M O D U L A R S Y S T E M

QUADRATICS
Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Ali Lafcýoðlu
Ýsmail Ersözoðlu

http://book.zambak.com
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To the Teacher
This book is about quadratic equations, quadratic inequalities, quadratic functions, and their applications. The
book is divided into three chapters, each of which is subdivided into sections. The first chapter, Quadratic
Equations, deals with equations involving quadratic polynomials and their solution methods. The second
chapter, Quadratic Inequalities, introduces the solution of linear and quadratic inequalities. The third chapter,
Quadratic Functions, covers graphs and properties of quadratic functions.
Each chapter section is followed by plenty of exercises. More difficult exercise problems are denoted by a single or
double star, where the former indicates problems for upper-intermediate level students and the latter indicates
problems at advanced level. Many of the problems reflect skills or problem-solving techniques encountered in the
section. Every exercise set also contains problems whose solution method is not covered in an example. In these
problems, students may be required to work a little beyond the material discussed in the text, or to use the
concepts in ways not illustrated in the examples. All of these problems can be solved using skills the student
should already have mastered.
The book follows a linear approach, with material in the latter sections building on concepts and math covered
previously in the text. For this reason, there are several self-test 'Check Yourself' sections that check students’
understanding of the material at key points. 'Check Yourself' sections include a rapid answer key that allows
students to measure their own performance and understanding. Successful completion of each self-test section
allows students to advance to the next topic.
Each chapter ends with a brief summary of the main points covered in the chapter, followed by a concept check,
and chapter review tests.
To the Student
Your education is one of the most valuable activities of your life. An education gives you the skills to learn, again
and again.
You might be studying now because you want to go university. Or, you might be studying because you want a
particular job. In either case, you should know exactly why you are taking this course and why it is important
for you to learn and succeed. If your goal and purpose are not clear, you may find it difficult to make the daily
choices needed to study, learn, and succeed.
To support you in your learning, this study module on Quadratics presents the concepts, problem-solving skills,
and applications that are essential for an intermediate algebra course.
Acknowledgements
Many friends and colleagues were of great help in writing this textbook. We would like to thank the following
people for their advice and suggestions in correspondence and conversation:
Mustafa Kýrýkçý, Murat Güvercin, Murat Kol, Ahmet Çetinkaya, Cihan Mert.
We would also like to thank Ümit Karagözlü and Ýlker Tantürk for their efforts and support, and for checking the
answer keys, as well as all the people at Zambak Publications who contributed their efforts to the production of
this book, especially Serdar Çam for his typesetting and design.
Finally, we wish to express our thanks to the many other people whose names we have not been able to mention.
Any errors that may appear in the text are the responsibility of the authors. We would appreciate having these
brought to our attention.
The authors
Using This Book
This book is designed so that you can use it Chapter 1
effectively. Each chapter has its own special
color that you can see at the bottom of the Chapter 2
page.
Chapter 3

Different pieces of information in this book are useful in different ways. Look at the types of information, and
how they appear in the book:

Notes help you focus on important details. When you see a note, read
it twice! Make sure you understand it.

Definition boxes give a formal description of a

new concept. Notation boxes explain the
mathematical way of expressing concepts.
Theorem boxes include propositions that can
be proved. The information in these boxes is
very important for further understanding and
for solving examples.

Examples include problems related to the topic and

their solution, with explanations. The examples
are numbered, so you can find them easily in the
book.

Check Yourself sections help you check your

understanding of what you have just studied. Solve
the problems alone and then check your answers
against the answer key provided. If your answers
are correct, you can move on to the next section. If
you have a wrong answer, go through your working
again, and check back through the examples in the
section.
A small notebook in the left margin of a page reminds you of material that is
related to the topic you are studying. Notebook text helps you to remember
the math you need to understand the material. It might help you to see your
mistakes, too! Notebooks are the same color as the section you are studying.

Special windows highlight important new

information. Windows can contain formulas,
properties, or solution procedures. They are
the same color as the color of the section.

Exercises at the end of each section cover the material

in the whole section. You should be able to solve all the
problems without any special symbol.  next to a
question means the question is a bit harder.  next
to a question means the question is for students who
are looking for a challenge! The answers to the
exercises are at the back of the book.

The Chapter Summary at the end of each chapter

summarizes all the important material that has
been covered in the chapter. The Concept Check
section contains oral questions. In order to
answer them you don't need paper or pen. If you
answer Concept Check questions correctly, it
means you know that topic! The answers to these
questions are in the material you studied. Go
back over the material if you are not sure about
an answer to a Concept Check question. Finally,
chapter review tests include questions in increasing
order of difficulty and contain multiple choice
questions. The answer key for these tests is at the
back of the book.
QUADRATICS: CHAPTER 2
QUADRATIC INEQUALITIES
Equations, Inequalities, and 1. LINEAR I NEQUALITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Functions EXERCISES 2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
2. QUADRATIC I NEQUALITIES . . . . . . . 59
EXERCISES 2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
CHAPTER 1 3. SYSTEMS O F I NEQUALITIES . . . . . . . 71
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS EXERCISES 2.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
1. SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS . 2 CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
A. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE CONCEPT CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
FORM ax2 = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
B. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 2B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
FORM ax2 + bx = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
C. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE CHAPTER 3
FORM ax2 + c = 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS
1. GRAPHS OF QUADRATIC FUNCTIONS 84
D. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE
A. GRAPHING y = ax2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
FORM ax2 + bx + c = 0 . . . . . . . . . . 5
B. GRAPHING y = ax2 + bx + c . . . . . 87
1. Factoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. Vertex Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
2. Completing the Square . . . . . . . . . . 6 2. Intercepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
3. The Quadratic Formula . . . . . . . . . . 8 3. Sketching a Graph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
4. Discriminant of a Quadratic 4. Shifting Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 5. Parabolas with Absolute
EXERCISES 1.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Value (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
2. VIETA’S THEOREM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 C. EQUATION OF A PARABOLA . . . . . 99
EXERCISES 1.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 EXERCISES 3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
3. DERIVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS . 24 2. GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF
INEQUALITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
EXERCISES 1.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
A. RELATIVE POSITION OF A PARABOLA
4. EQUATIONS REDUCIBLE TO
AND A LINE IN A PLANE . . . . . . . . . 109
QUADRATIC FORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 B. RELATIVE POSITION OF TWO
A. WRITING EQUATIONS IN PARABOLAS IN A PLANE . . . . . . . . . 111
QUADRATIC FORM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 C. GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF
B. EQUATIONS INVOLVING INEQUALITIES IN TWO VARIABLES . 112
PRODUCTS AND QUOTIENTS . . . . . 31 1. Linear Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
C. EQUATIONS INVOLVING RADICALS . . 34 2. Quadratic Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . 114
D. EQUATIONS INVOLVING AN D. GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF
ABSOLUTE VALUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 SYSTEMS OF INEQUALITIES . . . . . . 117
EXERCISES 1.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 EXERCISES 3.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
5. SYSTEMS OF QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 43 CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
EXERCISES 1.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 CONCEPT CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 3A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
CONCEPT CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 3B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 ANSWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 1B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
The study of quadratics started around three thousand years ago with the
Babylonians. The Babylonians were one of the world’s first civilisations, and
developed advanced ideas such as organized agriculture, irrigation, and writing.
They plotted the paths of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets, and recorded
them on clay tablets. The Babylonians invented the modern ideas of angle,
including the way that the circle is divided up into 360 degrees. They also invented
the job of taxman! And this was one of the reasons that the Babylonians needed
to solve quadratic equations.
Let’s suppose that you are a Babylonian farmer. Somewhere on your farm you have a square field on which
you grow a crop. What amount of your crop can you grow on the field? Double the length of each side of the
field and you find that you can grow four times as much of the crop as before. The reason for this is that the
amount of the crop that you can grow is proportional to the area of the field, which is in turn proportional to
the square of the length of the side. In mathematical terms, if x is the length of the side of the field, m is the
amount of crop you can grow on a square field of side length 1, and c is the amount of crop that you can grow,
then
c = mx2.
This is our first quadratic equation. Quadratic equations and areas are linked together like brothers and
sisters in the same family. However, at the moment we don’t have to solve the equation, until the taxman
arrives, that is! The taxman says, ‘I want you to give me c crops to pay for the taxes on your farm.’ You now
have a dilemma: how big a field do you need to grow that amount of crop? We can answer this question
easily, in fact:
c
x= .
m
Finding square roots by using a calculator is easy for us, but it was more of a problem for the Babylonians. To
help themselves, they developed a method of successive approximation to the answer. This method is
identical to the algorithm used by modern computers to solve problems that are much harder than quadratic
equations.

