Quadratic Equations Questions

Factorising ax2 + bx + c
Example Factorise 3x2 + 8x + 4
 First we note that both signs are positive, so both brackets are positive
 As 3 only has 3 and 1 as its factors, the brackets must start
(3x + )(x + )
 Next, we note that the factors of 4 are 4 x 1 and 2 x 2
 We now have to find which pair of factors of 4 combine with 3 x 1 to give 8
3 4 2
1 1 2
We see that the combination: 3 x 2
1 x 2 adds up to 8
 So, the complete factorisation becomes
(3x + 2)(x + 2)
1. Factorise the following expressions
(a) 2x2 + 5x + 2 (e) 16x2 - 8x + 1
(b) 7x2 + 8x + 1 (f) 6x2 + 33x - 63
(c) 4x2 + 3x – 7 (g) 6x2 + 13x + 5
(d) 15x2 + 2x – 1 (h) 7x2 - 37x + 10

Solving ax2 + bx + c = 0
Example Solve the equation 12x2 – 28x = -15
 First, rearrange the equation to equal zero
12x2 – 28x + 15 = 0
 This then factorises into
(2x – 3)(6x – 5) = 0
 The only way this product can equal zero is if the value of one of the brackets
is zero. Hence,
either 2x – 3 = 0 or 6x – 5 = 0
2x = 3 or 6x = 5
x = 3/2 or x = 5/6
So the solution is x = 1.5 and x = 5/6
2. Solve the following equations, finding both values of x
(a) 3x2 + 8x - 3 = 0 (f) 6x2 - 5x - 4 = 0
(b) 12x2 - 16x - 35 = 0 (g) x2 - x = 42
(c) 2x + 5x - 3 = 0
2
(h) 8x(x + 1) = 30
(d) 25x - 20x + 4 = 0
2
(i) 13x2 = 11 – 2x
(e) 9x - 24x + 16 = 0
2
(j) (2x – 1)(x – 2) = 5
Using the quadratic formula
The quadratic formula is:
-b ± √b2 – 4ac
x=
2a
Example Solve 5x2 – 11x – 4 = 0, correct to two decimal places
Take the quadratic formula, and put in the values in from the equation:
11 ± √ 121 – 4(5)(-4) 11 ± √ 201
x= x=
10 10 x = 2.52 or x = -0.32

3. Solve the following equations by finding both possible values of x to

two decimal places, using the quadratic formula
(a) 2x2 + x - 8 = 0
(b) 3x2 + 5x + 1 = 0
(c) 4x2 + 9x + 3 = 0
(d) 5x2 - 10x + 1 = 0

Completing the square

Example Rewrite x2 + 4x – 7 in the form (x + a)2 – b and solve the equation
We note that x2 + 4x = (x + 2)2 – 4
So, we have x2 + 4x – 7 = (x + 2)2 – 4 – 7
= (x + 2)2 – 11
When x2 + 4x – 7 = 0, then we have
(x + 2)2 – 11 = 0  (x + 2)2 = 11
Taking the square root of both sides gives:
x + 2 = ± √11  x = -2 ± √11
= 1.32 or -5.32 (to 2 d.p.)
4. For each of the following, write an equivalent expression in the form
(x ± a)2 – b:
(a) x2 + 4x (d) x2 – 2x
(b) x2 + 14x (e) x2 + 2x
(c) x – 5x
2
(f) x2 + 7x

5. Solve the following equations by completing the square. Leave your

answers in surd form where appropriate
(a) x2 + 4x – 1 = 0
(b) x2 + 14x – 5 = 0
(c) x2 + x – 1 = 0

6. Solve these equations by completing the square, rounding to a suitable

degree of accuracy:
(a) x2 + 2x – 5 = 0
(b) x2 – 4x – 7 = 0
(c) x2 + 2x – 9 = 0