Algebra 2 by Richard Wright

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3-05 Solve Quadratic Equations using the Quadratic Formula (3.4)

Mr. Wright teaches the lesson.

Objectives:

SDA NAD Content Standards (2018): AII.4.1, AII.4.2, AII.5.1, AII.6.3

Figure 1: Batter hitting a ball. (Pixabay/KeithJJ)

Consider a baseball that a batter hits into the air. A quadratic equation can be used to model the time the catcher has to get under the ball to catch it. A simpler way to solve a general quadratic equation than completing the square is by using the quadratic formula.

Think of the general form of a quadratic equation. Use completing the square to solve it symbolically.

ax2 + bx + c = 0

Add −c to both sides to get the x terms by themselves.

ax2 + bx = –c

Divide by a to get the leading coefficient to be 1.

$$ x^2+\frac{b}{a}x=-\frac{c}{a} $$

Add \(\left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2\) to both sides. In this case \(b=\frac{b}{a}\), so \(\left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2=\left(\frac{\frac{b}{a}}{2}\right)^2=\left(\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2\).

$$ x^2+\frac{b}{a}x+\left(\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2=\left(\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2-\frac{c}{a} $$

$$ x^2+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^2}{4a^2}=\frac{b^2}{4a^2}-\frac{c}{a} $$

On the right side, get a common denominator to subtract the fractions.

$$ x^2+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^2}{4a^2}=\frac{b^2}{4a^2}-\frac{4ac}{4a^2} $$

$$ x^2+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^2}{4a^2}=\frac{b^2-4ac}{4a^2} $$

Write the left side as a perfect square.

$$ \left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2=\frac{b^2-4ac}{4a^2} $$

Square root both sides.

$$ \sqrt{\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2}=\sqrt{\frac{b^2-4ac}{4a^2}} $$

$$ x+\frac{b}{2a}=\frac{\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

Solve for x.

$$ x=-\frac{b}{2a}\pm\frac{\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

Since this is solved symbolically, then if the a, b, and c are known, they can be substituted into this equation to solve for x. This is called the quadratic formula.

Quadratic Formula

Using the Quadratic Formula

Quadratic Formula

If ax2 + bx + c = 0, then

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

To solve using the quadratic formula,

  1. Put the equation in general form: ax2 + bx + c = 0.
  2. Identify the values of a, b, and c.
  3. Substitute the values of a, b, and c into the quadratic formula.
  4. Simplify the solutions.

Example 1: Solve Using the Quadratic Formula

Solve x2 + 5x – 14 = 0 using the quadratic formula.

Solution

Put the equation in general form: ax2 + bx + c = 0. It already is.

a = 1, b = 5, c = –14

Substitute those into the quadratic formula.

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

$$ x=\frac{-5\pm\sqrt{5^2-4\left(1\right)\left(-14\right)}}{2\left(1\right)} $$

Simplify the solutions.

$$ x=\frac{-5\pm\sqrt{81}}{2} $$

$$ x=\frac{-5\pm9}{2} $$

$$ x=\frac{-5+9}{2},\frac{-5-9}{2} $$

x = 2, –7

Example 2: Solve Using the Quadratic Formula

Solve 2x2 – 3x = 1 using the quadratic formula.

Solution

Put the equation in general form: ax2 + bx + c = 0.

2x2 – 3x – 1 = 0

a = 2, b = –3, c = –1

Substitute those into the quadratic formula.

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

$$ x=\frac{3\pm\sqrt{\left(-3\right)^2-4\left(2\right)\left(-1\right)}}{2\left(2\right)} $$

Simplify the solutions.

$$ x=\frac{\mathbf{3}\pm\sqrt{\mathbf{17}}}{\mathbf{4}} $$

Example 3: Solve Using the Quadratic Formula

Solve 3x2 – 2x = -4 using the quadratic formula.

Solution

Put the equation in general form: ax2 + bx + c = 0.

3x2 – 2x + 4 = 0

a = 3, b = –2, c = 4

Substitute those into the quadratic formula.