Now, not all fields are square. Let’s now suppose that you have a more oddly shaped
2x/m
field with two triangular sections as shown on the right.

ax/m b/m

For appropriate values of a and b the amount of crop that you can grow in this field is given by c = ax2 + bx.
This looks a lot more like the standard form of a quadratic equation that mathematicians today are used to,
and even under the evil eye of the tax man, it’s a lot harder to solve. Yet the Babylonians found the answer
to this problem again. First we divide by a to give
b c
x2 + x = .
a a

Now we complete the square by using the fact that

b 2 b b2
(x+ ) = x2 + x + 2 .
2a a 4a

Combining this with the original equation we have

b 2 c b2
(x+ ) = + 2.
2a a 4a
This is now an equation that we can solve by taking square roots. The result is the famous ‘–b formula’:

b c b2
x= –  + 2,
2a a 4a
which we can rewrite as
– b  b2 + 4ac
x= .
2a

(The formula usually has ‘–4ac’ because the quadratic equation is more usually written in the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0.)

The fact that taking a square root can give a positive or a negative answer leads to the remarkable result that
a quadratic equation has two solutions.

The Babylonians, therefore, developed an algorithmic approach to solving certain problems. These problems
involved what we now call quadratic equations. The Babylonian method is essentially one of completing the
square. However, all such Babylonian problems had answers which were positive (more accurately unsigned)
quantities since the usual answer was a length.

In about 300 BC Euclid developed a different geometrical approach which, although it was
later used to solve quadratic equations, amounted to finding a length which in our notation
was the root of a quadratic equation. Euclid had no notion of the concept of equation or
coefficient, but worked with purely geometrical quantities.

Hindu mathematicians took the Babylonian methods further. The Hindu mathematician
Brahmagupta (598-665 AD) gives an almost modern method of solving quadratic problems,
which admits negative quantities. He also used abbreviations for the unknown terms.
Usually the initial letter of a colour was used, and sometimes several different unknowns
occurred in a single problem. Euclid
The Arabs did not know about the advances of the Hindus so they had
neither negative quantities nor abbreviations for their unknowns.
However al-Khwarizmi (around 800 AD) gave a classification of
different types of quadratics (although it included only
numerical examples of each). The different types arose since
al-Khwarizmi had no zero or negatives. He wrote six chapters
each devoted to a different type of equation, defined in terms
of roots, squares of roots, and numbers. Al-Khwarizmi’s
classification was:

1. Squares equal to roots.

2. Squares equal to numbers.
3. Roots equal to numbers.
4. Squares and roots equal to numbers, e.g. x2 + 10x = 39.
5. Squares and numbers equal to roots, e.g. x2 + 21 = 10x.
6. Roots and numbers equal to squares, e.g. 3x + 4 = x2.

Al-Khwarizmi gives the rule for solving each type of equation, and then a proof for each
example.

al-K
Khwarizmi

Abraham bar Hiyya Ha-Nasi, often known by the Latin name

Savasorda, is famous for his book Liber embadorum, published
in 1145, which was the first book published in Europe to give the
complete solution of a quadratic equation.
Definition
An equation that can be written in the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0, a0
is called a quadratic equation.

In the equation, a, b, and c are real number coefficients and x is a variable. A quadratic equa-
I’m sick of being tion written in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 is said to be in standard form. Sometimes, a quad-
an unknown
ratic equation is also called a second degree equation.
For example,
1
x2 + 3x – 5 = 0, 2x2 – x – 1 = 0 and ñ2x2 –
x+3=0
2
are all quadratic equations. By the definition of a quadratic equation, a cannot be zero.
However b or c or both may be zero. For instance,
3x2 + 5x = 0, 2x2 = 0 and x2 – 9 = 0
are also quadratic equations.
We can see that quadratic equations are formed by second-degree polynomials. Polynomials
of a different degree do not form quadratic equations.
Let us look at the coefficients a, b, and c of some quadratic equations.
Equation a b c

3x2 + 5x – 9 = 0 3 5 –9

1 – x + 3x2 = 0 3 –1 1

ñ2x2 + 5x = 0 ñ2 5 0
1 1
– x2 + =0 –1 0
2 2
1 – x2 = 0 –1 0 1

(ñ3 + 1)x2 = 0 ñ3 + 1 0 0

x2 x 1 1 1 1
– + =0 –
2 3 4 2 3 4

Example 1 Determine whether the following equations are quadratic or not.

1 2
a. x2 + 1 = 0 b. x – 2 x +5 = 0 c. 2x2 – 3x = 5
2
d. x2 – 2x–1 + 3 = 0 e. (x – 1)(x + 2) = 0 f. (x – 2)x2 = 0

2 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution a, b, c, and e are quadratic equations. Equation d is not quadratic, since the power of x is –1,
which does not meet the requirements for a quadratic. Equation f is a third degree equation,
so it is not quadratic.
To the best of our
knowledge, the origin of
the term ‘quadratic’ is
Latin. It is derived from To solve a quadratic equation we must find the values of the unknown x which make the
quadratus which is the
past participle of quadrare
left-hand and right-hand sides equal. Such values are called the solutions or roots of the
which means ‘to make quadratic equation. A number of techniques are available to help us obtain a solution to any
square’. From this it is
clear that part of the quadratic equation.
word is connected to the
Latin word for ‘four’: it
refers to squaring, and
a square is a regular
four-sided figure.

A. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE FORM ax2 = 0

We have seen that the solutions (or roots) of a quadratic equation are the values of x that make
the two sides of the equation equal. Let us find the roots of the simple quadratic ax2 = 0.
ax2 = 0 (a  0)
x2 = 0
xx=0
x = 0 or x = 0
x1 = x2 = 0
If A  B = 0, then We can see that this equation has two equal roots. When the roots of a quadratic equation
A = 0 or B = 0. are the same, we say that the equation has a double root.

EXAMPLE 2 3
Solve the equation  x2  0.
2

3
Solution  x2  0
2
x2  0
x1  x2  0

Quadratic Equations 3
B. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE FORM ax2 + bx = 0
Let us look at the solution of this more complex quadratic.
ax2 + bx = 0
x(ax + b) = 0
x = 0 or ax + b = 0, so
b
x1 = 0 and x2 = – .
a
This kind of quadratic equation has two roots and one of them is always zero.

Example 3 Solve the equations.

a. x2 + x = 0 b. –4x2 + 5x = 0 c. ñ3x2 – 2x = 0

Solution a. x2 + x = 0 b. –4x2 + 5x = 0 c. ñ3x2 – 2x = 0

x(x + 1) = 0 x(–4x + 5) = 0 x(ñ3x – 2) = 0
x = 0 or x + 1 = 0 x = 0 or –4x + 5 = 0 x = 0 or ñ3x – 2 = 0
5 2 2 3
x1 = 0 or x2 = –1 x1 = 0 or x2 = x1 = 0 or x2 = =
4 3 3

C. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE FORM ax2 + c = 0

Look at the calculation.
ax2 + c = 0, c0
2
ax  c
c
x2  
a
c
x 
a
c
Here the sign of is important.
a
c
If > 0, the equation has no real solution, because we cannot find the square root of a
a
negative number.
c
If < 0, the equation has two real solutions. These roots are symmetric, i.e. they are the
a
same numeral with opposite signs.

Note
All positive real numbers have two square roots. One root is the positive square root and the
other root is the negative square root, i.e. if a2 = b and a is a positive real number, then a = ñb.

4 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Example 4 Solve the equations.

a. 3x2 – 27 = 0 b. 2x2 + 6 = 0 c. 7 – 4x2 = 2

Solution a. 3x2 – 27 = 0 b. 2x2 + 6 = 0 c. 7 – 4x2 = 2

3x2 = 27 2x2 = –6 4x2 = 5
x2 = 9 x2 = –3 5
x2 =
x = 3 no real solution 4
(x2 cannot be negative) 5 5
x= =
4 2
Check Yourself 1
Solve the equations.
1. –3x2 = 0 2. 5x2 – 20x = 0 3. 7x2 + 35 = 0 4. 2x2 – 8 = 0
Answers
1. 0 2. 0, 4 3. no real solution 4. 2

FIND THE MISTAKE!

Let a and b be two arbitrary numbers such that a  b. Then

(a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2 = b2 – 2ab + a2
(a – b)2 = (b – a)2
a–b=b–a
2a = 2b
a = b.
Can you find the mistake in this working?

D. SOLVING EQUATIONS OF THE FORM ax2 + bx + c = 0

There are three basic methods for solving a quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0:
1. factoring,
2. completing the square, and
3. using the quadratic formula.

1. Factoring
If we can write ax2 + bx + c = 0 as the product of two linear factors, then we can easily solve
the equation.
To solve a quadratic equation by factoring, follow the steps.
1. Write the equation in standard form, ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0.
2. Factor the left side of the equation.

Quadratic Equations 5
3. Apply the zero product property, that is, set each factor equal to zero.
4. Solve each equation to obtain the roots.

Example 5 Solve by factoring.

a. x2 + 3x + 2 = 0 b. 6x2 – 19x – 7 = 0 c. 2x2 = x + 3

Solution a. x2 + 3x + 2 = 0 b. 6x2 – 19x – 7 = 0

(x + 2)(x + 1) = 0 (2x – 7)(3x + 1) = 0
x + 2 = 0 or x + 1 = 0 2x – 7 = 0 or 3x + 1 = 0
x1 = –2, x2 = –1 7 1
x1 = , x2 = –
2 3
c. 2x2 = x + 3
2x2 – x – 3 = 0
(x + 1)(2x – 3) = 0
x + 1 = 0 or 2x – 3 = 0
3
x1 = –1, x2 =
2

Note
When you are solving an equation, do not divide both sides by an expression containing
the variable for which you are solving. You may be dividing by zero. For example, to solve
x2 – 2x = 0, do not divide both sides by x, because x may be zero and you will also lose one
of the solutions.

Check Yourself 2
Solve the following equations.
1. 3x2 = 5x + 2 2. (5x – 1)(x + 2) = x + 2 3. 4x(x + 1) = 3
Answers
1 2 3 1
1.  , 2 2. 2 , 3.  ,
3 5 2 2

2. Completing the Square

The idea behind this method is to adjust the left side of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 so that it
becomes a perfect square, that is, the square of a first-degree polynomial. Expressions in the
form x2 + 2xy + y2 and x2 – 2xy + y2 are perfect square polynomials.
Numbers whose square For example, x2 + 6x + 9 and x2 – 4x + 4 are perfect squares, because
roots are integers or
quotients of integers x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3)2 and x2 – 4x + 4 = (x – 2)2.
are perfect squares.
To write a quadratic equation as a perfect square, follow the steps,

6 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

1. Make sure a = 1 in the quadratic. If it isn’t 1, x+2
divide each term by a. x 1 1
2. Rewrite the equation so that the constant term is
alone on one side of the equation.
3. Take half of the coefficient of the x term and square x
x+2
it.
4. Add this number to both sides of the equation.
1
5. Factor the left-hand side into a perfect square. 1
2 2
6. Solve for x by using the square root property.

Let us look at some examples of completing the square. x2 + 4x

4
(x + 2)2 = x2 + 4x + 4

Start
_____________ Add
_____________ Result
___________________________
x2 + 4x 4 x2 + 4x + 4 = (x + 2)2
x2 + 12x 36 x2 + 12x + 36 = (x + 6)2
x2 – 6x 9 x2 – 6x + 9 = (x – 3)2
1 1 1
x2 + x x2 + x + = (x + )2
4 4 2

Note
The expression x2 + 2bx is equivalent to (x + b)2 – b2.

