CHAPTER 10

Quadratics

Introduction to Quadratic Equations

A quadratic equation or expression is one that contains a
squared variable (x2) as the highest-order term. In standard
form, a quadratic equation is written as y = ax2 + bx + c,
where a, b, and c are constants. A quadratic equation can
have zero, one, or two real solutions, which are also called
roots, x-intercepts (because solutions are where the graph of
an equation crosses the x-axis), or zeros.

Solving Quadratic Equations

In most cases, before you can solve a quadratic equation, you
must set the equation equal to 0. In other words, move
everything to one side of the equal sign so that 0 is the only
thing remaining on the other side. Once complete, you can
use a variety of algebraic techniques, the quadratic formula,
or graphing to find the solutions.

Factoring
Factoring, also known as reverse-FOIL, allows you to go from a
quadratic equation written in standard form to a product of
two binomials. Once you have a pair of binomials, set each
factor equal to 0 and solve for the variable. Here are some

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general rules for factoring: • Factoring is easiest when a = 1,
so whenever possible, try to simplify your expression so that
this is the case.
• If you see nice-looking numbers (integers or simple
fractions) in the answer choices, this is a clue that
factoring is possible.
• To factor a quadratic expression that is written in the form
x2 + bx + c, look for the factors of c that add up to b.
• To factor a quadratic expression that is written in the form
ax2 + bx + c, multiply a times c, look for the factors of ac
that add up to b, use those factors to break the middle
term into two pieces, and then factor by grouping.
• If you’re ever not sure that you’ve factored correctly, use
FOIL to check your work. You should get the equation you
started with.

Square Rooting and Completing the

Square
Occasionally, a quadratic equation is already set up perfectly
to use square rooting, which simply means taking the square
root of both sides. For example, (x + 3)2 = 49 is ready to
square root because both sides of the equation are perfect
squares. For more difficult quadratic equations, you can
complete the square and then use square rooting. To
complete the square, start by putting the quadratic equation
in standard form. Once there, divide b by 2 and square the
result. Then, add the result to both sides of the equation,
factor, and solve by square rooting.

The Quadratic Formula

The quadratic formula can be used to solve any quadratic
equation. However, because the math can often get
complicated, use it as a last resort or when you need to find

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exact solutions (or when you see radicals in the answer
choices). Be sure to write the equation in standard form
before plugging the values of a, b, and c into the formula.
Memorize the formula before test day:

2
−b ± √ b − 4ac
x =
2a

The expression under the radical (b2 − 4ac) is called the

discriminant, and its sign dictates the number of real solutions
that the equation has. If this quantity is positive, there are two
distinct real solutions; if it is equal to 0, there is just one
distinct real solution; and if it is negative, there are no real
solutions.

Finding Solutions by Graphing

To solve a quadratic equation in the Calculator section of the
SAT, you might also consider graphing the equation and
finding its x-intercepts. Be sure you are familiar with your
calculator’s graphing capabilities in advance.

Graphing Parabolas
All quadratic equations and functions graph as parabolas (U-
shaped), opening either up or down. The graph of a quadratic
equation written in standard form will open down when a < 0
(negative) and up when a > 0 (positive). You should have a
foundational knowledge of the structure of a parabola for test
day. Some of the basic pieces you could be asked about are
shown in the following figure:

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Along with the standard and factored forms of quadratic
equations, you might also see them written in vertex form, y
= a(x − h)2 + k, where h and k are the x- and y-coordinates of
the parabola’s vertex, respectively, and the equation x = h
gives the axis of symmetry. From standard form, you can find
the x-coordinate of the vertex (and therefore the location of
the axis of symmetry) by plugging the appropriate values into
the equation x = −b 2a
(the quadratic formula without the
square root part). To find the y-coordinate of the vertex (which
tells you the maximum or minimum value of the parabola),
plug the x-coordinate into the original equation and solve for
y.

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Quadratics Drill
For questions 1 to 7, solve for x.

1. x2 + 3x − 10 = 0

2. 4x2 − 36 = 0

3. 6x = −(x2 + 8)

4. 6x2 + x − 12 = 0

5. 2x2 − 7x + 4 = 0 (Use the quadratic formula.) 6. x2 + 4x

− 1 = 0 (Complete the square.) 7. y = x2 + 4x + 3 and y
= 2x + 2 (Solve for the point or points of intersection.)
8. What is the axis of symmetry for x2 − 3x − 4 = 0?

9. How many real solutions are there for x2 + 3x + 5 = 0?

10. What are the coordinates of the vertex for y = x2 + 6x +

16?

