BEST METHODS TO SOLVE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

I. GENERALITIES. There are 4 existing common methods for solving quadratic equations (quadratic formula, factoring, completing the square, graphing) and the new Diagonal Sum Method. Therefore, students are sometimes confused about selecting the best solving method. The quadratic formula may be the obvious choice, since you can quickly get the answers of any quadratic equation by computing with a calculator. However, the purpose of high school learning math is not just to find answers of math equations. Its ultimate goals are to improve logical thinking and deductive reasoning of students. That is why, the math teaching process want students to learn a few other methods (factoring, completing the square,) in order to develop their math skills. Recall that a quadratic equation in standard form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 may have 2 real roots, one double real root, or no real roots at all (imaginary or complex roots). I explain below, in general, the 3 best solving methods, so that students have a clear picture of the best one to select when they solve quadratic equations. A. About the quadratic formula. The quadratic formula may be the first choice since you can use it to solve any quadratic equations, especially when you can use calculators. There are a few remarks you need to know about the quadratic formula. 1. When use of calculator is not allowed. In some kinds of tests/exams the use of calculators is not allowed. In this case, students may have calculation problems, especially when the constants a, b, and c are large numbers. Students also have to learn by heart the quadratic formula and to know how to extract the square root of a number. Here are a few Tips to remember when solving by quadratic formula: a. If the Determinant D = b^2 4ac > 0, there are 2 real roots. If D < 0, there are no real roots. If D = 0 there is double real root b. If the determinant D is a perfect square, the given quadratic equation can be factored (factorable). The 2 real roots are in the form of 2 fractions and not in decimals. 2. When use of calculators is allowed. I advise students to proceed solving in 2 steps. In first step, compute D using calculator. Page 1 of 7

If D is not a perfect square, continue computing the second step. Answers are most of the time in decimals. - If D is a perfect square, meaning the square root of D is a whole number, then, students must algebraically proceed the second step. Make sure that the answers will not be in decimals because the true answers are in the form of 2 fractions. Example. Solve: 6x^2 + x 12 = 0. Solution. First, find the Discriminant D using calculator: D = b^2 4ac = 1 + 288 = 289 = 17^2. Next, find the real roots by algebraic calculation. x1 = -1/12 + 17/12 = 16/12 = 4/3 ; x2 = -1/12 17/12 = -18/12 = -3/2 3. The quadratic formula in graphic form. There is an improved formula, called the quadratic formula in graphic form. See the article titled The quadratic formula in graphic form posted on this website: www.edexchange.adobe.com The 2 real roots are given by this formula: x1 = -b/2a + d/2a ; and x2 = -b/2a d/2a (1) In this formula, the quantity (-b/2a) represents the x-coordinate of the parabola axis. The 2 quantities (d/2a) and (-d/2a) represent the 2 distances from the parabola axis to the two x-intercepts of the parabola. The quantity d can be zero, a number (real or radical), or imaginary that will translate to a double root, 2 real roots, or no real roots at all. The quantity d can be computed from this relation: d^2 = b^2 4ac (2) To solve a quadratic equation, first find d from the relation (2) then find the real roots by the formula (1). Compared to the classical one, this formula is simpler and easier to remember since students can relate it to the 2 x-intercepts of the parabola graph. In addition, the quantities (d/2a) and (d/2a) make more sense about distances than the classical quantity square root of b^2 4ac. B. The factoring ac method From my experiences, although 99% (?) of the quadratic equations in real life cant be factored, many of the ones given to students as exercises/problems in books/tests/exams are factorable. These equations are intentionally setup so that students have to solve them by the factoring method. The main intention is to teach students various math solving process instead of narrowly applying the boring mechanical quadratic formula. Page 2 of 7