Example 6 Solve by completing the square.

a. x2 + 6x – 7 = 0 b. 2x2 – 4x + 1 = 0

Solution a. x2 + 6x – 7 = 0 b. 2 x2 – 4x+ 1= 0
x2 + 6x = 7 1
x2 – 2 x+ = 0
2
x2 + 6x + 9 = 7 + 9
1
x2 – 2 x = –
(x + 3)2 = 16 2
x + 3 = ò16 1
x2 – 2 x+ 1= – + 1
2
x1 = –7, x2 = 1
1
(x – 1)2 =
2
1
x – 1= 
2
2 2
x1 =1 – , x2 =1+
2 2

Quadratic Equations 7
Check Yourself 3
Solve the equations.
1. x2 + 8x – 3 = 0 2. 2x2 – 5x – 3 = 0 3. 2x2 – 2 = 4x
Answers
1
1. –4  ò19 2. 3,  3. 1  ñ2
2

3. The Quadratic Formula

The final method will work on any quadratic equation. Therefore, we can use it when the other
easier methods fail or are not easy to apply. Look at the derivation of the quadratic formula.
ax2 + bx+ c = 0 (a  0, a, b, c  )

b c
x2 + x+ = 0 (divide both sides by a)
a a
b c
x2 + x = – (try to get a perfect square)
a a
b b c b b 2
x2 + x+( )2 = – +( )2 (add ( ) to both sides)
a 2a a 2a 2a
b 2 4ac+ b2
(x+ ) =
2a 4a2

b b 2  4ac b 2  4ac
x+ = = 
2a 4a2 2a

–b b2  4ac b  b 2  4ac
x=  = ,
2a 4a2 2a

b+ b 2  4ac b – b 2  4ac

x1  , x2 
2a 2a

QUADRATIC FORMULA

– b  b 2 – 4 ac
If ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0, then x =
2a

Example 7 Solve x2 + 2x – 8 = 0 using the quadratic formula.

8 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution First we identify the coefficients a, b, and c. For this equation a = 1, b = 2, and c = –8.
Let us substitute the values of a, b, and c into the quadratic formula.
2
Make sure that you write b  b 2  4ac 2  2  4  1  (–8) 2  36
a quadratic equation in x= = =
standard form before 2a 2 1 2
you identify the values
2  6 4 2  6 –8
a, b, and c. x1 = = = 2, x2 = = = –4
2 2 2 2

Example 8 Solve 3x2 + 2x – 4 = 0.

Solution For this equation a = 3, b = 2, and c = –4.

2
 b  b2  4ac 2  2  4  3  (–4) 2  52
x= = =
2a 23 6
2 + 52 2 + 2 13 1+ 13
x1 = = =
6 6 3
2  52 2  2 13 1  13
x2 = = =
6 6 3

EXAMPLE 9 Find the real solutions of the equation 9 +

3 2

x x2
= 0 , x  0.

3 2
Solution In its present form, the equation 9 +  = 0 , is not a quadratic equation. However,
x x2
we can make it quadratic by multiplying each side by x2, since x  0. The result is
9x2 + 3x – 2 = 0, x  0. Now, a = 9, b = 3, and c = –2.
b2  4ac = 32  4  9  (–2)  81

3  81 12 2
x1 = = =
29 18 3
3 + 81 6 1
x2 = = =
18 18 3

Check Yourself 4
Solve the equations.
5
1. 4x2 + 3x – 1 = 0 2. x2  = 3 x 3. 2x2 – 4x = 5
2
Answers
1 3  19 2  14
1. 1, 2. 3.
4 2 2

Quadratic Equations 9
4. Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation
Definition discriminant of a quadratic equation
The quantity b2 – 4ac is called the discriminant of a quadratic equation.
The discriminant tells us whether the equation has real solutions, and also tells us how many
roots of an equation exist. The discriminant is denoted by  (delta).

b  
x= ,  = b2  4ac
2a

For a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the value of  determines the number of real roots.
1. If  > 0, there are two distinct real roots.
2. If  = 0, there is one real root (a double root).
3. If  < 0, there is no real root.

Use the discriminant to check the number of roots before you solve a quadratic equation.

EXAMPLE 10 Solve x2 + 6x + 7 = 0.

Solution First, find .

 = b2 – 4ac = 36 – 4  7  1 = 8
So  is positive.

6 + 8 6  8
x1 = = 3 + 2, x2 = = 3  2
2 2

We can see that  > 0 and there are two real roots.

EXAMPLE 11 Solve x2 – 4x + 4 = 0.

Solution First, check .

 = b2 – 4ac = 16 – 4  4  1 = 0
4 0 4+ 0
So  = 0 and x1 = , x2 = .
2 2
Hence x1 = x2 = 2.
We can see that = 0 and there is only one real root (a double root).

EXAMPLE 12 Solve x2 – 2x + 5 = 0.

Solution  = b2 – 4ac = 4 – 4  1  5 = –16

 is negative, so there is no real root.

10 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 13 For which values of k does the equation 3x2 – 4x + k = 0 have no real solution?

Solution If there is no real solution, the discriminant must be negative. Therefore,

 = (–4)2  4  3  k = 16 12 k < 0 .
16  12 k < 0, 16 < 12 k,

16 4
< k, k> .
12 3
4
So the equation has no real solution for k > .
3

EXAMPLE 14 For what values of m does the equation x2 + 3mx – 5m – 1 = 0 have a double root?

Solution A quadratic equation has a double root if its discriminant is 0. Therefore,

 = (3m)2 – 4  1  (–5m – 1) = 0.
9m2 + 20m + 4 = 0
(9m + 2)(m + 2) = 0
9m + 2 = 0 or m + 2 = 0.
2
So m1 = and m2 = 2 .
9

EXAMPLE 15 The equation mx2 + (2m + 1)x + m – 1 = 0 has two real roots. Find m.

Solution If the quadratic equation has two real roots, then its discriminant is positive.
 = b2  4ac = (2m+ 1)2  4m(m 1)

= 4m2 + 4m+ 1  4m 2 + 4m
= 8 m+ 1

 = 8 m+ 1 > 0

8 m > 1
–1
m>
8
–1
Therefore, the equation has two real roots if m > .
8

Quadratic Equations 11
EXAMPLE 16 Prove that (a2 + b2)x2 + 2(a + b)x + 2 = 0 has no real root if a and b are unequal.

Solution  = 4(a + b)2 – 4(a2 + b2)  2

= 4(a2 + 2ab + b2) – 8(a2 + b2)

= 4a2 + 8ab + 4b2 – 8a2 – 8b2

= –4a2 + 8ab – 4b2

= –4(a – b)2

But (a – b)2 is always non-negative, and it is also non-zero, since a  b. So  < 0.

Thus the equation (a2 + b2)x2 + 2(a + b)x + 2 = 0 has no real roots if a and b are unequal.

EXAMPLE 17 From each corner of a square piece of sheet metal, a man removes a square of side 3 cm. He
turns up the edges to form an open box. If the box holds 48 cm3, what are the dimensions of
the piece of sheet metal?

Solution Let x be the length of a side of the square.

3 x–6 3

3 3

x–6 x–6

3 3

3 x–6 3

Since the volume of the box is 48 cm3, we have

3(x – 6)2 = 48
(x – 6)2 = 16
x – 6 = 4
x1 = 10, x2 = 2.
We discard the solution x = 2 since length cannot be negative. So the sheet of metal is
10 cm by 10 cm.