Quadratics Practice Set

DIRECTIONS: Keep a calculator handy as you work through this practice
set, but reserve it for those questions that have a calculator icon next to
them—and even on those questions, use it only if you really need it.
Questions without the icon are intended to be done without a calculator, to
help you prepare for the no-calculator section of the SAT.

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1. What is the number of solutions to the system of
equations in the given graph?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

3x2 − 9x + 4 = 0
2. What are the values of x that satisfy the given equation?

A) −9 ± 3√ 11

√ 33
B) 3 ±
2

√ 33
C)
3
±
2 6

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 3√ 11
D)
9
±
2 2

3. In the xy-plane, the quadratic function g(x) passes

through the points (a, 1) and (b, 1). If g(x) = f(x) + 1, and
a < 0 and b > 0, which of the following could define f?
A) (x − a)(x − b)
B) (x − a)(x + b)
C) (x + a)(x − b)
D) x(x − a)(x − b)

4. The given graph shows y = −(x + 1)2 + 4. What is the

value of c?

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 y = x2 − 10x + 24
5. Which of the following equivalent forms gives the x-
intercepts of the parabola given by the equation above?

A) y − 24 = x2 − 10x
B) y + 1 = (x − 5)2
C) y = (x − 4)(x − 6)
D) y = x(x − 10) + 24

−2x(x − 5) + 7(x − 5) = ax2 + bx + c

6. In the given equation, a, b, and c are constants. What is

the value of b?

A) −35
B) −2

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 C) 3
D) 17

y = a(x − 3)(x + 5)

7. In the given equation, a is a nonzero constant. If the

vertex of the graph of the equation is (c, d), what is the
value of d?

A) −16a
B) −12a
C) −a
D) 2a

8. The formula for the distance an accelerating object travels

is d = v0t + 2 at2, for which v0 is the initial velocity, t is
1

time, and a is the rate of acceleration. An airplane is

traveling at a horizontal velocity of 100 meters per second
and a vertical velocity of 10 meters per second downward
when it releases an object. The plane releases the object
when it is 2,200 meters directly above point A, and the
object strikes the ground at point B. The acceleration due
to gravity is approximately 10 meters per second per
second. If the ground is level between points A and B,
what is the approximate distance, in meters, between the
two points? (Assume that air resistance is negligible.)
A) 200
B) 1,000
C) 2,000
D) 2,200

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 2

9. The equation 20x −ax+9

4x+1
= 5x − 3 +
12

4x+1
true for all
values of x except where a is a constant. What is
1
x = − ,
4

the value of a?

A) −7
B) −4
C) 4
D) 7

10. For the given graph, which of the following is the equation
of the parabola?

A) x2 − x − 2
B) x2 + x − 2
C) x2 − 2x − 8
D) x2 + 2x − 8

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 2
y = x − 3

y + 5 = 5x + 16

11. If (x, y) is a solution to the system of equations above and

x < 0, what is the value of x2y2?
A) 1
B) 4
C) 9
D) 16

2
y = −2(x − 2x)

2x = y − 5

12. How many real solutions are there to the system of

equations above?

A) There are exactly 3 solutions.

B) There are exactly 2 solutions.
C) There is exactly 1 solution.
D) There are no solutions.

2
4(x −6x+9)
= 6
(x−3)

13. If x does not equal 3, then what value of x satisfies the

equation above?

A)
1
−1
2

B) 3
C)
1
4
2

D) 9

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 y = 3(x − 5)2 + 4

14. The graph of the equation above in the xy-plane is a

parabola. Which of the following is true about that
parabola?

A) The maximum occurs at (5, 4).

B) The minimum occurs at (−5, 4).
C) The minimum occurs at (5, −4).
D) The minimum occurs at (5, 4).

15. What is the distance between the x-intercepts in the xy-

plane for the graph of the function f(x) = x2 − 3x − 28?

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16. The parabolic path of water in the drinking fountain
pictured above can be described by the function
x + 3x + 6, where h(x) is the height of the
4 2
h(x) = −
5

water and x is the horizontal distance from the spout.

Which of the following best describes the meaning of the
constant term 6?

A) The initial angle of the water stream

B) The maximum height of the water stream
C) The distance from the spout at which the water stream
reaches its maximum height D) The vertical distance
between the spout and the basin

3x2 + 4x − 3 = 2x2 + 5x + 17

17. If b is a solution to the equation above and b < 0, what is

the value of b?

A) −12
B) −5
C) −4
D) −2

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18. What is the greatest possible solution for the equation
11x2 − 11x + 11 = 7x2 + 9x − 14?

