Solving quadratic equations of the form x2 + bx + c = 0 by factorisation

Solving quadratic equations of the

form x2 + bx + c = 0 by factorisation
For any two numbers, if A × B = 0, then either A = 0 or B = 0.
If (x − 3)(x − 2) = 0 then either (x − 3) = 0 or (x − 2) = 0.
To solve a quadratic equation, factorise it into two brackets and then use
this fact.
Remember, to factorise x2 + bx + c:
● if c is positive, you find two numbers with the same sign as b that
multiply to give c and add to give b
● if c is negative, you find two numbers with different signs that multiply to
give c and add to give b.
If an equation is written as x2 + bx = c or x2 = bx + c, first rearrange it so that
all the terms are on one side, leaving zero on the other side.

Example 23.15
Question
Solve the equation x2 = 4x − 4 by factorisation.

Solution
x2 − 4x + 4 = 0 Rearrange so that all the terms are on the same side.
(x − 2)(x − 2) = 0 Factorising: c is positive and b is negative, −2 × −2 = 4, −2 + −2 = −4.
x − 2 = 0 or x − 2 = 0
The solution is x = 2 (repeated). Note
There are always two solutions, so if they are
both the same, write ‘repeated’.

Example 23.16
Question
Solve the equation x2 + 5x = 0.

Solution
x(x + 5) = 0 Factorising with x as a common factor.
x = 0 or x + 5 = 0
The solution is x = 0 or x = −5.

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 23 Equations

Example 23.17
Question
Solve the equation x2 − 49 = 0.

Solution
(x + 7)(x − 7) = 0 Factorising by ‘difference of two squares’.
x + 7 = 0 or x − 7 = 0
The solution is x = −7 or x = 7. This can be written as x = ±7.
You can use an alternative method for equations like this.
x2 − 49 = 0
x2 = 49 Add 49 to both sides.
x = ±7 Take the square root of both sides, remembering that this can give 7 or −7.
This method is perhaps simpler, but it is easy to forget the negative solution.

Exercise 23.11
Solve these equations by factorisation.
1 x2 − 5x + 6 = 0 2 x2 − 6x + 5 = 0 3 x2 − 4x + 3 = 0
4 x2 − 100 = 0 5 x2 + 6x + 8 = 0 6 x2 + 5x + 4 = 0
7 x2 + 9x + 20 = 0 8 x2 − 25 = 0 9 x2 + 2x + 1 = 0
10 x2 − 7x + 6 = 0 11 x2 − 9x + 18 = 0 12 x2 − 8x = 0
13 x2 + 7x + 12 = 0 14 x2 + 3x = 0 15 x2 + 6x = 0
16 x2 − 10x + 24 = 0 17 x2 − 6x + 8 = 0 18 x2 − 169 = 0
19 x2 − 225 = 0 20 x2 + 2x − 3 = 0 21 x2 + 4x − 5 = 0
22 x2 = 10x 23 x2 − x − 12 = 0 24 x2 + 5x − 6 = 0
25 x2 = x 26 x2 − 2x − 15 = 0 27 x2 − 3x = 18
28 x2 − 9x = 10 29 x2 − 17x + 30 = 0 30 x2 + 4x = 32

Solving quadratic equations of the

form ax2 + bx + c = 0 by factorisation
The following example has a question where the coefficient of x² is not 1.

Example 23.18
Question
Solve the equation 3x2 + 11x + 6 = 0.
Solution
3x2 + 11x + 6 = 0
(3x + 2)(x + 3) = 0
(3x + 2) = 0 or (x + 3) = 0
3x = −2 or x = −3
x= −2 or x = −3
3

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 Solving quadratic equations by completing the square

Exercise 23.12
Solve these equations.
1 2x2 − 5x − 12 = 0 2 3x2 − 10x − 8 = 0 3 2x2 + 5x + 3 = 0
4 2x2 − 3x − 5 = 0 5 3x2 + 2x − 1 = 0 6 2x2 + 11x + 5 = 0
7 2x2 − 13x + 15 = 0 8 12x2 + 10x − 8 = 0 9 2x2 + 2x − 60 = 0
10 3x2 − 12x + 9 = 0 11 2x2 − 2x − 12 = 0 12 3x2 − 14x − 24 = 0
13 2x2 − 8 = 0 14 3x2 − 27 = 0 15 5x2 − 125 = 0

Solving quadratic equations by

completing the square
This quadratic equation factorises.
  x2 − 4x + 3 = 0
This one does not.
  x2 − 4x + 1 = 0
x2 − 4x is part of the expansion (x − 2)2 = x2 − 4x + 4.
In this method for solving a quadratic equation, you ‘complete the square’ so
that the left-hand side of the equation is a square (mx + k)2.
When the coefficient of x2 is 1,
(x + k)2 = x2 + 2kx + k 2,
so to find the number to add to complete the square, you halve the
coefficient of x and square it.