12 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 18 A ladder 5 m long is leaning against a house.
The distance from the bottom of the ladder to
the house is 1 m less than the distance from
the top of the ladder to the ground. How far is
the bottom of the ladder from the house?

Solution Let us use x to represent the distance from the top of the ladder to the ground. The ladder
then forms the right triangle shown in the diagram. By using the Pythagorean Theorem, we
get the equation
x2 + (x – 1)2 = 52
x2 + x2 – 2x + 1 = 25
5
2x2 – 2x – 24 = 0 x

x2 – x – 12 = 0
(x + 3)(x – 4) = 0
x–1
x = –3 or x = 4.
Since the length cannot be negative, x = 4. So the distance from the bottom of the ladder to
the house is 3 m.

EXAMPLE 19 A motorboat heads upstream a distance of 48 km on a river whose current is running at 3 km per
hour (km/h). Then the motorboat returns. The trip upstream and back takes 12 hours. Assuming
that the motorboat maintained a constant speed relative to the water, what was its speed?

Solution We use x to represent the constant speed of the motorboat relative to the water. Then
the true speed going upstream is x – 3 km/h, and the true speed going downstream is
x + 3 km/h. Since Distance = Velocity  Time, we can write Time = Distance / Velocity.
48
Therefore, the boat takes hours to 48 km
x–3
48
travel upstream and hours to travel
x+ 3
downstream.
x – 3 km/h
Since the total time is 12 hours,
48 48
+ = 12; x  3.
x – 3 x+3 x + 3 km/h

Multiply both sides by (x – 3)(x + 3):

Quadratic Equations 13
48(x – 3) + 48(x + 3) = 12(x – 3)(x + 3)
x2 – 8x – 9 = 0
(x – 9)(x + 1) = 0
x = 9 or x = –1.
Since the speed cannot be negative, the speed of the boat is 9 km/h.

Check Yourself 5
1. Evaluate the discriminant of the equation 2x2 – x – 3 = 0, and describe the roots.
2. The sum of two numbers is 10 and sum of their squares is 68. Find the numbers.
3. For which value(s) of m does the equation mx2 + mx – 1 = 0 have a double root?
Answers
1.  = 25, two real roots 2. 2, 8 3. –4

M AT H F U N
A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer were traveling through Scotland when they
saw a black sheep through the window of the train.
‘Aha,’ said the engineer, ‘I see that Scottish sheep are black.’
‘Hmm,’ said the physicist, ‘You mean that some Scottish sheep are black. We
haven’t seen all the sheep yet.’
‘No,’ said the mathematician, ‘All we know is that there is at least one sheep
in Scotland, and that at least one side of that one sheep
is black! We haven’t seen the other
side of the sheep yet.’

14 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

T HE G OLDEN R ATIO
The Golden Ratio appears again and again in art, architecture, music and nature. Its origins go back to the days
of the ancient Greeks, who thought that a rectangle with sides in the Golden Ratio, called a golden rectangle,
exhibited the most aesthetically pleasing proportion. The use of the Golden Ratio has been of interest to artists
and architects since before the building of the Parthenon in Greece in the fifth century B.C. The rectangle drawn
around the Parthenon with its upper triangular structure intact, as shown in Figure 1, is a golden rectangle.

1 x–1

1 P 1 Q

x
Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 2 shows the dimensions of a golden rectangle. The ratio of length to width
in the rectangle is x to 1. A square P with sides of 1 unit has been marked, leaving
a smaller rectangle Q. For the smaller rectangle Q, the ratio of length to width is 1
to x – 1. In order for the larger rectangle to be a golden rectangle, the two ratios
need to be equal, creating a proportion:
x 1
=
1 x–1
When we apply cross multiplication to this proportion, we obtain a quadratic
equation:
x 1
  x(x –1) = 1 ; x2 – x = 1 ; x2 – x – 1 = 0.
1 x 1
Since we cannot factor this equation, we apply the quadratic formula.
1 5 1 5
The solutions are x1  and x2  .
2 2
Because x represents the length of a rectangle, the negative solution is discarded
1 5
and the positive solution is  1.618034 . This is the Golden Ratio.
2
The Golden Ratio occurs in nature as well as in art. For example, in sunflowers,
the ratio of the number of clockwise spirals to the number of counterclockwise
spirals approximates the Golden Ratio.
EXERCISES 1 .1
A. Solving Equations of the Form ax2 = 0 D.Solving Equations of the Form
1. Solve the equations. ax2 + bx + c = 0
9. Solve by factoring.
a. ñ2x2 = 0 b. (ñ3 – 2)x2 = 0
a. x2 – x = 0 b. –3x2 + x = 0
1 2
c.  x2 = 0 d. 0.07x = 0
5 c. x2 – 49 = 0 d. x2 – 25 = 0
e. x2 – x – 2 = 0 f. x2 + 3x + 2 = 0
B. Solving Equations of the Form g. x2 – 2x + 1 = 0 h. 6x2 + x – 15 = 0
ax2 + bx = 0 i. 10x2 – 19x + 6 = 0 j. 12x2 – 5x – 2 = 0
2. Solve the equations. 10. Solve by factoring.
2 2
a. 2x + 5x = 0 b. –7x + 3x = 0
a. x2 + (a + 1)x + a = 0
2 b. (x + 1)2 – 2(x + 1)(x – 3) + (x – 3)2 = 0
c. 3x2 – 8x = 0 d. x  6 x2 = 0
3
c. 2ax2 + (5b – 2a)x – 5b = 0

3. Solve (x + 2)2 = 2(x + 2). 11. Solve by completing the square.

a. x2 – 4x – 1 = 0 b. x2 + 4x = 3
4. Solve (2x – 1)(x + 3) = –3. c. x2 – 6x – 13 = 0 d. 3x2 – 2x + 4 = 0
e. 4x2 + 8x + 15 = 0 f. 2x2 + 7x + 11 = 0
5. Solve (x + 1) – 3(x + 1) = 0.
2
1 2 1 1
g. x  3x + = 0 h. 3x2 + x =
2 2 2
C. Solving Equations of the Form
12. Solve by using the quadratic formula.
ax2 + c = 0
a. x2 – 4x + 2 = 0 b. 2x2 + x – 1 = 0
6. Solve the equations.
c. 4x2 + 12x + 9 = 0 d. 3x2 – 5x + 1 = 0
a. x2 – 16 = 0 b. 7x2 + 3 = 0
2 2
e. 5x2 + 4x + 7 = 0 f. 3x2 – 7 = 2 – 2x
c. 9x – 25 = 0 d. 0.6x – 15 = 0
g. x2 + x + 1 = 0
2
2 x
e. –5x2 + 4 = 0 f.  =0 h. 25x2 + 40x + 16 = 0
25 8
i. (2x – 3)2 = 11x – 19
3 2 1 1
7. Solve the equations. j. x  x  =0
4 4 2
a. (x – 2)2 – 9 = 0 b. (x + 3)2 + 7 = 0 2
2 2 k. 4x  1 = x(10 x  9)
c. (x + 1) = 5 d. (1 – x) – 1 = 8 3

l. x2  1
=11( x +1)
8. Solve (4x + 1)(x – 1) = (x – 1)(x + 1) – 3(x – 3). 2

16 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

13. Solve by using the quadratic formula. 17. For which values of k does the equation
1 2 x2 – (4k + 2)x + 7k + 2 = 0 form a perfect square?
a. 4   =0
x x2
1 1 2
b. + =
x 1 x 1 3
2

2 2
c. (x  3)  (x  2) = 1  x 18. The longest side of a right triangle is 6 cm less
16 4 2 than twice the length of the medium side. The
1 1 5 shortest side is 6 cm. Find the length of the two
d. + =
x 1 x  4 4 other sides.

14. Use the discriminant to determine whether each

19. A wire that is 32 cm long is cut into two pieces,
quadratic equation has two real solutions, a 
and each piece is bent to form a square. The total
double root, or no real solution, without solving
area enclosed by the two squares is 34 cm2. Find
the equation.
the length of each piece of wire.
a. 2x2 + 3x + 1 = 0 b. x2 + 5x – 6 = 0
c. 4x2 + 12x + 9 = 0 d. 25x2 – 20x + 4 = 0
e. x2 + 4x + 7 = 0 f. 2x2 – x + 2 = 0

Mixed Problems
20. a, b, c, and d are four consecutive even natural

numbers. The sum of a and c is one fifth of the
15. Consider the equation ax2 + 3x + 10 = 0. For
product of b and d. Find a, b, c, and d.
which values of a does the equation have

a. two distinct real roots?

b. one double root?
c. no solution?
21. Two squares have sides (x + 6) cm and (2x + 1)

cm respectively. The sum of their areas is
697 cm2. Find the areas of the squares.

16. For which values of m does the equation

2x2 + 2x + m + 4 = 0 have

a. two real solutions? 22. A year ago, a father was eight times as old as his
b. one solution? 
son. Now his age is the square of his son’s age.
c. no real solutions? How old are they now?

Quadratic Equations 17
We have seen that the roots of an equation depend on its coefficients. Therefore, there exist
certain relations between the coefficients and the roots of an equation.
In this section we will consider the relations between the roots and the coefficients a, b and
c of a quadratic equation.
We know that the roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0 are

b   b + 
x1 = and x2 = .
2a 2a
François Viète
(or Vieta)
1540-1603, French Let us use these formulas above to find the sum of the roots of a quadratic equation.
mathematician. Vieta
was a founder of b   b+ 
modern algebra, who x1 + x2 = +
introduced the use of 2a 2a
letters as algebraic
symbols and correlated b   + (  b+  )
=
algebra with geometry 2a
and trigonometry.
Vieta presented 2b b
= =
methods for solving 2a a
equations of second,
third and fourth b
degree. He knew the Therefore, x1 + x2 = - .
connection between
a
the positive roots of
equations and the
coefficients of the
different powers of the We can use the same expressions for x1 and x2 to find the product of the roots of a quadratic
unknown quantity. equation.
The word ‘coefficient’
is actually due to Vieta.  b     b+   (  b   )  (  b+  )
When Vieta applied x1  x2 =      =
numerical methods to  2a   2a  4a2
solve equations, he
used methods which b2  (b2  4ac ) 4ac c
were similar to those = = 2=
used by earlier Arabic 4a2 4a a
mathematicians.
c
Therefore, x1  x2 = .
a

These relations were discovered by François Vieta, a French mathematician, and so they are
together called Vieta’s theorem.

18 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Theorem Vieta’s theorem
Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0. Then

b c
x1 + x2 =  , x1  x2 = .
a a
By using Vieta’s theorem we can now find the sum and product of the roots of a quadratic
equation without calculating the roots.
Note
By using Vieta’s theorem we can also see the following.
1 1 x + x2 – b / a b
1. + = 1 = = (sum of the reciprocals of the roots)
x1 x2 x1x2 c/a c
2
 b  c b2  2ac
2. x12 + x22 = (x1 + x2 )2  2x1x2 =    2  = (sum of the squares of the roots)
 a  a a2
3abc  b 3
3. x13 + x23 = (x1 + x2 )3  3x1x2 (x1 + x2 ) = (sum of the cubes of the roots)
a3

EXAMPLE 20 Derive a formula for the difference of the roots of a quadratic equation in standard form.

Solution Let us consider the two differences. First,

b   b+  b   + b   2   
x1  x2 =  = = = .
2a 2a 2a 2a a


Similarly, x2  x1 = .
a

So we can say that x1  x2 = .
a

EXAMPLE 21 Find the sum and product of the roots of the given equations, without solving the equations.

a. 2x2 + 6x + 5 = 0 b. x2 – 3x – 5 = 0

Solution a. a = 2, b = 6 and c = 5 b. a = 1, b = –3 and c = –5

b 6 b 3
x1 + x2 =  = = 3 x1 + x2 =  = = 3
a 2 a 1
c 5 c –5
x1  x2 = = x1  x2 = = = –5
a 2 a 1
Note
The quadratic equation 2x2 + 6x + 5 = 0 has no real root. However, by Vieta’s theorem, the
5
sum of the roots is –3 and the product of the roots is , which are real numbers. Can you
2
say why?

Quadratic Equations 19
Check Yourself 6
1. Find the sum and the product of the roots of the following equations, using Vieta’s theorem.
7
a. 3x2 + 5x – 1 = 0 b. x2 – 4x + = 0 c. –x2 + 7x – 1 = 0
2
2. For the previous equations, find
a. 1 + 1 . b. x12 + x22. c. x13 + x23.
x1 x2
Answers
5 1 7
1. a.  , – b. 4, c. 7, 1 2. a. 5 b. 9 c. 322
3 3 2

EXAMPLE 22 x1 and x2 are the non-negative roots of the equation 3x2 + 2mx + 1 = 0. Given x1 = 3x2, find
x1, x2, and m.

Solution x1 = 3x2
c 1 1 1 1 1
x1  x2 = = ; 3x2  x2 = ; x2 2 = ; x2 =  since x2 > 0; x2 =
a 3 3 9 3 3
1
x1 = 3x2 then x1 = 3  =1
3
2m 1 2m 4 2m
x1 + x2 =  ; 1+ =  ; =
3 3 3 3 3
m = 2

EXAMPLE 23 x1 and x2 are the roots of the equation x2 – 3x + 1 = 0. Find the value of
x1
x2
+
x2
x1
.

(–3) 1
Solution Since x1 + x2 = – = 3 > 0 and x1  x2 = =1> 0, both x1 and x2 are positive.
1 1
x1 x
+ 2 =k
x2 x1
x12 2 x1x2 x2 2
k2 = + +
x2 x1x2 x1

x13 + x2 3
k2 = + 2 x1x2
x1x2
9 + 27
2
k = 1 + 2 1 = 20
1
k1 = 2 5 , k2 = 2 5

k= 2 5 (why?)

20 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 24 x2 + x – 6m = 0 and x2 – 2mx + 3 = 0 have a common root. Find m.

Solution Let x1 and x2 be the roots of x2 + x – 6m = 0 and

x1 and x3 be the roots of x2 – 2mx + 3 = 0, then
 x1 + x2 = – 1 x1x2 = – 6m
(1)  and (2)  .
 x1 + x3 = 2m x1x3 = 3
From (1) we get x2 – x3 = –1 – 2m.
x2
From (2) we get = –2m ; x2 = –2mx3.
x3
From (1) and (2),
2 mx3  x3 = 1  2m

x3 (2 m+ 1) = 1+ 2m

1+ 2 m
x3 = = 1.
1+ 2 m
If we substitute 1 for x in the second equation, we have
4 – 2m = 0, so m = 2.

Note
We can apply Vieta's theorem to a cubic polynomial equation.
Let x1, x2 and x3 be the roots of the equation ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0. Then,
b c d
1. x1 + x2 + x3 =  . 2. x1x2 + x1x3 + x2 x3 = . 3. x1x2 x3 =  .
a a a

Check Yourself 7
1. One of the roots of the equation 2x2 – mx + 8 = 0 is 3 more than the other root. Find m.
2. x1 and x2 are the roots of the equation x2 + x – m + 1 = 0. x1 – x2 = 5 is given. Find m,
x1, and x2.
Answers
1. 10 2. 7, 2, –3

Mathematics is one component of any plan for liberal education.

Mother of all the sciences, it is a builder of the imagination, a weaver
of patterns of sheer thought, an intuitive dreamer, a poet. The study
of mathematics cannot be replaced by any other activity.

Quadratic Equations 21
EXERCISES 1 .2
1. Find the sum and the product of the roots of each 6. One of the roots of the equation
equation, without solving it. 3
6x2 + 13x + n2 + 2n – 2 = 0 is – . Find n and
2
a. 10x – 11x – 12 = 0 2
the other root of the equation.
7 2 9 5
b. x + x – =0
8 7 3
c. (x – 2)(3x – 4) = 13
d. x + 7 = (2x – 1)(3x – 2) 7. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation
2 2
e. (4x + 3) = (3x + 1) 4x2 + 5x = 0. Find x12x2 + x1x22.
f. x2 = ñ2(3x – ñ2x)

2. The sum of the roots of the equation 8. Consider the equation

(5k + 2)x2 + 7kx – 8k = 0 is 3. Find the product (m + 2n)x2 – (m + 2n)x + m – n = 0.
of the roots. If the arithmetic and the geometric means of the
roots of the equation are equal, find the relation
between m and n.

3. The product of the roots of the equation

(4m2 – 1)x2 + (2m + 1)x + 2m – 1 = 0 is 5.
Find m. 9. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation
x2 – 8x + 5k = 0. x1 = 2x2 – 1 is given. Find k.

4. Find the sum of the squares of the roots of the

following quadratic equations.

a. 2x2 + 5x + 1 = 0 10. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation


b. –x2 + 7x + 2 = 0 x2 + (m + 1)x + m + 2 = 0.
c. 3(x + 2)(x – 1) = 4(x – 2) – 1 2x1 + 3x2 = –13 is given. Find m.
d. 4x(3 – 4x) = x – 1

5. One of the roots of the equation 11. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation
4 6 6
20x2 + (2m2 + 2m + 1)x + 20 = 0 is – . Find (k + 1)x2 – kx + k – 4 = 0. + = 30 is given.
5 x1 x2
m and the other root of the equation. Find k.

22 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

12. Consider the equation x2 – (3k + 1)x + 8 = 0. 18. Let p and q be the roots of the equation
2 2 
x + x = 20 is given. Find k.
1 2 2x2 – 5x + p2 + q2 = 0. Find the discriminant of
the equation.

13. Consider the equation x2 + (m + 1)x – m = 0. 1

2 2
19. Find x12 + , if x1 is the root of the equation
x + x = 13 is given. Find m.
1 2 
2
x1
2
 1  1
 x +   6  x +  +9 = 0.
 x  x

14. Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation

kx2 + (k – 1)x – 2 + k = 0.
20. Consider the equation x3 + cx + 1 = 0.
2 2 3 
+ = is given. Find k.
x1 + 3 x2 + 3 2 1 1
x1 = + is given. Find the roots of the
x2 x3
equation and c.

15. Consider the equation x2 + (k – 2)x + k – 6 = 0.

If the equation has two negative roots, find all the 21. The roots of the equation x2 – 5x + p = 0 are also

possible values of k. the roots of the equation x3 + qx + 30 = 0. Find
p + q.

16. Find two positive consecutive numbers such that 22. The sum of the two roots of the equation
the sum of their squares is 85. 2x3 – x2 – 7x – 3 = 0 is 1. Find the roots of the
equation.

23. From each corner of a square piece of sheet

metal, a man removes a square of side 2 cm. He
17. Find the product of the roots of the equation turns up the edges to form an open box which

1 1 1 1 holds 24 cm3. What are the dimensions of the
+ =  , a + b  0.
a b a+b+ x x piece of sheet metal?

Quadratic Equations 23
Let x1 and x2 be the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0.
b c
We can write the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 as x2 + x + = 0.
a a

 b
 x1 + x2 =  a , and

We know that 
 c
 x1  x2 = a .

So we can write the equation again as x2 – (x1 + x2)x + (x1  x1) = 0.

In other words, if we know the sum and product of the roots of a quadratic equation then we
can write the equation as x2 – Sx + P = 0 where S = x1 + x2 and P = x1  x2. This means
that we can derive (find) a quadratic equation if we know its roots.

Note
If the roots of a quadratic equation are x1 and x2, then (x – x1)  (x – x2) = 0.

EXAMPLE 25 Find a quadratic equation whose roots are –1 and 5.

Solution x1 = –1 and x2 = 5
S = x1 + x2 = –1 + 5 = 4
P = x1  x2 = (–1)  5 = –5
Hence, the equation is
x2 – Sx + P = 0
x2 – 4x – 5 = 0.

1
EXAMPLE 26 Find a quadratic equation whose only root is
3
.

1
Solution x1 = x2 =
3
1 1 2
S = x1 + x2 = + =
3 3 3
1
P = x1  x2 = .
9
2 1
Hence, the equation is x2  x+ =0, or 9 x2 6 x+1 =0.
3 9

24 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 27 Find the equation whose roots are 2 + ñ3 and 2 – ñ3.

Solution x1 = 2 + ñ3, x2 = 2 – ñ3
S = x1 + x2 = 4
P = x1  x2 = (2 + ñ3)  (2 – ñ3) = 1
Hence, the equation is x2 – 4x + 1 = 0.

EXAMPLE 28 Find the equation whose roots are 1 more than the roots of x2 – 3x – 4 = 0.

