Form 4 1

Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

1. Quadratic Expressions

(A) Identifying quadratic expression

1. A quadratic expression is an algebraic expression of the form

ax2 + bx +c,

where a, b and c are constants, a 0 and x is an unknown.

(a) The highest power of x is 2.
(b) For example, 5x2 6x + 3 is a quadratic expression.

Example 1
State whether each of the following is a quadratic expression in one unknown.
(a) x2 5x + 3
(b) 8p2 + 10
(c) 5x + 6
(d) 2x2 + 4y + 14
(e) 2p+1p+62p+1p+6
(f) y3 3y + 1

Solution:
(a) Yes. A quadratic expression in one unknown.

(b) Yes. A quadratic expression in one unknown.

Form 4 2
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(c) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.

(d) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. There are 2 unknowns, x and y in the quadratic
expression.

(e) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.
1p=p11p=p1

(f) Not a quadratic expression in one unknown. The highest power of the unknown x is not 2.

2. A quadratic expression can be formed by multiplying two linear expressions.

(2x + 3)(x - 3) = 2x2 3x 9

Example 2
Multiply the following pairs of linear expressions.
(a) (4x + 3)(x 2)
(b) (y 6)2
(c) 2x (x 5)

Form 4 3
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:
(a) (4x + 3)(x 2)
= (4x)(x) + (4x)(-2) +(3)(x) + (3)(-2)
= 4x2 8x + 3x 6
= 4x2 5x 6

(b) (y 6)2
= (y 6)(y 6)
= (y)(y) + (y)(-6) + (-6)(y) + (-6)(-6)
= y2 -6y 6y + 36
= y2 - 12y + 36

(c) 2x (x 5)
= 2x(x) + 2x(-5)
= 2x2 10x

Example 1:
Form a quadratic expression by multiplying each of the following.
(a)

(6p 2)(2p 1)

(b) (m + 5)(4 7m)

(c)

(x + 2) (2x 3)

Form 4 4
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:
(a) (6p 2)(2p 1)
= (6p)(2p) + (6p)(-1) + (-2)(2p) +(-2)(-1)
= 12p2 6p 4p + 2
= 12p2 10p + 2

(b) (m + 5)(4 7m)

= (m)(4) + (m)(-7m) + (5)(4) + (5)(-7m)
= 4m 7m2 + 20 35m
= 7m2 31m + 20

(c) (x + 2) (2x 3)
= (x)(2x) + (x)(-3) + (2)(2x) + (2)(-3)
= 2x2 -3x + 4x 6
= 2x2 + x - 6

Form 4 5
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

2. Factorisation Of Quadratic Expression

(A) Factorisation quadratic expressions of the form
ax2 + bx + c, b = 0 or c = 0
1. Factorisation of quadratic expressions is a process of finding two linear expressions whose
product is the same as the quadratic expression.
2. Quadratic expressions ax2 + c and ax2 + bx that consist of two terms can be factorised by
finding the common factors for both terms.

Example 1:
Factorise each of the following:
(a) 2x2 + 6
(b) 7p2 3p
(c) 6x2 9x

Solution:
(a) 2x2 + 6 = 2 (x2 + 3) (2 is common factor)
(b) 7p2 3p = p (7p 3) (p is common factor)
(c) 6x2 9x = 3x (2x 3) (3x is common factor)

Form 4 6
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(B) Factorisation of quadratic expressions in the form ax2 c , where a and c are perfect
squares

Example 2:
(a) 9p2 16
(b) 25x2 1
(c) 14125x214125x2

Solution:
(a) 9p2 16
= (3p)2 42
= (3p 4) (3p + 4)

(b) 25x2 1
= (5x)2 12
= (5x 1) (5x + 1)

(c) 14125x2
= (12)2 (15x)2
= (1215x)(12+15x)14125x2
= (12)2(15x)2
= (1215x)(12+15x)

Form 4 7
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(C) Factorisation quadratic expressions in the form ax2 + bx + c, where a 0, b 0 and c

0

Example 3:
Factorise each of the following
(a) 3y2 + 2y 8
(b) 4x2 12x + 9

Solution:
(a) Factorise using the Cross Method

3y2 + 2y 8 = (3y 4) (y + 2)

Form 4 8
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(b)

4x2 12x + 9 = (2x 3) (2x 3)

3. Quadratic Equations
1. Quadratic equations are equations which fulfill the following characteristics:
(a) Have an equal = sign
(b) Contain only one unknown
(c) Highest power of the unknown is 2.