19. The line represented by the equation y = 49 intersects

the parabola given by the equation y = (x − 12)2 at two
points, A and B. What is the distance between A and B?

A) 7
B) 12
C) 14
D) 24

20. Each investor in a group of n investors contributes an

equal amount to a pool of funds totaling $10,000. The
group unanimously decides to give an investment adviser
an equal share in the pool for free in return for her advice.
If this action reduces the value of each of the original

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 contributors’ share of the pool by $500, what is the
number of original investors?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 8
D) 10

Answers and Explanations

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Quadratics Drill
1. 5 × (− 2) = −10 and 5 + (− 2) = 3: x2 + 3x − 10 = (x +
5)(x − 2) = 0. So x = 2 or −5.

2. Classic Quadratic: (2x + 6)(2x − 6) = 0. So, 2x = ±6 and

x = 3 or − 3. Alternatively,
2
4x −36 2
= x − 9 = (x + 3)(x − 3).
4

3. x2 + 6x + 8 = 0; 4 × 2 = 8 and 4 + 2 = 6: (x + 4) (x + 2)
= 0. So x = −4 or − 2.

4. Factors of 6: 1, 2, 3, 6; factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. (3 ×

3) + (2 × (−4)) = 9 − 8 = 1 and 3(−4) = −12: (2x + 3)(3x
− 4) = 0, so x = − 32 or 43 .

2
−(−7)±√ (−7) −4(2)(4)
x =
2(2)

5. 7±√ 49−32
=
4

7+√ 17 7−√ 17
= or
4 4

2
x + 4x + 4 = 5

2
(x + 2) = 5
6.
x + 2 = ±√ 5

x = −2 ± √ 5

2
x + 4x + 3 = 2x + 2

2
x + 2x + 1 = 0
7.
2
(x + 1) = 0

x = −1

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 −(−3)
8.
3
x = =
2(1) 2

9. 32 − 4(1)(5) = 9 − 20 = −11. The discriminant is

negative, so there are no real solutions.

10. y = x2 + 6x + 9 + 7

y = (x + 3)2 + 7
Once you have the equation in vertex form, you’re done.
The vertex is (− 3, 7).

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Quadratics Practice Set

1. A
Difficulty: Easy
Strategic Advice: Identify the number of times the graphs of
all three equations intersect.
Getting to the Answer: The line, parabola, and circle all
intersect at (1, 0) and (5, 2). Thus, (1, 0) and (5, 2) are
solutions for each equation, and there are two solutions to the
system of equations. Choice (A) is correct.

2. C
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: A quick glance at the choices shows that
using the quadratic formula, rather than factoring, is the way
to solve this one.
Getting to the Answer: The coefficients to enter in the
quadratic formula are a = 3, b = −9, and c = 4. So the
quadratic formula for this equation is:

2
−(−9)±√ (−9) −4(3)(4)
9±√ 81−48
x = =
2(3) 6

3 √ 33
= ±
2 6

Choice (C) is correct.

3. A
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: That g(x) = f(x) + 1 means that for any
value of x, the value of g(x) is 1 greater than the value of f(x).

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By subtracting 1 from the y-coordinate of the given points for
g(x), you can determine that the two points at which f(x)
crosses the x-axis are (a, 0) and (b, 0), which occur when f(a)
= 0 and f(b) = 0, respectively. The choices are given in the
form of factored quadratics, so when either factor is 0, the
value of f(x) is 0.
Getting to the Answer: For (A), when x = a, the function is
f(a) = (a − a)(a − b). Regardless of whether a is positive or
negative, the first factor is 0. When x = b, the function is f(b)
= (b − a)(b − b), in which case the second factor is 0. So (A)
is correct. Choice (D) is incorrect because it isn’t a quadratic:
f(x) intercepts the x-axis a third time when x = 0.

4. 3
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Find the value of the y-intercept.
Getting to the Answer: The y-intercept of the parabola is at
x = 0. Plug 0 in for x in the equation y = −(x + 1)2 + 4 to find
c. Thus, c is y = −(0 + 1)2 + 4 = 3.

5. C
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: The x-intercepts are at points where y =
0, so the correct choice will clearly show that.
Getting to the Answer: The variable y expressed as the
product of two factors clearly reveals the two values for which
y = 0. Choice (C) is correct.

6. D
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Distribute the factors, then combine like
terms to create a quadratic. The numerical coefficient of the x

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term is b.
Getting to the Answer: Since all the you need to answer
the question is the coefficient of the x term, take a shortcut
and only bother evaluating that part of the equation: (−2x)
(−5) = 10x, and 7(x) = 7x. The sum of these two terms is 17x.
Choice (D) is correct.

