4
9
m<
4
9
2) D = 0 ⇒ 9 − 4m = 0 ⇒ m=
4
9
3) D < 0 ⇒ 9 − 4m < 0 ⇒ m>
4
9
So: - For m < solutions are real and different
4
9
- For m = solutions are real and equal
4
9
-For m > solutions are complex numbers
4
b) (n + 3) x 2 − 2(n + 1) x + n − 5 = 0
a = n+3
b = −2(n + 1) Watch out: n+3≠ 0
c = n −5
D = b 2 − 4ac = [ −2(n + 1) ] − 4(n + 3)(n − 5)
2
= 4(n 2 + 2n + 1) − 4(n 2 − 5n + 3n − 15)
= 4n 2 + 8n + 4 −4n 2 + 20n − 12n + 60
D = 16n + 64
1) D > 0 16n + 64 > 0 ⇒ 16n > −64 ⇒ n > −4, x1 ≠ x2 ∈ R
2) D = 0 16n + 64 = 0 ⇒ n = −4 x1 = x 2 ∈ R
3) D < 0 16n + 64 < 0 ⇒ n < −4 x1 and x2 are complex numbers
Example 2. Find the value for k ∈ R , that equation kx 2 + (k + 1) x + 2 = 0 has double solution.
Solution: Must be D=0 and a≠0
kx 2 + (k + 1) x + 2 = 0 ⇒ a = k
b = k +1 ⇒ k ≠0
c=2
D = b 2 − 4ac = (k + 1) 2 − 4 ⋅ k ⋅ 2 = k 2 + 2k + 1 − 8k = k 2 − 6k + 1
D = k 2 − 6k + 1 = 0
k 2 − 6k + 1 = 0 ⇒ a =1
b = −6
c =1
− b ± b 2 − 4ac − (−6) ± (−6) − 4 ⋅ 1 ⋅ 1 6 ± 32
2
k1, 2 = = =
2a 2 2
32 = 16 ⋅ 2 = 4 2
So:
k1, 2 = =
(
6± 4 2 2 3± 2 2
= 3± 2 2
)
2 2
k1 = 3 + 2 2
k2 = 3 − 2 2
Example 3. Find the value for m ∈ R , that equation mx 2 − 4 x + 1 has real and different solutions.
Solution:
Must be D > 0 and a ≠ 0
a=m⇒m≠0 D = b 2 − 4ac
b = −4 ⇒ D = ( − 4) 2 − 4 ⋅ m ⋅ 1
c =1 D = 64 − 4m > 0
16 − 4m > 0
− 4m > −16 0 can not be!
m<4
So: m ∈ (−∞,0) ∪ (0,4)
Example 4. For what value m, equation x 2 − 8 x + m has complex solutions?
Solution:
Must be D < 0 i a ≠ 0
a =1≠ 0 D = b 2 − 4ac
b = −8 ⇒ D = (−8) 2 − 4 ⋅ m ⋅1
c=m D = 64 − 4m < 0
− 4m < −64
m > 16 ⇒ m ∈ (16, ∞)
Example 5. For what value k ∈ R , equation kx 2 + 6 x + 3 = 0 has no real solutions?
Solution:
When there is no real solutions, there are complex : D < 0 and a ≠ 0
kx 2 + 6 x + 3 = 0 ⇒ a = k ⇒ k ≠ 0
b=6
c=3
D = b 2 − 4ac
D = 6 2 − 4 ⋅ k ⋅ 3 = 36 − 12k
36 − 12k < 0
− 12k < −36
k > 3 ⇒ k ∈ (3, ∞)
Example 6. For what value m ∈ R equation (2m + 1) x 2 − (2m + 1) x + 2,5 = 0 has real and different solutions?
Solution: D > 0 and a ≠ 0
a = 2m + 1 1
a ≠ 0 ⇒ 2m + 1 ≠ 0 ⇒ m ≠ −
b = −(2m + 1) 2
c = −2,5
D = b 2 − 4ac
D = [− (2m + 1)] − 4 ⋅ [2m + 1]⋅ 2,5
2
D = (2m + 1) 2 − 10(2m + 1)
D = 4m 2 + 4m + 1 − 20 − 10
D = 4m 2 − 16m − 9 > 0
4m 2 − 16m − 9 = 0
a=4 − b ± b 2 − 4ac
b = −16
m1, 2 =
2a
c = −9 16 ± 256 − 144 16 + 20
m1, 2 = =
8 8
36 9
m1 = =
8 2
4 1
m2 = − = −
8 2
(See square inequalities):
1 9
D > 0 → choose where + m ∈ − ∞, − ∪ , ∞
2 2
