1 Bridging Unit: Algebra 1

Topic C: Factorising quadratics Bridging

and simple cubics to Ch1.4

Expressions such as 5 x 2 + x ,  2 x 2 + 4 and x 2 + 2 x − 1 are called quadratics and can sometimes be
factorised into two linear factors. There are three types of quadratics to consider:
1 Quadratics of the form ax 2 + bx have a common factor of x so can be factorised using a single
1.
bracket and removing the highest common factor of the two terms, e.g. 6 x 2 + 8 x = 2 x (3 x + 4)
2 Quadratics of the form x 2 + bx + c will sometimes factorise into two sets of brackets. You
2.
need to find two constants with a product of c and a sum of b, e.g.
x 2 − 3 x + 2 = ( x − 2)( x − 1) since −2 × −1 = 2 and −2 +   −1 = −3
3 Quadratics of the form ax 2 − c will factorise if a and c are square numbers. This is called the
3.
difference of two squares, e.g. 4 x 2 − 9 = (2 x + 9)(2 x − 9)

Factorise each of these quadratics.

Example 1

The highest common factor of 9 x 2 and 15 x is 3 x

a 9 x + 15 x
2
b x + 3 x − 10
2
c x − 16
2

You need to find two constants with a product of

a 9x 2 + 15x = 3x (3x + 5) −10 and a sum of 3: 5 × −2 = −10 and 5 +   −2 = 3
so the constants are −2 and 5
b x + 3x − 10 = ( x + 5)( x − 2)
2

c x − 16 = ( x + 4)( x − 4)
2
x 2 and 16 are both square numbers.

Factorise each of these quadratics. Try It 1

a 14 x − 7 x
2
b x − 5x + 4
2
c x − 25
2

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1156, 1157, 1181, 1950, 1959, 1960 SEARCH

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

1
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 When factorising quadratics of the form ax 2 + bx + c with a ≠ 1 , first split the bx term into two terms
where the coefficients multiply to give the same value as a × c

Factorise each of these quadratics. Split 11x into 9 x + 2 x  since 9 × 2 = 18 and

Example 2
3 × 6 = 18
a 3 x + 11x + 6
2
b 2 x − 9 x + 10
2

Factorise the first pair of terms and the second

a 3x 2 + 11x + 6 = 3x 2 + 9x + 2x + 6
pair of terms.
= 3x ( x + 3) + 2( x + 3)
= (3x + 2)( x + 3) Split 9 x into −4 x − 5 x  since −4 × −5 = 20
and 2 × 10 = 20
b 2x − 9x + 10 = 2x − 4 x − 5x + 10
2 2

= 2x ( x − 2) − 5( x − 2) Factorise the first pair of terms and the second

pair of terms.
= (2x − 5)( x − 2)

Factorise each of these quadratics. Try It 2

a 5 x 2 + 21x + 4 b 6x2 + 7x − 3 c 8 x 2 − 22 x + 5

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You can use the factors of ax 2 + bx + c to find the roots of the quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0

1156, 1157, 1181, 1950, 1959, 1960 SEARCH

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

2
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 Use factorisation to find the roots of these quadratic equations.

Example 3
a 4 x 2 + 12 x = 0 b 5 x 2 = 21x − 4 Factorise the quadratic.

One of the factors must be equal to zero.

a 4 x + 12x = 4 x ( x + 3)
2

4 x ( x + 3) = 0 ⇒ 4 x = 0 or x + 3 = 0 Solve to find the roots.

If 4 x = 0 then x = 0 and if x + 3 = 0 then x = −3
Rearrange so you have a quadratic
b 5x 2 − 21x + 4 = 0 expression equal to zero.
5x 2 − 21x + 4 = 5x 2 − 20x − x + 4
Write −21x = − x − 20 x since
= 5x ( x − 4) − ( x − 4)
−20 × −1 = 20 and 5 × 4 = 20
= (5x − 1)( x − 4)
Factorise the quadratic.
(5x − 1)( x − 4) = 0 ⇒ 5x − 1= 0 or x − 4 = 0
1 The product is zero so one of the factors
If 5x − 1= 0 then x = and if x − 4 = 0 then x = 4
5 must be equal to zero.

Solve to find the roots.

Find the roots of these quadratic equations. Try It 3

a 6 x − 12 x = 0
2
b 4 x = 23 x − 15
2

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

1156, 1157, 1181, 1950, 1959, 1960 SEARCH

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

3
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 y y
y = x2 – 9
A quadratic function has a parabola shaped curve. 9
When you sketch the graph of a quadratic function x
–3 3 x
you must include the coordinates of the points –3 3
where the curve crosses the x and y axes. –9 y = 9 – x2

Sketch these quadratic functions.