7. A
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: State the equation in vertex form and set
that equal to the given equation. Solve this for the value of d.
Getting to the Answer: Start with a(x − 3)(x + 5) = a(x −
c)2 + d. Expand the quadratics on both sides: a(x2 + 2x − 15)
= a(x2 − 2cx + c2) + d. The coefficients of x in both equations
must be equal, so 2ax = −2cax. Thus, c = −1. Paying close
attention to the sign, the x − c term in the vertex form is x +
1. Plugging this in results in the equation a(x2 + 2x − 15) =
a(x2 + 2x + 1) + d. Deleting identical terms on both sides
yields −15a = a(1) + d. Subtract a from both sides to see that
−16a = d. Choice (A) is correct.

8. C
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: Find the time that it takes for the object to
hit the ground using the given formula. Then use d = r × t to
find the horizontal distance the object travels.
Getting to the Answer: The vertical distance traveled is
2,200 meters. Since the plane is moving downward at 10
meters per second, that is the initial downward velocity of the
object. The acceleration due to gravity, a, is stated to be
about 10 meters per second per second. Plug these values
into the formula to get 2, 200 = 10t + 2 (10)t2. Setting the
1

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quadratic equal to 0, this becomes 5t2 + 10t − 2,200 = 0.
Divide by the common factor of 5 to get t2 + 2t − 440 = 0.
This factors to (t − 20)(t + 22) = 0. Since the time must be
positive, t = 20.
The horizontal velocity is 100 meters per second, so during
the 20 second drop, the object travels 100 × 20 = 2,000
meters. This is the distance between points A and B. Choice
(C) is correct.

9. D
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Clear the fractions by multiplying both
sides by 4x + 1. Then compare coefficients of a common term
of the resulting equation to solve for a.
Getting to the Answer: Multiplying both sides of the
original equation by 4x + 1 results in the new equation 20x2
− ax + 9 = 20x2 − 12x + 5x − 3 + 12. This simplifies to 20x2
− ax + 9 = 20x2 − 7x + 9, so a = 7. Choice (D) is correct.

10. C
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: Identify the x-intercepts on the graph.
Then write the equation in the form ax2 + bx + c.
Getting to the Answer: The parabola crosses the x-axis at x
= −2 and x = 4. Note that each tick mark represents 2 units.
Thus, in factored form, the quadratic is y = (x + 2) (x − 4).
Use FOIL and then simplify to get the equation:

y = (x + 2)(x − 4)

2
= x − 4x + 2x − 8

2
= x − 2x − 8

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The correct answer could be a multiple of this quadratic
equation. In this case, only (C) matches.

11. B
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: Since the first equation provides the value
of y in terms of x, substitute x2 − 3 for y in the second
equation, then solve for x and y.
Getting to the Answer: With substitution, the second
equation becomes x2 − 3 + 5 = 5x + 16. Rearrange this to x2
− 5x − 14 = 0. This equation factors to (x − 7)(x + 2) = 0.
Since x is negative, x = −2. Plug this value into the first
equation to get y = (−2)2 − 3 = 4 − 3 = 1. So, x2y2 =
(−2)2(1)2 = 4. Choice (B) is correct.

12. D
Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: Since the y-coordinates at any point of
intersection will be equal, restate the second equation in
terms of y, set the two expressions for y equal to each other,
and solve for x.
Getting to the Answer: The second equation converts to y
= 2x + 5, so 2x + 5 = −2(x2 − 2x) = − 2x2 + 4x. Combine
like terms and rearrange the equation to equal zero: 2x2 − 2x
+ 5 = 0. To determine how many real solutions there are to
this equation, use the discriminant, b2 − 4ac = (−2)2 − 4(2)
(5) = 4 − 40 = −36. Because the discriminant is negative,
there are no real solutions to this equation. Choice (D) is
correct.

13. D
Difficulty: Medium

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Strategic Advice: Factor the term inside the parentheses in
the numerator to see if the equation can be simplified without
having to multiply both sides by x − 3 to clear the fraction.
Getting to the Answer: The term x2 − 6x + 9 is a classic
quadratic, (x − 3)2. So the equation can be written as
4(x−3)(x−3)

x−3
= 6, which simplifies to 4(x − 3) = 6. Thus, 4x =
18, and x = 4
1

2
. Choice (C) is correct.

14. D
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: The equation is written in vertex form, y =
a(x − h)2 + k. In this form, if a is positive, the parabola opens
upward. The variable h is the x-coordinate of the vertex, and k
is the y-coordinate of the vertex.
Getting to the Answer: The given equation is an upward
opening parabola because a is positive; thus, the vertex
represents the minimum. Eliminate (A). The coordinates of the
vertex are (5, 4). Eliminate (B) and (C). The correct answer is
(D).