Example 23.19
Note
Question
Look carefully at the
Solve x2 − 4x + 1 = 0.
question. If it asks
Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places. for an exact answer
then you must give
Solution
2 + 3 and 2 − 3.
x2 − 4x + 1 = 0
If it asks for the
x2 − 4x + 1 + 3 = 0 + 3 Add a number so the left-hand side is answer to a given
a complete square. number of decimal
x2 − 4x + 4 = 3 places or significant
(x − 2)2 = 3 Factorise the left-hand side. figures, then you
x − 2 = 3 or − 3 Take the square root of both sides. must give the
decimal correctly
x = 2 + 3 or 2 − 3 This is usually written as x = 2 ± 3. rounded.
x = 3.73 or 0.27 to 2 decimal places

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 23 Equations

Completing the square may also be used to write quadratic expressions in

completed square form.
For example,
x2 − 4x + 1 = (x − 2)2 − 3.
Since the least value that a square can be is zero, this gives the information
that the least value of the expression is −3 and this occurs when x = 2.

Example 23.20
Question
Write these quadratic expressions in completed square form, a(x + b)2 + c.
a x2 + 6x − 3
b 3x2 + 15x + 14
Solution
a x2 + 6x − 3 = (x + 3)2 − 9 − 3 x2 + 6x is part of the expansion of (x + 3)2, but without the +9 term,
so subtract 9.
= (x + 3)2 − 12
b 3x2 + 15x + 14 Take out a factor of 3 from the terms involving x.

= 3(x2 + 5x) + 14
 5
2
25
2
= 3  x + 2  − 4  + 14 Recognise that (x2 + 5x) is part of the expansion of  x + 5  but
   2
2

without the term  25  .

25
Remember that you need to multiply the − 4
term by 3.
2
 5 75
= 3  x + 2  − 4 + 14
 
2
 5 19
= 3 x + 2  − 4
 

Exercise 23.13
Solve the equations in questions 1 to 14 by completing the square.
1 x2 − 6x + 4 = 0 2 x2 + 10x + 5 = 0
3 x2 − 7x + 2 = 0 4 x2 + 6x − 4 = 0
5 x2 − 10x + 6 = 0 6 x2 − 5x + 2 = 0
7 4x2 − 6x + 1 = 0 8 3x2 − 4x − 5 = 0
9 2x2 + 12x + 3 = 0 10 3x2 + 2x − 2 = 0
11 5x2 − 6x − 4 = 0 12 2x2 − 5x − 2 = 0
13 5x2 − x − 1 = 0 14 16x2 + 12x + 1 = 0

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 Solving quadratic equations using the quadratic formula

15 a Write x2 + 12x + 12 in the form (x + m)2 − n.

b Hence state the minimum value of y = x2 + 12x + 12.
c Using your answer to part a, or otherwise, solve the equation
x2 + 12x + 12 = 0.
Give your answer in the form p ± q 6.
16 Write these quadratic expressions in the form a(x + b)2 + c.
a 2x2 + 8x + 5 b 5x2 + 5x − 2 c 2x2 + 18x + 7

Solving quadratic equations using

the quadratic formula
Using the method of completing the square it may be shown that Note
You do not need to
+ bx + c = 0 has roots x = −b ± b − 4 ac .
2
memorise the quadratic
the equation ax2
2a formula but you should
be able to use it correctly.

Example 23.21
Question
Solve the equation 3x2 + 4x − 2 = 0.
Give your answers to 2 decimal places.

Solution
In the equation 3x2 + 4x − 2 = 0, a = 3, b = 4, c = −2.

−b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a Note
−4 ± 16 − 4 × 3 × (−2) The main errors that
x= occur in using the
2×3 formula are
−4 ± 16 + 24 ● errors with the
=
6 signs, especially with
−4ac
−4 ± 40
= ● failure to divide the
6 whole expression
−4 + 6.324… by 2a.
=
6
−4 + 6.324 −4 − 6.324
= or
6 6
x = 0.39 or −1.72 to 2 decimal places

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 23 Equations

Exercise 23.14
Use the formula to solve the equations in questions 1 to 12.
Give your answers correct to 2 decimal places.
1 x2 + 8x + 6 = 0 2 2x2 − 2x − 3 = 0 3 3x2 + 5x − 1 = 0
4 5x2 − 12x + 5 = 0 5 5x2 + 9x − 6 = 0 6 x2 − 5x − 1 = 0
7 3x2 + 9x + 5 = 0 8 x2 + 7x + 4 = 0 9 2x2 − 3x − 4 = 0
10 3x2 + 2x − 2 = 0 11 5x2 − 13x + 7 = 0 12 5x2 + 9x + 3 = 0
13 A garden is 8 m longer than it is wide and it has an area of 25 m2.
x+8

Write down an equation and solve it to find the dimensions correct to the
nearest centimetre.
14 A rectangular pen is constructed along an existing wall, using 20 m
of fencing.

x x

a The width of the pen is x m.