When a given quadratic equation can be factored, there are 2 best methods to solve it: the factoring ac method and the new Diagonal Sum method. I generally explain below these methods and then compare them by real examples. The concept of the factoring ac method (You Tube Search) is to factor the equation into 2 binomials and then solve these 2 simple binomials for x. The methods practice is to find 2 numbers (b1) and (b2) whose product is ac and whose sum is (b1 + b2) = b. Example . Solve: 8x^2 22x 13 = 0. Solution. Find 2 numbers whose product is ac = -104 and whose sum is b = -22. Proceed by writing factor pairs of -104: (-1, 104)(1, -104)(-2, 52)(2, -52)(-4, 26)(4, -26), OK. Next, replace in the equation the term (-22x) by the 2 terms (4x) and (-26x), then, put in common factor: 8x^2 + 4x 26x 13 = 0 4x(2x + 1) 13(2x + 1) = 0 (2x + 1)(4x 13) = 0 Next, solve the 2 binomials for x to get the 2 real roots. 2x + 1 = 0 x = -1/2 4x 13 = 0 x = 13/4 C. The new Diagonal Sum method When the given quadratic equation can be factored, there is a new method, called Diagonal Sum Method (Amazon e-book 2010), that directly gives the 2 real roots without factoring. Its innovative concept is direct finding 2 real roots, in the form of 2 fractions, knowing their sum (b/a) and their product (c/a). It uses 2 Rules: the Rule of Signs for real roots, and the Rule of the Diagonal Sum. Recall of the Rule of Signs for real roots. If a and c have opposite signs the 2 real roots have opposite signs (one +, one -) Example. The equation: x^2 6x - 7 = 0 has 2 real roots opposite in signs: 1 and -7 If a and c have same sign, the 2 real roots have same sign. a. If a and b have opposite sign, both real roots are positive. Example. The equation: x^2 7x + 6 = 0 has 2 real roots both positive: 1 and 6. b. If a and b have same sign, both roots are negative. Example. The equation: x^2 + 9x + 8 = 0 has 2 real roots both negative: -1 and -8. The Rule of Diagonal Sum Given 2 probable real roots, in the form of 2 fractions: (c1/a1) and (c2/a2).
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Their product is (c1/a1).(c2/a2) = c/a . This means the numerators constitute a factor pair of c. The denominators constitute a factor pair of a. Their sum is: (c1/a1) + (c2/a2) = (c1a2 + c2a1)/a1a2 = -b/a. The sum (c1a2 + c2a1) is called the Diagonal Sum of a real root pair. From there comes the rule: The diagonal sum of a real root pair must be equal to (-b). If it equals to b, the answer is the negative of the pair. If a is negative, the rule of sign is reversed, meaning the diagonal sum must equal to b. How to proceed with the Diagonal Sum Method ? This new method selects all probable root pairs from the c/a setup. The factor-pairs of (c) provide all numerators of the root pairs. The factor pairs of (a) provide all denominators that are always kept positive. Next, the method uses mental math to calculate all diagonal sums and find the one that is equal to (-b). See details of solving process on this website: wwww.edexchange.adobe.com. Example. The equation 8x^2 22x 13 = 0 has roots with opposite signs. The constant c has one factor pair (-1, 13), and (a) has 2 factor pairs: (1, 8) and (2, 4). There are total 4 probable root pairs after permutation: (-1/8 , 13/1) (-1/1 , 13/8) (-1/2 , 13/4) (-1/4 , 13/2) Diagonal sums: (-1 + 104) (-8 + 13) (-4 + 26 = 22 = -b) The third diagonal sum is equal to b. The 2 real roots are -1/2 and 13/4 NOTE. Students can simplify the c/a setup before proceeding solving. After performing a process, called elimination of no-fitted root pairs, the number of probable root pairs in this example can be reduced to two. See Page 6.

II. Best solving method to select

The best solving method to select depends on the values of the constants a and c. A. When a = 1 Solving equation type x^2 + bx + c = 0 In this case, solving becomes finding 2 numbers knowing their sum (-b) and their product c. The best solving method in this case, the Diagonal Sum Method, proceeds quickly and doesnt need factoring. It is fast, simple, and saves the time used for solving the 2 binomials. Example. Solve: x^2 21x 72 = 0. Solution. The roots have opposite signs. Write down the factor pairs of c = -72. They are: (-1, 72),(-2, 36),(-3, 24) Stop! This sum is 24 3 = 21 = -b. The 2 real roots are -3 and 24. Example. Solve: -x^2 + 37x 106 = 0. Page 4 of 7

Solution. Both roots are positive since a and b have opposite signs. Write down factor pairs of ac = 106. They are: (1, 102)(2, 51)(3, 34)Stop! This sum is 3 + 34 = 37 = b. According to the Rule of the Diagonal Sum when a is negative, the diagonal sum must equal to b. The 2 real roots are 3 and 34. B. When a is not 1 - Solving equation type ax^2 + bx + c = 0 1. When a and c are prime numbers. In this case, the 2 best solving methods are the factoring ac method and the new Diagonal Sum method. Example. Solve: 7x^2 76x 11 = 0. Solution by the Diagonal Sum method. Roots have opposite signs. Both a and c are prime. Since -1 is not a real rot, there is unique probable root pair: (-1/7 , 11/1). Its diagonal sum is: 77 1 = 76 = -b. The 2 real roots are -1/7 and 11. Solution by the factoring ac method. Find 2 numbers whose product is ac = -77 and whose sum is b = -76. Proceed: (-1, 77) (1, -77) OK. Replace in the equation the quantity (-76x) by the 2 quantities (x) and (-77x), then put in common factor: 7x^2 76x 11 = 0 7x^2 + x 77 x 11 = 0 7x(x 11) + x 11 = 0 (x 11)(7x + 1) = 0. Next, solve the 2 binomials: x 11 = 0 x = 11 7x + 1 = 0 x = -1/7 2. When a and c are small numbers and may contain themselves one or 2 factors. In this case, the 2 best methods are the factoring ac method and the new Diagonal Sum method. Example. Solve: 6x^2 19x 11 = 0. Solution by the Diagonal Sum Method. Roots have opposite signs. There are 3 probable root pairs: (-1/6 , 11/1) (-1/2 , 11/3) (-1/3 , 11/2). The second diagonal sum is: 22 3 = 19 = -b. The 2 real roots are -1/2 and 11/3. Solution by the ac method. Find 2 number whose product is ac = -66 and whose sum is b = -19. Proceed: (-1, 66) (1, -66)(-2, 33)(2 -33)(-3, 22)(3, -22) OK. Replace in the equation the term (-19x) by (3x) and (-22x). 6x^2 + 3x 22x 11 = 0 3x(2x + 1) 11(x + 1) = 0 Page 5 of 7