Example 4

Find the y-intercept by letting

a y = x2 + x − 6 b y = −x2 + 4x x=0

a When x = 0,  y = − 6 y
y = x2 + x – 6 Find the x-intercept by letting
When y = 0,  x + x − 6 = 0
2
y=0
x
x 2 + x − 6 = ( x + 3)( x − 2) –3 2
Factorise to find the roots.
( x + 3)( x − 2) = 0 ⇒ x = −3 or x = 2 –6
b When x = 0,  y = 0 Sketch the parabola and label
y the y-intercept of −6 and the
When y = 0,  − x + 4 x = 0
2

y = –x2 + 4x x-intercepts of −3 and 2

− x + 4 x = − x ( x − 4)
2

Sketch the parabola, it will be

− x ( x − 4) = 0 ⇒ x = 0 or x = 4
this way up since the x 2 term
x
0 4 in the quadratic is negative.
Label the x and y intercepts.
Find the y -intercept by letting x = 0
Factorise to find the roots.
Find the x-intercept by letting y = 0

Sketch these quadratic functions. Try It 4

a y = x 2 − 25

1156, 1157, 1181, 1950, 1959, 1960 SEARCH

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

4
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 b y = x 2 + 10 x + 25

c y = 5x − x 2

1156, 1157, 1181, 1950, 1959, 1960 SEARCH

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

5
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 Bridging
Bridging Exercise Topic C to Ch1.4

1 Fully factorise each of these quadratics.

a 3x 2 + 5x

b 8x 2 − 4 x

c 17 x 2 + 34 x

d 18 x 2 − 24 x

2 Factorise each of these quadratics.

a x 2 + 5x + 6

b x 2 − 7 x + 10

c x 2 − 5x − 6

d x 2 + 3 x − 28

e x 2 − x − 72

f x 2 + 2 x − 48

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

6
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 g x 2 − 12 x + 11

h x 2 − 5 x − 24

3 Factorise each of these quadratics.

a x 2 − 100

b x 2 − 81

c 4x2 − 9

d 64 − 9 x 2

4 Factorise each of these quadratics.

a 3x 2 + 7 x + 2

b 6 x 2 + 17 x + 12

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

7
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 c 4 x 2 − 13 x + 3

d 2 x 2 − 7 x − 15

e 2 x 2 + 3x − 5

f 7 x 2 + 25 x − 12

g 8 x 2 − 22 x + 15

h 12 x 2 + 17 x − 5

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

8
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
5 Fully factorise each of these quadratics.

a 16 x 2 − 25

b 4 x 2 − 16 x

c x 2 + 13 x + 12

d 3 x 2 + 16 x − 35

e x 2 + x − 12

f 100 − 9 x 2

g 2 x 2 − 14 x

h 20 x 2 − 3 x − 2

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

9
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
6 Use factorisation to find the roots of these quadratic equations.

a 21x 2 − 7 x = 0

b x 2 − 36 = 0

c 17 x 2 + 34 x = 0

d 6 x 2 + 13 x + 5 = 0

e 4 x 2 − 49 = 0

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

10
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 f x 2 = 7 x + 18

g x2 − 7x + 6 = 0

h 21x 2 = 2 − x

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

11
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 i 17 x = 5 x 2 + 6

j 16 x 2 + 24 x + 9 = 0

k 9 x 2 + 4 = 12 x

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

12
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 l 40 x 2 + x = 6

7 Sketch each of these quadratic functions, labelling where they cross the x and y axes.
a y = x ( x − 3)

b y = − x (3 x + 2)

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

13
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 c y = x (3 − x )

d y = ( x + 2)( x − 2)

e y = ( x + 4)2

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

14
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 f y = −(2 x + 5)2

g y = ( x − 5)( x + 2)

h y = ( x + 1)(5 − x )

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

15
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
8 Sketch each of these quadratic functions, labelling where they cross the x and y axes.
a y = x2 + 6x

b y = 3 x 2 − 12 x

c y = x 2 − 121

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

16
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 d y = x 2 − 3 x − 10

e y = − x 2 + 3x

f y = 15 x − 10 x 2

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

17
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 g y = 49 − x 2

h y = −x2 + 2x + 3

i y = x2 − 4x + 4

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

18
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements
 j y = − x 2 + 14 x − 49

k y = 3x 2 + 4 x +1

l y = −2 x 2 + 11x − 12

Bridging Unit 1: Algebra 1 Factorising quadratics and simple cubics

19
© Oxford University Press 2018 Acknowledgements: www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements