Skip to main content
Contents Index
Dark Mode Prev Up Next Scratch ActiveCode Profile
\(\require{cancel}\newcommand\degree[0]{^{\circ}}
\newcommand\Ccancel[2][black]{\renewcommand\CancelColor{\color{#1}}\cancel{#2}}
\newcommand{\alert}[1]{\boldsymbol{\color{magenta}{#1}}}
\newcommand{\blert}[1]{\boldsymbol{\color{blue}{#1}}}
\newcommand{\bluetext}[1]{\color{blue}{#1}}
\delimitershortfall-1sp
\newcommand\abs[1]{\left|#1\right|}
\newcommand{\lt}{<}
\newcommand{\gt}{>}
\newcommand{\amp}{&}
\newcommand{\fillinmath}[1]{\mathchoice{\boxed{\displaystyle \phantom{\,#1\,}}}{\boxed{\textstyle \phantom{\,#1\,}}}{\boxed{\scriptstyle \phantom{\,#1\,}}}{\boxed{\scriptscriptstyle\phantom{\,#1\,}}}}
\)
Section A.3 Chapter 3 Quadratic Models
Subsection A.3.2 Intercepts, Solutions, and Factors
In this lesson we review the skills we need to solve quadratic equations by factoring.
Subsubsection A.3.2.1 Multiply binomials
Example A.3.18 .
Expand the product
\(~(2x-3)(x-6)~\text{.}\)
Solution .
Multiply each term of the first binomial be each term of the second binomial. This gives four multiplications, often denoted by "FOIL," which stands for First terms, Outside terms, Inside terms, and Last terms.
\begin{align*}
(2x+3)(x-6) \amp = \underline{2x \cdot x}~+~\underline{2x \cdot (-6)}~+~\underline{(-3) \cdot x}~+~\underline{(-3) \cdot (-6)}\\
\amp \quad \quad \blert{\text{F}}\quad \quad \quad \quad \blert{\text{O}} \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \blert{\text{I}} \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \blert{\text{L}}\\
\amp = 2x^2-12x-3x+18 ~~~~~~~~\quad\blert{\text{Combine like terms.}}\\
\amp = 2x^2-15x+18
\end{align*}
Example A.3.19 .
Expand the product
\(~-2(3x-4)(3x-5)\text{.}\)
Solution .
First, multiply the binomial factors together.
\begin{equation*}
(3x-4)(3x-5) = 9x^2-27x+20
\end{equation*}
Then use the distributive law to multiply the result by the monomial factor, \(-2\text{.}\)
\begin{equation*}
\alert{-2}(9x^2-27x+20) = -18x^2+54x-40
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.20 .
Expand the product
\(~(2x+1)(3x-2)\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.21 .
Expand the product
\(~(2t+5)(2t+5)\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.22 .
Expand the product
\(~4(a-3)(3a-5)\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.23 .
Expand the product
\(~-3(2b-3)(5b+1)\text{.}\)
Subsubsection A.3.2.2 Factor quadratic trinomials
To factor the trinomial \(x^2+bx+c\text{,}\) we look for two numbers \(p\) and \(q\) whose product \(pq\) is the constant term and whose sum \(p+q\) is the coefficient of the middle term.
\begin{equation*}
\begin{aligned}[t]
(x+p)(x+q) \amp = x^2+qx+px+pq\\
\amp = x^2 +{\blert{(p+q)}}x +{\alert{pq}} = x^2+{\blert{b}}x+\alert{c}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation*}
Sign Patterns for Quadratic Trinomials.
Assume that \(b,~c,~p\) and \(q\) are positive integers. Then
\(x^2+bx+c = (x+p)(x+q)\)
If all the coefficients of the trinomial are positive, then both
\(p\) and
\(q\) are positive.
\(x^2-bx+c = (x-p)(x-q)\)
If the middle term of the trinomial is negative and the other two terms are positive, then
\(p\) and
\(q\) are both negative.
\(x^2 \pm bx-c = (x+p)(x-q)\)
If the constant term of the trinomial is negative, then
\(p\) and
\(q\) have opposite signs.
Example A.3.24 .
Factor \(~t^2+7t+12~\) as a product of two binomials,
\begin{equation*}
t^2+7t+12 = (t+p)(t+q)
\end{equation*}
Solution .
The constant term is \(12\text{,}\) so we look for two numbers \(p\) and \(q\) whose product is \(12\text{.}\) There are three possibilities:
\begin{equation*}
1~~ \text{and}~~ 12, ~~~~ 2 ~~\text{and} ~~6, ~~~~ \text{or} ~~~~ 3~~ \text{and}~~ 4
\end{equation*}
Because the middle term is \(7t\text{,}\) we must have \(p+q=7\text{.}\) We check each possibility and find that \(p=3\) and \(q=4\text{.}\) Thus,
\begin{equation*}
t^2+7t+12 = (t+3)(t+4)
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.25 .
Factor
\(~x^2-12x+20~\text{.}\)
Solution .
For this example we must find two numbers \(p\) and \(q\) for which \(pq=20\) and \(p+q=-12\text{.}\) These two conditions tell us that \(p\) and \(q\) must both be negative. We start by listing all the ways to factor \(20\) with negative factors:
\begin{equation*}
-1~~\text{and}~~-20,~~~~-2~~\text{and}~~-10,~~~~-4~~\text{and}~~-5
\end{equation*}
We check \(p+q\) for each possibility to see which one gives the correct middle term. Because \(-2+(-10) = -12\text{,}\) the factorization is
\begin{equation*}
x^2-12x+20 = (x-2)(x-10)
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.26 .
Factor
\(~x^2+2x-15~\text{.}\)
Solution .
This time the product \(pq\) must be negative, so \(p\) and \(q\) must have opposite signs, one positive and one negative. There are only two ways to factor \(15\text{,}\) either \(1\) times \(15\) or \(3\) times \(5\text{.}\) We just "guess" that the second factor is negative, and check \(p+q\) for each possibility:
\begin{equation*}
1-15=-14~~~~~~\text{or}~~~~~~3-5=-2
\end{equation*}
The middle term we want is \(2x\text{,}\) not \(-2x\text{,}\) so we change the signs of \(p\) and \(q\text{:}\) we use \(-3\) and \(+5\text{.}\) The correct factorization is
\begin{equation*}
x^2+2x-15 = (x-3)(x+5)
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.27 .
Checkpoint A.3.28 .
Checkpoint A.3.29 .
Checkpoint A.3.30 .
Checkpoint A.3.31 .
Checkpoint A.3.32 .
Subsubsection A.3.2.3 Write algebraic expressions
Example A.3.33 .
Ralph and Wanda together weigh 320 pounds. If Ralph weighs
\(x\) pounds, how much does Wanda weigh?
Solution .
We subtract Ralph’s weight from the total; the remainder is Wanda’s weight:
\(320-x\) pounds
Example A.3.34 .
Delbert and Francine live 24 miles apart on Route 30. They meet at a cafe between their houses. If Delbert drove
\(d\) miles, how far did Francine drive?
Solution .
We subtract Delbert’s distance from the total; the remainder is Francine’s distance:
\(24-d\) miles
Example A.3.35 .
Three eggs and two slices of buttered toast contain 526 calories. If one egg contains
\(c\) calories, how many calories are in a slice of buttered toast?
Solution .
We subtract the calories in three eggs from the total; the remainder is the number of calories in two slices of toast, so one slice has half that many calories:
\(~\frac{1}{2}(526-3c)\)
Example A.3.36 .
The perimeter of a large rectangular playground is 124 yards. If its width is
\(w\) yards, what is its length?
Solution .
We subtract twice the length from the perimeter; the remainder is twice the width, so the width is half that:
\(~\frac{1}{2}(124-2w) = 62-w\) yards
Checkpoint A.3.37 .
Garth and Taylor together made $86,000 last year. If Garth made
\(d\) dollars, how much did Taylor make?
Checkpoint A.3.38 .
Six coffees and four pastries cost the office manager $21. If a pastry costs
\(x\) dollars, how much does a coffee cost?
Answer .
\(\dfrac{1}{6}(21-4x)\) dollars
Checkpoint A.3.39 .
The vertex angle of an isosceles triangle is
\(v\) degrees. What is the measure of each of the two base angles?
Answer .
\(\dfrac{1}{2}(180-v)\) degrees
Checkpoint A.3.40 .
The perimeter of a rectangular swimming pool is 260 feet. If the length of the pool is
\(L\) feet, what is its width?
Answer .
\(\dfrac{1}{2}(260-2L)\) feet
Subsection A.3.3 Graphing Parabolas
Subsubsection A.3.3.1 Find the average of two numbers
The average of two numbers lies half-way between them on a number line. To find their average, we take one-half of their sum. That is, the average of \(p\) and \(q\) is
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{1}{2}(p+q)~~~~\text{or}~~~~\dfrac{p+q}{2}
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.41 .
The average of 4 and 9 is
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{1}{2}(4+9) = \dfrac{1}{2}(13) = \dfrac{13}{2},~~\text{or}~~6\dfrac{1}{2}
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.42 .
The average of \(-8\) and \(4\) is
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{1}{2}(-8+4) = \dfrac{1}{2}(-4) = -2
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.43 .
The average of \(\dfrac{5}{2}\) and \(\dfrac{-3}{4}\) is
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{1}{2}\left(\dfrac{5}{2}-\dfrac{3}{4}\right) = \dfrac{1}{2}\left(\dfrac{10}{4}-\dfrac{3}{4}\right) = \dfrac{1}{2}\left(\dfrac{10}{4}\right) = \dfrac{7}{8}
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.44 .
Find the average of
\(-12\) and
\(-7\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.45 .
Find the average of
\(-4\) and
\(\dfrac{1}{2}\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.46 .
Find the average of
\(\dfrac{3}{2}\) and
\(\dfrac{9}{2}\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.47 .
Find the average of
\(\dfrac{9}{4}\) and
\(\dfrac{-3}{4}\text{.}\)
Subsubsection A.3.3.2 Solve quadratic equations
Example A.3.48 .
Solution .
We use extraction of roots. We first divide by 3 to isolate the squared expression.
\begin{align*}
x^2 \amp = 16 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Take square roots.}}\\
x \amp = \pm 4
\end{align*}
The solutions are \(x=4\) and \(x=-4\text{.}\)
Example A.3.49 .
Solution .
We solve by factoring. First, we get zero on one side of the equation.
\begin{align*}
3x^2-12x \amp = 0 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Factor the left side.}}\\
3x(x-4) \amp = 0 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Set each factor equal to zero.}}\\
3x=0,~~~~x-4 \amp = 0
\end{align*}
The solutions are \(x=0\) and \(x=4\text{.}\)
Example A.3.50 .
Solution .
We solve by factoring. We factor the left side.
\begin{align*}
(x-4)(3x+2) \amp = 0 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Set each factor equal to zero.}}\\
x-4=0,~~~~3x+2 \amp = 0 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Solve each equation.}}\\
x=4,~~~~x\amp = \dfrac{-2}{3}
\end{align*}
The solutions are \(x=0\) and \(x=\dfrac{-2}{3}\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.51 .
Checkpoint A.3.52 .
Solve
\(~\dfrac{1}{3}(x-2)^2=8\)
Checkpoint A.3.53 .
Checkpoint A.3.54 .
Subsubsection A.3.3.3 Find the coordinates of points on a parabola
To find the
\(x\) -coordinate of a point on a parabola, we usually need to solve a quadratic equation.
Example A.3.55 .
Find the
\(y\) -coordinate of the point on the graph of
\(~y=2x^2-3x+5~\) with
\(x\) -coordinate
\(-3\text{.}\)
Solution .
Substitute \(x=\alert{-3}\) into the equation, and evaluate.
\begin{equation*}
y=2(\alert{-3})^2-3(\alert{-3})+5 = 18+9+5 = 32
\end{equation*}
The \(y\) -coordinate is 32, and the point is \((-3,32)\text{.}\)
Example A.3.56 .
Find the
\(x\) -coordinates of all points on the graph of
\(~y=20-3x^2~\) with
\(y\) -coordinate
\(-28\text{.}\)
Solution .
Substitute \(y=\alert{-28}\) into the equation, and solve.
\begin{align*}
\alert{-28} \amp = 20-3x^2 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Subtract 20 from both sides.}}\\
-48 \amp =-3x^2 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Divide both sides by}~-3.}\\
16 \amp = x^2 \amp \amp \blert{\text{Extract roots.}}\\
\pm 4 \amp = x
\end{align*}
The points are \((4, -28)\) and \((-4,-28)\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.57 .
Find the
\(y\) -coordinate of the point on the graph of
\(~y=-x^2+6x+2~\) with
\(x\) -coordinate
\(-2\text{.}\)
Checkpoint A.3.58 .
The
\(x\) -coordinate of the vertex of
\(~y=2x^2-6x+1~\) is
\(\dfrac{3}{2}\text{.}\) Find the
\(y\) -coordinate of the vertex.
Checkpoint A.3.59 .
Find the
\(x\) -coordinates of all points on the graph of
\(~y=x^2-2x+5~\) with
\(y\) -coordinate 8.
Checkpoint A.3.60 .
Find the
\(x\) -intercepts of the graph of
\(~y=\dfrac{1}{4}x^2-5x+24~\text{.}\)
Subsection A.3.4 Completing the Square
Subsubsection A.3.4.1 Squares of binomials
To solve a quadratic equation by completing the square, we create the square of a binomial:
\begin{equation*}
\blert{(x+p)^2 = x^2 + 2px + p^2}
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.61 .
Write each trinomial as the square of a binomial.
\(\displaystyle x^2+6x+9\)
\(\displaystyle x^2-5x+\dfrac{25}{4}\)
Solution .
In the formula above, note that the coefficient of \(x\) is \(2p\) and the constant term is \(p^2\text{.}\) In this example, \(2p=6\) and \(p^2=9\text{,}\) so \(p=\alert{3}\text{,}\) and
\begin{equation*}
x^2+6x+9 = (x+\alert{3})^2
\end{equation*}
The coefficient of \(x\) is \(2p=-5\) and the constant terms is \(p^2=\dfrac{25}{4}\text{,}\) so \(p=\alert{\dfrac{-5}{2}}\text{,}\) and
\begin{equation*}
x^2-5x+\dfrac{25}{4} = \left(x-\alert{\dfrac{5}{2}}\right)^2
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.62 .
Write
\(~x^2+12x+36~\) as the square of a binomial.
Checkpoint A.3.63 .
Write
\(~x^2-26x+169~\) as the square of a binomial.
Checkpoint A.3.64 .
Write
\(~a^2-9a+\dfrac{81}{4}~\) as the square of a binomial.
Checkpoint A.3.65 .
Write
\(~t^2-\dfrac{4}{3}t+\dfrac{4}{9}~\) as the square of a binomial.
To solve a quadratic equation by completing the square, we often have to work with fractions.
Subsubsection A.3.4.2 Multiply fractions
To multiply two fractions together, we multiply their numerators together, and multiply their denominators together. We can divide out any common factors in numerator and denominator before we multiply.
Example A.3.66 .
Multiply
\(~\dfrac{3}{8} \cdot \dfrac{6}{5}\)
Solution .
We can divide out a factor of 2.
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{3}{8} \cdot \dfrac{6}{5} = \dfrac{3}{\cancel{2} \cdot 4} \cdot \dfrac{\cancel{2} \cdot 3}{5} = \dfrac{9}{20}
\end{equation*}
Example A.3.67 .
Multiply
\(~\dfrac{ab}{6} \cdot \dfrac{3a}{2b}\)
Solution .
We divide out common factors before multiplying.
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{ab}{6} \cdot \dfrac{3a}{2b} = \dfrac{a \cancel{b}}{2 \cdot \cancel{3}} \cdot \dfrac{\cancel{3}a}{2 \cancel{b}} = \dfrac{a^2}{4}
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.68 .
Multiply.
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{2}{3} \cdot \dfrac{5}{7}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{6}{7} \cdot \dfrac{14}{15}\)
Answer .
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{10}{21}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{4}{5}\)
Checkpoint A.3.69 .
Multiply.
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{12x}{16y} \cdot \dfrac{18}{27xy}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{9c^2}{10c} \cdot \dfrac{25cd}{12d^2}\)
Answer .
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{2y^2}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{15c^2}{8d}\)
Subsubsection A.3.4.3 Add fractions
To add or subtract unlike fractions.
Find the LCD for the fractions.
Build each fraction to an equivalent one with the LCD as its denominator.
Add or subtract the numerators. Keep the same denominator.
Example A.3.70 .
Add.
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{7}{10} + \dfrac{5}{6}\)
\(\displaystyle 6 + \dfrac{4}{9}\)
Solution .
Step1: Find the LCD. Factor each denominator.
\begin{gather*}
10=2\cdot 5\\
6 = 2\cdot 3
\end{gather*}
The LCD is \(~2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5 = 30\text{.}\)
Step2: Build each fraction to a denominator of 30. The building factor for the first fraction is \(\blert{3}\text{,}\) and \(\blert{5}\) for the second fraction.
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{7}{10} \cdot \blert{\dfrac{3}{3}} = \dfrac{21}{30}~~~~\text{and}~~~~\dfrac{5}{6} \cdot \blert{\dfrac{5}{5}} = \dfrac{25}{30}
\end{equation*}
Step 3: Add the two like fractions, and reduce.
\begin{align*}
\dfrac{7}{10} + \dfrac{5}{6} \amp = \dfrac{21}{30} + \dfrac{25}{30} = \dfrac{46}{30}\\
\amp = \dfrac{\cancel{2} \cdot 23}{\cancel{2} \cdot 15} = \dfrac{23}{15}
\end{align*}
Step 2: Build the whole number to a denominator of 9.
\begin{equation*}
\dfrac{6}{1} \cdot \blert{\dfrac{9}{9}} = \dfrac{54}{9}
\end{equation*}
Step 3: Add the two like fractions.
\begin{equation*}
6 + \dfrac{4}{9} = \dfrac{54}{9} + \dfrac{4}{9} = \dfrac{58}{9}
\end{equation*}
Checkpoint A.3.71 .
Add or subtract.
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{5}{8} + \dfrac{1}{12}\)
\(\displaystyle 3 - \dfrac{3}{4}\)
Answer .
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{17}{24}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{9}{4}\)
Checkpoint A.3.72 .
Add or subtract.
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{5}{2} - \dfrac{5}{3}\)
\(\displaystyle 4 + \dfrac{3}{8}\)
Answer .
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{5}{6}\)
\(\displaystyle \dfrac{35}{8}\)
You have attempted
of
activities on this page.