If two roots of the equation ax^ 2 +bx+c=0(a ne0) are reciprocal to each other, then c=\

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Solve quadratic equations using the quadratic formula
• Use the discriminant to predict the number of solutions of a quadratic equation
• Identify the most appropriate method to use to solve a quadratic equation

Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

1. Simplify:
   
   .
   If you missed this problem, review (Figure).
2. Simplify:
   
   .
   If you missed this problem, review (Figure).
3. Simplify:
   
   .
   If you missed this problem, review (Figure).

When we solved quadratic equations in the last section by completing the square, we took the same steps every time. By the end of the exercise set, you may have been wondering ‘isn’t there an easier way to do this?’ The answer is ‘yes.’ In this section, we will derive and use a formula to find the solution of a quadratic equation.

We have already seen how to solve a formula for a specific variable ‘in general’ so that we would do the algebraic steps only once and then use the new formula to find the value of the specific variable. Now, we will go through the steps of completing the square in general to solve a quadratic equation for x. It may be helpful to look at one of the examples at the end of the last section where we solved an equation of the form

This last equation is the Quadratic Formula.

Quadratic Formula

The solutions to a quadratic equation of the form

To use the Quadratic Formula, we substitute the values of

How to Solve a Quadratic Equation Using the Quadratic Formula

Solve

Solution

Solve

Solve

Solve a quadratic equation using the Quadratic Formula.

1. Write the Quadratic Formula in standard form. Identify the , , and values.
2. Write the Quadratic Formula. Then substitute in the values of , , and
3. Simplify.
4. Check the solutions.

If you say the formula as you write it in each problem, you’ll have it memorized in no time. And remember, the Quadratic Formula is an equation. Be sure you start with ‘’.

Solve

Solution

This equation is in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Rewrite to show two solutions.
Simplify.
Check.

Solve

Solve

When we solved quadratic equations by using the Square Root Property, we sometimes got answers that had radicals. That can happen, too, when using the Quadratic Formula. If we get a radical as a solution, the final answer must have the radical in its simplified form.

Solve

Solution

We can use the Quadratic Formula to solve for the variable in a quadratic equation, whether or not it is named ‘x’.

This equation is in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Rewrite to show two solutions.
Check. We leave the check to you.

Solve

Solve

Solve

Solution

This equation is in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Simplify the radical.
Factor out the common factor in the numerator.
Remove the common factors.
Rewrite to show two solutions.
Check. We leave the check to you.

Solve

Solve

We cannot take the square root of a negative number. So, when we substitute , , and into the Quadratic Formula, if the quantity inside the radical is negative, the quadratic equation has no real solution. We will see this in the next example.

Solve

Solution

This equation is in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Simplify the radical.
We cannot take the square root of a negative number.	There is no real solution.

Solve

Solve

The quadratic equations we have solved so far in this section were all written in standard form,

Solve

Solution

Distribute to get the equation in standard form.
This equation is now in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Simplify inside the radical.
Simplify the radical.
Factor out the common factor in the numerator.
Remove the common factors.
Rewrite to show two solutions.
Check. We leave the check to you.

Solve

Solve

When we solved linear equations, if an equation had too many fractions we ‘cleared the fractions’ by multiplying both sides of the equation by the LCD. This gave us an equivalent equation—without fractions—to solve. We can use the same strategy with quadratic equations.

Solve

Solution

Multiply both sides by the LCD, 6, to clear the fractions.
Multiply.
Subtract 2 to get the equation in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Simplify the radical.
Factor out the common factor in the numerator.
Remove the common factors.
Rewrite to show two solutions.
Check. We leave the check to you.

Solve

Solve

Think about the equation

We will see in the next example how using the Quadratic Formula to solve an equation with a perfect square also gives just one solution.

Solve

Solution

Add 25 to get the equation in standard form.
Identify the a, b, c values.
Write the Quadratic Formula.
Then substitute in the values of a, b, c.
Simplify.
Simplify the radical.
Simplify the fraction.
Check. We leave the check to you.

Did you recognize that

Solve

Solve

When we solved the quadratic equations in the previous examples, sometimes we got two solutions, sometimes one solution, sometimes no real solutions. Is there a way to predict the number of solutions to a quadratic equation without actually solving the equation?

Yes, the quantity inside the radical of the Quadratic Formula makes it easy for us to determine the number of solutions. This quantity is called the discriminant.

Discriminant

In the Quadratic Formula

Let’s look at the discriminant of the equations in (Figure), (Figure), and (Figure), and the number of solutions to those quadratic equations.