15. 11
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Set f(x) equal to 0, and factor that
quadratic to find the x-intercepts. The difference between
these two values is the positive distance between them.
Getting to the Answer: The product of the two numeric
terms is −28, and their sum is −3. The numbers that produce
these results are −7 and +4, so (x − 7)(x + 4) = 0. Therefore,
the x-intercepts are 7 and −4. The distance between them is
11.

16. D

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Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: When quadratic functions model real-life
situations, match each part of the situation to its
corresponding term in the equation.
Getting to the Answer: The equation is provided in
standard form, so recall how each part of the equation
corresponds to the real-life situation. The coefficient of the
squared term, − 45 , indicates that the parabola is opening
down, and the constant term, 6, is the y-intercept. This is a
positive number because the spout is higher than the basin.
Choice (D) is correct.

17. C
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Combine like terms to get a quadratic
expression set equal to zero in order to find the solutions.
Getting to the Answer: Subtract the right side of the
equation from the left side: 3x2 − 2x2 + 4x − 5x − 3 − 17 =
2x2 − 2x2 + 5x − 5x + 17 − 17. Thus, x2 − x − 20 = 0. Factor
this using reverse FOIL to get (x + 4)(x − 5) = 0. Hence, the
two solutions are −4 and 5, but only −4 is less than 0. Choice
(C) is correct.

18. 2.5 or 5/2

Difficulty: Hard
Strategic Advice: Rearrange the equation to get a quadratic
equal to zero, then factor to solve.
Getting to the Answer: Subtracting the right side from the
left side of the equation 11x2 − 11x + 11 = 7x2 + 9x − 14
yields 4x2 − 20x + 25. Notice that the first term is (2x)2, the
middle term is −2(2x)(5), and the third term is (5)2. Since the

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middle term is negative, this pattern quadratic is (2x − 5)2 =
0. Thus, 2x = 5 and the single solution is x = 2.5 or 5
2
.

19. C
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Set the right side of the two equations
equal and solve for x.
Getting to the Answer: Substitute 49 for y in the equation
for the parabola: (x − 12)2 = 49. Take the square root of both
sides of the equation to get x − 12 = ±7. So, the x-values at
the two points of intersection are 12 − 7 = 5 and 12 + 7 = 19.
The distance between those points is 19 − 5 = 14. Choice (C)
is correct.

20. A
Difficulty: Medium
Strategic Advice: Translate the given scenario into an
equation, and solve for the original number of investors.
Getting to the Answer: The original investors’ individual
$10,000
contribution to the pool of funds is n
each. When the
adviser is brought into the group, each share of the pool is
$10,000
worth n+1 . Since this amount is $500 less than the original
value of each person’s share of the pool, set up the equation
10,000 10,000

n
− 500 = Multiply both sides by the
n+1
.

denominators to clear the fractions:

10,000 10,000
(n + 1)( n ) − (n + 1)(n)500 = ( n + 1 )(n) .
n n+1

So 10, 000n + 10, 000 − 500n

2
− 500n = 10, 000n . Divide
all terms by 500 to get 20 − n2 − n = 0. Multiply both sides
by −1 so that n2 + n − 20 = 0. This factors to (n + 5)(n − 4)
= 0. Since the solution cannot be a negative number, n = 4.

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Alternatively, you could solve by testing the choices. If you
started with (B), 5 investors, that would be an initial
$10,000
contribution of 5
= $2, 000 each. Adding the adviser
$10,000
would reduce each person’s share to 6
≈ $1, 667. Each

person’s reduction is about $333, but you’re looking for a

$500 reduction. Since this is too small a per-person reduction
and increasing the number of investors would further
decrease the per-person reduction, 4 must be the correct
value for n. Choice (A) is correct.

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 CHAPTER 11

Lines, Angles, and

Triangles

Lines and Angles

Lines and angles are the foundation of SAT geometry.
Reviewing a few basic definitions and rules will make
answering these questions, as well as related geometry
questions, much easier:
• Acute angle: an angle that measures between 0 and 90
degrees
• Obtuse angle: angle that measures between 90 and
180 degrees
• Right angle (formed by perpendicular lines): an angle
that measures exactly 90 degrees
• Complementary angles: angles that sum to 90
degrees
• Supplementary angles: angles that sum to 180
degrees
• Vertical angles: angles opposite to each other when
two lines intersect. Vertical angles have equal measures.

Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal

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