For example,

Form 4 9
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

2. The general form of a quadratic equation is written as:

(a) ax2 + bx + c = 0,
where a 0, b 0 and c 0,
example: 4x2 + 13x 12 = 0

(b) ax2 + bx = 0,
where a 0, b 0 but c = 0,
example: 7x2 + 9x = 0

(c) ax2 + c = 0,
where a 0, c 0 but b = 0,
example: 9x2 3 = 0

Form 4 10
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Example 1:
Write each quadratic equation in the general form.
(a) x2 5x = 12
(b) -2 + 5x2 6x = 0
(c) 7p2 3p = 4p2 + 4p 3
(d) (x 2)(x + 6) = 0
(e) 3 13x = 4 (x2 + 2)
(f) 2y=13yy2y=13yy
(g) p4=2p2310p4=2p2310
(h) y2+54=y12y2+54=y12
(i) 4p7=p(7p6)4p7=p(7p6)

Solution:
A quadratic equation in the general form is written as ax2 + bx + c = 0

(a) x2 5x = 12
x2 5x -12 = 0

(b) 2 + 5x2 6x = 0
5x2 6x 2 = 0

Form 4 11
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(c) 7p2 3p = 4p2 + 4p 3

7p2 3p 4p2 4p + 3 = 0
3p2 7p + 3 = 0

(d) (x 2)(x + 6) = 0
x2 + 6x 2x 12 = 0
x2 + 4x 12 = 0

(e) 3 13x = 4 (x2 + 2)

3 13x = 4x2 + 8
4x2 8 + 3 13x = 0
4x2 13x 5 = 0
4x2 + 13x + 5 = 0

(f) 2y=13yy2y=13yy
2y y2 = 1 3y
2y y2 1 + 3y = 0
y2 + 3y 1 = 0
y2 3y + 1 = 0

Form 4 12
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

(g) p4=2p2310p4=2p2310
10p = 8p2 12
8p2 + 10p +12 = 0
8p2 10p 12 = 0

(h) y2+54=y12y2+54=y12
2y2 + 10 = 4y 4
2y2 4y + 10 + 4 = 0
2y2 4y + 14 = 0

(i) 4p7=p(7p6)4p7=p(7p6)
4p = 7p (7p 6)
4p = 49p2 42p
49p2 + 42p + 4p = 0
49p2 46p = 0

4. Roots of Quadratic Equations

1. A root of quadratic equation is the value of the unknown which satisfies the quadratic
equation.
2. Roots of an equation are also called the solution of an equation.
3. To solve a quadratic equation by the factorisation method, follow the steps below:

Form 4 13
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Step 1: Express the quadratic equation in general form ax2 + bx + c = 0.

Step 2: Factorise the quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c = 0 as the product of two linear
expressions, that is, (mx + p) (nx + q) = 0.
Step 3: Equate each factor to zero and obtain the roots or solutions of the quadratic equation.

Example 1:
Solve the quadratic equation

Form 4 14
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:

Form 4 15
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Example 2:
Solve the quadratic equation 4x2 12 = 13x

Solution:
4x2 12 = 13x
4x2 + 13x 12 = 0
(4x 3)(x + 4) = 0
4x 3 = 0, x=3/4
or x + 4 = 0
x = 4

Example 3:
Solve the quadratic equation 5x2 = 3 (x + 2) 4

Form 4 16
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:
5x2 = 3 (x + 2) 4
5x2 = 3x + 6 4
5x2 3x 2 = 0
(5x + 2)(x 1) = 0
5x + 2 = 0, x=2/5
or x 1 = 0
x=1

Example 4:
Solve the quadratic equation

Form 4 17
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:

Quadratic Equations Long Questions (Question 1 - 4)

Question 1:
Solve the quadratic equation, (y + 3)(y 4) = 30

Solution:
(y + 3)(y 4) = 30
y2 4y + 3y 12 = 30
y2 y 12 30 = 0
y2 y 42 = 0
(y + 6)(y 7) = 0

Form 4 18
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

y + 6 = 0, y = 6
Or
y7=0
y=7

Question 2:
Solve the quadratic equation, 5x2 = 3( x 2) + 8

Form 4 19
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:
5x2 = 3x 6 + 8
5x2 3x 2 = 0
(5x + 2)(x 1) = 0
5x + 2 = 0, x = 2/5
Or
x1=0
x=1

Question 3:
Solve the quadratic equation

Form 4 20
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:

Question 4:
Solve the quadratic equation

Form 4 21
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:

Quadratic Equations Long Questions (Question 5 - 8)

Question 5:
Solve the equation:
(m + 2)(m 4) = 7(m 4).

Solution:
(m + 2)(m 4) = 7(m 4)

Form 4 22
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

m2 4m + 2m 8 = 7m 28
m2 9m + 20 = 0
(m 5)(m 4) = 0
m = 5 or

m=4

Question 6:
Solve the equation:

Solution:

Question 7:
Solve the equation:

Form 4 23
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Form 4 24
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:

Question 8:

Diagram above shows a rectangle ABCD.

(a) Express the area of ABCD in terms of n.
(b) Given the area of ABCD is 60 cm2, find the length of AB.

Form 4 25
Chapter 2 Quadratic Expressions and Equations

Solution:
(a)
Area of ABCD
= (n + 7) n
= (n2 + 7n) cm2

(b)
Given the area of ABCD = 60
n2 + 7n = 60
n2 + 7n 60 = 0
(n 5) (n + 12) = 0
n=5

or

n = 12 (not accepted)

When n = 5,
Length of AB = 5 + 7 = 12 cm