(2x + 1)(3x 11) = 0 Next, solve the 2 binomials for x: 2x + 1 = 0 - x = -1/2 3x 11 = 0 - x = 11/3 3. When a and c are large numbers and may contain themselves many factors. In this case the best solving method is the new Diagonal Sum Method. It creates first the c/a setup so that any root pair could be omitted. The numerator of the setup contains all factor pairs of c. The denominator contains all factor pairs of a. This method then transforms the multiple steps solving process into a simplified one by eliminating all the pairs that do not fit. In this case, the factoring ac method may become inconvenient because the product ac is too large to proceed. Example. Solve: 12x^2 + 5x 72 = 0. Solution. Roots have opposite signs. Write down the c/a set up. Numerator. Factor pairs of c = -72: (-1, 72)(-2, 36)(-3, 24)(-4, 18)(-6, 12)(-8, 9) Denominator. Factor pairs of a = 12: (1, 12)(2, 6)(3, 4) The new Diagonal Sum Method first eliminates all the pairs that are not fitted. Since b is an odd number, eliminate the pairs: (-2, 36)(-4, 18)(-6, 12) and (2, 6) because they give even-number diagonal sums. Eliminate the pairs: (-1, 72)(-3, 24) and (1, 12) because they give large number diagonal sums (while b = 5 is small). The remainder c/a is: (-8, 9)/(3, 4) that gives 2 probable root pairs: (-8/3, 9/4) (-8/4, 9/3). The first diagonal sum is: -32 + 27 = -5 = -b. The 2 real roots are -8/3 and 9/4. Example. Solve: 24x^2 + 59x + 36 = 0 Solution. Both roots are negative. Write down the c/a setup. Numerator: (-1, -36)(-2, -18)(-3, -12)(-4, -9)(-6, -6) Denominator: (1, 24)(2, 12)(3, 8)(4, 6) First, eliminate the pairs: (-2, -18)(--6, -6) and (2, 12)(4, 6) because they give evennumber diagonal sums (while b = 59 is odd). Next, eliminate the pairs: (-1, -36) (-3, -12) and (1, 24) because they give large diagonal sums as compared to b = -59. The remainder c/a is (-4, -9)/(3, 8) that gives 2 probable root pairs: (-4/3 , -9/8) and (-4/8 , -9/3). The first diagonal sum is: -32 27 = -59 = -b. The 2 real roots are -4/3 and -9/8. Page 6 of 7

NOTE. When a and c are large number, solving by the quadratic formula may have calculation problems, especially when calculators are not allowed in some tests/exams, for example. If students master the solving process by the new Diagonal Sum Method, they can easily solve these cases faster and more comfortable than using the quadratic formula.

III Advantages of the new Diagonal Sum Method, or The c/a method.
The Diagonal Sum Method proceeds solving, basing on the c/a setup. Therefore, it may be also called: The c/a Method. Here are a few advantages of the new Diagonal Sum method for solving factorable quadratic equations. 1. In special case when a = 1, the solving process is simple, fast, and doesnt require factoring. 2. This method directly gives the 2 real roots and saves the time used for solving the 2 binomials. 3. The Rule of Signs for real roots, that shows the signs of the real roots (+ or -) before proceeding, reduces in half the number of permutations, as compared to the factoring method. 4. It perfectly runs in case when a is negative (-). Just reverse the Rule of the Diagonal Sum when proceeding. 5. Smart students can quickly perform by using mental math. From my experiences, smart students can solve factorable quadratic equations in less than 20 seconds! 6. It sets up simple proceeding steps so that average students can easily perform. 7. In complicated cases when a and c are large numbers and may contain themselves many factors, this new method can transform a multiple steps solving process into a simplified one by doing a few elimination operations. 8. Before solving a given quadratic equation, it is better to know if it is factorable. How? Students may calculate the Discriminant D = b^2 4ac to see if it is a perfect square. Or they can first solve the equation by the Diagonal Sum method. It usually requires fewer than 3 trials. If this fails, meaning no diagonal sum is equal to b, then, the quadratic formula must be used. (This article was written by Nghi H. Nguyen, co-author of the new Diagonal Sum Method for solving quadratic equations)

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