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

$$ x=\frac{2\pm\sqrt{\left(-2\right)^2-4\left(3\right)\left(4\right)}}{2\left(3\right)} $$

Simplify the solutions.

$$ x=\frac{2\pm\sqrt{-44}}{6} $$

$$ x=\frac{2\pm2\sqrt{11}i}{6} $$

Separate into standard from for complex numbers.

$$ x=\frac{2}{6}\pm\frac{2\sqrt{11}}{6}i $$

x = \(\frac{\mathbf{1}}{\mathbf{3}}\pm\frac{\sqrt{\mathbf{11}}}{\mathbf{3}}i\)

Using the Discriminant to Classify Solution Types

The part of the quadratic formula under the square root is called the discriminant. It can be used to classify the types of solutions a quadratic equation will have. For example, if the discriminant is negative, the solutions will include the square roots of negative numbers which means the solutions will be imaginary.

Classify Solution Types

To use the discriminant,

  1. Evaluate the discriminant: b2 − 4ac.
  2. If the discriminant is
    1. Negative, then there are 2 imaginary solutions.
    2. Zero, then there is 1 real solution equal to \(-\frac{b}{2a}\). This will be at the vertex.
    3. Positive, then there are 2 discrete real solutions.

Example 4: Use the Discriminant

Use the discriminant to classify the types of solutions of 2x2 − 5x + 10 = 0.

Solution

This is already in general form, so a = 2, b = −5, c = 10.

Substitute these into the discriminant: b2 − 4ac.

(–5)2 – 4(2)(10)

= 25 – 80

= –55

Since this is negative the quadratic equation has two imaginary solutions.

Example 5: Use the Discriminant

Use the discriminant to classify the types of solutions of \(-\frac{1}{2}x^2+\frac{3}{2}x+1=0\).

Solution

This is already in general form, so \(a=-\frac{1}{2}\), \(b=\frac{3}{2}\), c = 1.

Substitute these into the discriminant: b2 – 4ac.

$$ \left(\frac{3}{2}\right)^2-4\left(-\frac{1}{2}\right)\left(1\right) $$

$$ =\frac{9}{4}+\frac{4}{2} $$

$$ =\frac{9}{4}+\frac{8}{4} $$

$$ =\frac{17}{4} $$

Since this is positive the quadratic equation has two discrete real solutions.

Problem Solving

Example 6: A Falling Penny

If air resistance is ignored, a falling object’s height in meters, h, can be modeled by h = –4.9t2 + v0t + h0 where t is the time since it was dropped in seconds, v0 is the initial velocity of the object in meters per second, and h0 is the initial height of the object in meters. If a ball hit straight up at 45 m/s from a height of 1 m, how much time does a catcher have to move under to ball to catch it if he is 2.5 m tall?

Solution

Start by listing what is known.

v0 = 45, h0 = 1, h = 2.5

Substitute these into the given formula.

h = −4.9t2 + v0t + h0

2.5 = −4.9t2 + 45t + 1

This is a quadratic equation. Since both t2 and t appear, it could be solve by either factoring or the quadratic formula. Since there are decimal coefficients, starting with the quadratic formula might be fastest.

Put the equation in general form.

0 = −4.9t2 + 45t − 1.5

a = −4.9, b = 45, c = −1.5

Substitute those into the quadratic formula.

$$ x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a} $$

$$ x=\frac{-45\pm\sqrt{\left(45\right)^2-4\left(-4.9\right)\left(-1.5\right)}}{2\left(-4.9\right)} $$

Simplify the solutions.

$$ x=\frac{-45\pm\sqrt{1995.6}}{-9.8} $$

$$ x=\frac{-45\pm44.67}{-9.8} $$

$$ x=\frac{-45+44.67}{-9.8},\frac{-45-44.67}{-9.8} $$

x = 0.03, 9.15

Interpret these answers. The catcher has either 0.03 s or 9.15 s to get under the ball. The 0.03 s is the time it takes the ball to get to 2.5 m height as the ball goes up. The 9.15 s is the time it takes for the ball to get to 2.5 m height as the ball comes back down. The second solution answers the question.

The catcher has 9.15 s to get under the ball to catch it.

Practice Problems

123 #1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, 27, 39, 61, Mixed Review = 20

    Mixed Review

  1. (3-04) Solve using completing the square: x2 − 3x + 4 = 0.
  2. (3-04) Rewrite in vertex form: y = x2 + 4x − 5.
  3. (3-03) Solve by graphing: x2 + 7x + 10 = 0.
  4. (3-02) Factor x2 − 6x − 7.
  5. (3-01) Simplify (2 + 4i) − (3 − 5i).

Answers

  1. \(\frac{3}{2}\pm\frac{\sqrt7}{2}i\)
  2. y = (x + 2)2 − 9
  3. −5, −2
  4. (x − 7)(x + 1)
  5. −1 + 9i