Write an expression for the area enclosed.
b Write an equation and solve it to find the dimensions to give an area
of 40 m2.
c By completing the square, find the maximum possible area of a pen
constructed with 20 m of fencing.
15 A rectangular lawn measuring 22 m by 15 m is surrounded by a path
x m wide.
22 m
15 m

a Form and simplify an expression for the total area of lawn and path.
b Write an equation and solve it to find the width of the path correct to
the nearest centimetre, when the total area is 400 m 2.

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 Cambridge O Level Mathematics Ch23 Student Book answers

Exercise 23.10
1 x = 2, y = 3

2 x = 1, y = 1

3 x = 4, y = 1

4 x = 2, y = 3

5 x = 1, y = 2

6 x = 5, y = 6

7 x = 5, y = 2

8 x = 4, y = 1

9 x = −1, y = 2

10 x = −2, y = −3

11 x = −2, y = 3

1 1
12 x= ,y= 2
2 2

9 5
13 x= 2 ,y= 3
26 26

14 x = 5, y = −2

15 x = 2.6, y = 3.8

Exercise 23.11
1 x = 2 or x = 3

2 x = 1 or x = 5

3 x = 1 or x = 3

4 x = ±10

5 x = −2 or x = −4

6 x = −1 or x = −4

7 x = −4 or x = −5

8 x = ±5

9 x = −1 (repeated)

10 x = 1 or x = 6

11 x = 3 or x = 6

Cambridge O Level Mathematics Second Edition 7

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 Cambridge O Level Mathematics Ch23 Student Book answers

12 x = 0 or x = 8

13 x = −3 or x = −4

14 x = 0 or x = −3

15 x = 0 or x = −6

16 x = 4 or x = 6

17 x = 2 or x = 4

18 x = ±13

19 x = ±15

20 x = −3 or x = 1

21 x = −5 or x = 1

22 x = 0 or x = 10

23 x = −3 or x = 4

24 x = −6 or x = 1

25 x = 0 or x = 1

26 x = −3 or x = 5

27 x = −3 or x = 6

28 x = −1 or x = 10

29 x = 2 or x = 15

30 x = −8 or x = 4

Exercise 23.12
1 x = 1.5 or x = 4

2
2 x=  or x = 4
3

3 x = 1.5 or x = −1

4 x =  1 or x = 2.5

1
5 x = −1 or x =
3

1
6 x=  or x = −5
2

7 x = 1.5 or x = 5

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 Cambridge O Level Mathematics Ch23 Student Book answers

4 1
8 x=  or x =
3 2

9 x = −6 or x = 5

10 x = 1 or x = 3

11 x = −2 or x = 3

4
12 x=  or x = 6
3

13 x = ±2

14 x = ±3

15 x = ±5

Exercise 23.13
1 x = 0.76 or x = 5.24

2 x = −0.53 or x = −9.47

3 x = 6.70 or x = 0.30

4 x = 6.61 or x = 0.61

5 x = 0.64 or x = 9.36

6 x = 0.44 or x = 4.56

7 x = 0.19 or x = 1.31

8 x = 0.79 or x = 2.12

9 x = −0.26 or x = −5.74

10 x = −1.22 or x = 0.55

11 x = −0.48 or x = 1.68

12 x = 0.35 or x = 2.85

13 x = 0.36 or x = 0.56

14 x = 0.10 or x = −0.65

15 a) ( x  6) 2  24

b) 24

c) x  6  2 6

16 a) 2( x  2)2  3

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 Cambridge O Level Mathematics Ch23 Student Book answers

1 1
b) 5( x  ) 2  3
2 4

c) 2 𝑥 33

Exercise 23.14
1 x = −0.84 or x = −7.16

2 x = −0.82 or x = 1.82

3 x = 1.85 or x = 0.18

4 x = 0.54 or x = 1.86

5 x = −2.32 or x = 0.52

6 x = −0.19 or x = 5.19

7 x = −0.74 or x = −2.26

8 x = −0.63 or x = −6.37

9 x = −0.85 or x = 2.35

10 x = −1.22 or x = 0.55

11 x = 0.76 or x = 1.84

12 x = 0.44 or x = −1.36

13 Width = 2.40 m and length = 10.40 m

14 a) 20x – 2x2

b) 7.24 m by 5.53 m or 2.76 m by 14.47 m

c) 50 m2

15 a) 4x2 + 74x + 330

b) 0.90 m

Exercise 23.15
1 a) bac

3a  y
b) x
w

v u
c) t
a
d) T  AH

Cambridge O Level Mathematics Second Edition 10

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