	Quadratic Equation (in standard form)	Discriminant	Sign of the Discriminant	Number of real solutions
(Figure)			+	2
(Figure)			0	1
(Figure)			−	0

When the discriminant is positive

When the discriminant is zero

When the discriminant is negative

Use the discriminant,

For a quadratic equation of the form

• if
  
  , the equation has two solutions.
• if
  
  , the equation has one solution.
• if
  
  , the equation has no real solutions.

Determine the number of solutions to each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

Solution

To determine the number of solutions of each quadratic equation, we will look at its discriminant.

1. ⓐ
   
   
   
   
2. ⓑ
   
   
   
   
3. ⓒ
   
   
   
   
4. ⓓ
   
   

Determine the number of solutions to each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

ⓐ no real solutions ⓑ 2 ⓒ 1 ⓓ no real solutions

Determine the number of solutions to each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

ⓐ 2 ⓑ no real solutions ⓒ 1 ⓓ 2

We have used four methods to solve quadratic equations:

• Factoring
• Square Root Property
• Completing the Square
• Quadratic Formula

You can solve any quadratic equation by using the Quadratic Formula, but that is not always the easiest method to use.

Identify the most appropriate method to solve a Quadratic Equation.

1. Try Factoring first. If the quadratic factors easily, this method is very quick.
2. Try the Square Root Property next. If the equation fits the form
   
   or
   
   , it can easily be solved by using the Square Root Property.
3. Use the Quadratic Formula. Any quadratic equation can be solved by using the Quadratic Formula.

What about the method of completing the square? Most people find that method cumbersome and prefer not to use it. We needed to include it in this chapter because we completed the square in general to derive the Quadratic Formula. You will also use the process of completing the square in other areas of algebra.

Identify the most appropriate method to use to solve each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

Solution

ⓐ

Since the equation is in the

ⓑ

We recognize that the left side of the equation is a perfect square trinomial, and so Factoring will be the most appropriate method.

ⓒ

Put the equation in standard form.

While our first thought may be to try Factoring, thinking about all the possibilities for trial and error leads us to choose the Quadratic Formula as the most appropriate method

Identify the most appropriate method to use to solve each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

ⓐ factor ⓑ Square Root Property ⓒ Quadratic Formula

Identify the most appropriate method to use to solve each quadratic equation:

ⓐ

ⓐ Quadratic Formula ⓑ factoring ⓒ Square Root Property

Key Concepts

• Quadratic Formula The solutions to a quadratic equation of the form
  
  
  are given by the formula:
  
  

• Solve a Quadratic Equation Using the Quadratic Formula
  To solve a quadratic equation using the Quadratic Formula.
  1. Write the quadratic formula in standard form. Identify the
     
     values.
  2. Write the quadratic formula. Then substitute in the values of
     
  3. Simplify.
  4. Check the solutions.
• Using the Discriminant,
  
  , to Determine the Number of Solutions of a Quadratic Equation
  For a quadratic equation of the form
  
  
  • if
    
    , the equation has 2 solutions.
  • if
    
    , the equation has 1 solution.
  • if
    
    , the equation has no real solutions.
• To identify the most appropriate method to solve a quadratic equation:
  1. Try Factoring first. If the quadratic factors easily this method is very quick.
  2. Try the Square Root Property next. If the equation fits the form
     
     or
     
     , it can easily be solved by using the Square Root Property.
  3. Use the Quadratic Formula. Any other quadratic equation is best solved by using the Quadratic Formula.

Solve Quadratic Equations Using the Quadratic Formula

In the following exercises, solve by using the Quadratic Formula.

Use the Discriminant to Predict the Number of Solutions of a Quadratic Equation

In the following exercises, determine the number of solutions to each quadratic equation.

ⓐ

ⓐ no real solutions ⓑ 1
ⓒ 2 ⓓ no real solutions

ⓐ

ⓐ

ⓐ 1 ⓑ no real solutions
ⓒ 1 ⓓ 2

ⓐ

Identify the Most Appropriate Method to Use to Solve a Quadratic Equation

In the following exercises, identify the most appropriate method (Factoring, Square Root, or Quadratic Formula) to use to solve each quadratic equation. Do not solve.

ⓐ

ⓐ factor ⓑ square root
ⓒ Quadratic Formula

ⓐ

ⓐ

ⓐ factor ⓑ square root
ⓒ factor

ⓐ

A flare is fired straight up from a ship at sea. Solve the equation

An architect is designing a hotel lobby. She wants to have a triangular window looking out to an atrium, with the width of the window 6 feet more than the height. Due to energy restrictions, the area of the window must be 140 square feet. Solve the equation

Solve the equation

ⓐ

Solve the equation

ⓐ After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

ⓑ What does this checklist tell you about your mastery of this section? What steps will you take to improve?

discriminant In the Quadratic Formula,