Miraculous world of Numbers: 61-02 Basics of Quadratic Equations

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

61-02 Basics of Quadratic Equations

Click here for the previous basics.

In the Previous Blog, we had seen some important concepts of the Quadratic Equation.

Now we can study a few more problems based on the roots of the quadratic equation.

c] If one root of the quadratic equation 7 x ² - k x - 8 = 0 is 2, find the value of k.

Solution:

1) As x = 2 is the root of the quadratic equation 7 x ² - k x - 8 = 0, it will satisfy the equation.

2) So, put x = 2 in 7 x ² - k x - 8 = 0, we get

7 x ² - k x - 8 = 0

7 (2) ² - k (2) - 8 = 0

7 (4) - 2 k - 8 = 0

28 - 2 k - 8 = 0

20 - 2 k = 0

20 = 2 k

10 = k

3) So, the value of k is 10.

To solve the quadratic equation:

1) Using the factorization Method:

a) Solve the quadratic equation x ² - 5 x + 6 = 0

Note: Before solving the quadratic equation, a few important concepts need to be understood.

1) The roots of the quadratic equation are known as the Solution Set of the quadratic equation, and they are written in curly brackets.

2) While solving the quadratic equation by factorization method, first see the sign of the constant term. If the sign is " + " then we need to find a group of two factors of the constant term and the coefficient of x ² in such a way that their addition will be the coefficient of x.

Please study this step very carefully.

So that you will understand the basics of factorization of quadratic equations or expressions.

See the above problem.

x ² - 5 x + 6 = 0, here coefficient of x ² is 1 and the constant term is 6 with " + " sign, so, we need to get a group of two factors of 6 x 1 in such a way that their sum will be (- 5). Here the factors of 6 are 1 and 6 or 2 and 3. Here the sum of the factors in the first group is 1 + 6 = 7 which is not 5 so ignore this group. Now see the second group with factors 2 & 3, their sum is 2 + 3 = 5. so we need to replace (- 5) x by (- 2) x and (- 3) x. (See the following step)

x ² - 2 x -3 x + 6 = 0

x (x - 2) - 3 (x - 2) = 0

(x - 2) (x - 3) = 0

(x - 2) = 0 or (x - 3) = 0

x = 2 or x = 3

so, 2, and 3 are the roots of the quadratic equation x ² - 5 x + 6 = 0. So here Solution Set of this equation is { 2, 3 }.

Now we will solve a few more examples of the quadratic equation using the factorization method.

b] Solve the quadratic equation 6 x ² - x - 2 = 0 using factorization method.

Solution:

1) The coefficient of x ² is 6 and the sign of the constant term 2 is " - ".

2) So, 6 x ² - x - 2 = 0 Here the factors of 6 & 2 are
6 x 2
2 x 3 x 2 as we want the difference as 1
so we have to take (2 x 2) & 3
4 x 3
  6 x ² - 4 x + 3 x  - 2 = 0
2 x ( 3 x - 2 ) +  ( 3 x - 2 ) = 0
( 3 x - 2 )  ( 2 x + 1 ) = 0
( 3 x - 2 ) = 0 or ( 2 x + 1 ) = 0
3 x = 2 or 2 x = - 1
x = 2/3  or x = - 1/2
   3) So the roots of the equation are 2/3 or - 1/2 so Solution Set = { 2/3, - 1/2 }

c] Solve the quadratic equation 4 x ² - 23 x + 15 = 0 using factorization method.

Solution:

1) The coefficient of x ² is 4 and the sign of the constant term 15 is " + ".

2) So, 4 x ² - 23 x + 15 = 0   Here the factors of 4 & 15 are
4 x 15
2 x 2 x 3 x 5 as we want the sum as 23
so we have to take (2 x 2 x 5) & 3
20 x 3
4 x ² - 20 x - 3 x  + 15 = 0
4 x ( x - 5 )  - 3 ( x - 5 ) = 0
( x - 5 )  ( 4 x -  3 ) = 0
( x - 5 ) = 0 or ( 4 x -  3 ) = 0
x = 5  or 4 x = 3
x = 5  or x = 3/4
   3)  So the roots of the equation are 5 or 3/4 so Solution Set = { 5, 3/4 }

Some special and critical types of factors:

Please download the following file and study it very carefully so that you will not find any difficulties while solving quadratic equations.
Just go through this downloaded file and be prepared to solve any problem pertaining to these critical factors.

A few more problems on Quadratic Equations related to factors will be discussed in the next Blog.