Solution Let the roots of x2 – 3x – 4 = 0 be x1 and x2. Let the roots of the equation we are looking for
be x3 and x4.
x1 + x2 = 3, x1  x2 = –4
x3 = x1 + 1, x4 = x2 + 1
S = x3 + x4 = (x1 + 1) + (x2 + 1) = x1 + x2 + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5
P = x3  x4 = (x1 + 1)  (x2 + 1) = x1  x2 + x1 + x2 + 1 = (–4) + (3) + 1 = 0
Hence the equation is x2 – 5x = 0.

EXAMPLE 29 The equation x2 + (k + 4)x + k – 4 = 0 has symmetric roots. Find them.

Solution x1 = t, x2 = –t (symmetric roots)

b c
x1 + x2 =  x1  x2 =
a a
( k+ 4) k 4
t +(  t) = t  ( t) =
1 1
0 = k  4 t2 = 8
k = 4 t2 = 8
t = 2ñ2
Therefore, x1 = 2ñ2, x2 = –2ñ2.

Check Yourself 8
1. Find a quadratic equation whose roots are –2 and 3.
2. The roots of the equation x2 – x – 2 = 0 are x1 and x2. Find the equation whose roots are
x3 and x4, where x3 = 2x1 + 1 and x4 = 2x2 + 1.
Answers
1. x2 – x – 6 = 0 2. x2 – 4x – 5 = 0

Mathematics has beauty but not everyone sees it.

Quadratic Equations 25
EXERCISES 1 .3
1. Find the equation with the given roots. 6. The roots of the equation x2 – kx – 3k + 1 = 0
1 3 are two more than the roots of the equation
a. –1, 1 b. , x2 – (k – 4)x – 4k = 0. Find k.
2 2
c. 0, 4 d. 2 + ñ2, 2 – ñ2
7. Find three consecutive integers a, b, c, such that
1 1
e. ñ3 – ñ2, ñ3 + ñ2 f. , a2 + b2 + c2 = 110.
p2 q 2

8. Find the number that is 3 more than twice its

2. Find the quadratic equation whose sum of the square root.
roots is –2 and product of the roots is 5.
9. A swimming pool can be filled by two pipes
together in six hours. If the larger pipe alone
3. The roots of the equation x2 – 4x – 3 = 0 are
takes five hours less than the smaller pipe alone
x1 and x2. Find the equation whose roots are x3
to fill the pool, find the time in which each pipe
and x4, such that x3 = 2x1 and x4 = 2x2.
alone would fill the pool.

4. Find the equation whose roots are 2 less than the 10. Alex can do a job in one hour less than Jane. If
roots of the equation 2x2 – 6x + 58 = 0. 6
Alex and Jane work together the job takes
5
hours. How long would it take each person working
5. The roots of each given equation are x1 and x2. alone?
Write a new equation with roots x3 and x4.

a. x2 – 2x – 3 = 0 b. x2 + 5x + 4 = 0 11. A man completed a job for $156. It took him

x3 = x1 – 1 x3 = 2x1 + 1 seven hours longer than he expected and so he
earned $14 an hour less than he anticipated.
x4 = x2 – 1 x4 = 2x2 + 1
How long did the man expect the job to take?
c. 6x2 – 9x – 6 = 0 d. x2  2 x+ 1 = 0
x3 = x1 – x2 x12 12. The sum of the numerator and denominator of a
x3 =
x2 certain positive fraction is 11. If 1 is added to both
x4 = x2 – x1
2
x2 the numerator and the denominator, the fraction
x4 =
x1 3
is increased by . Find the fraction.
56
e. x2 – 2mx + 3m – 2 = 0 f. mx2 – 2mx – 1 = 0
x3 = x1 – 2x2 x3 = 2x1 – x2 13. The area of an isosceles right triangle is 81 m2.
x4 = x2 – 2x1 x4 = 2x2 – x1 Find the perimeter of the triangle.

26 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

14. The distance between two cities A and B is 19. Two painters working together can paint the front
 of a house in 16 hours. One of the painters alone
140 km. A car driving from A to B left at the same
time as a car driving from B to A. The cars met can finish this job in 24 hours less time than the
after one hour, then the first car reached city other painter alone. How much time does each
B 35 minutes later than the second car reached worker need to do this job alone?
city A. Find the speed of each car.
20. A motorcyclist traveled at a constant speed for 60
km. If he had gone 10 km/h faster, he would have
15. An aeroplane traveled a distance of 400 km at an
shortened his traveling time by one hour. Find the
average speed of x km/h. Write down an expression
speed of the motorcyclist.
for the time taken. On the return journey, the
speed increased by 40 km/h. Write down an
expression for the time for the return journey. If 21. The area of a triangle is 36 m2. The length of the
the return journey took 30 minutes less than the base is twice the height. Find the length of the
outward journey, write down an equation in x and base and the height of the triangle.
solve it.
22. A jeweler wishes to mix an alloy of 25% silver with
another alloy of 40% silver. How much of each
16. A car drove from one city to another and returned should he use to produce 60 kg of an alloy which

by a different route. The outward journey was 48 is 30% silver?
km and the return journey was 8 km shorter. The
speed of the car on the return journey increased
23. One of two pipes can fill a pool 24 hours faster
by 4 km/h. The return journey took one hour less 
than the other one. The slower pipe filled the pool
time. Find the speed of the car on the outward
for eight hours, then the other pipe was opened.
journey.
The pipes filled together for twenty hours and
2
filled of the pool. Find the time that each pipe
3
17. A group of women plan to share equally in the requires to fill the pool alone.
$14,000 cost of a boat. At the last minute three of
the women decide not to pay. This raises the
24. A worker can clean a pool in four hours less time
share for each of the remaining women by $1500.
How many women were in the original group? than it takes another worker. If the men work
8
together the job takes hours. How long would
3
it take each man working alone?
18. A car drove from a city A to a city B. The distance
between the two cities is 350 km. After 200 km,
the speed of the car decreased by 20 km/h. The 25. The length of a rectangle is 2 m more than its
total trip took 5 hours. Find the speed of the car width and the area is 48 m2. Find the length and
in the first part of the journey. width of the rectangle.

Quadratic Equations 27
A. WRITING EQUATIONS IN QUADRATIC FORM
Definition standard form of an equation
An equation is in standard form if the only term on the right-hand side of the equation is zero.

For example, the equations 6x2 + 2x – 3 = 0 and x4 – 5 = 0 are both in standard form. The
equation 6x2 + 2x = 3 and x4 = 5 are not in standard form.
Certain equations that are not quadratic can be expressed in quadratic form using
substitutions. These equations can be recognized because when they are written in standard
form, the exponent of the variable in one term is half the exponent of variable in the other term.
For example, we can write standard form equations such as
x4 + 17x2 + 72 = 0
2x8 + 4x4 = 0
x – ñx – 12 = 0
as quadratic equations, because the exponent of the first variable is twice the exponent of the
second variable.

Look at the steps to write an equation as a quadratic.

1. Let t be a variable term with the half exponent.
2. Substitute t in all the terms with the variable.
3. Solve for t.
4. Back substitute for the original variable.

EXAMPLE 30 Solve x4 – 13x2 + 36 = 0.

Solution 1 The equation x4 – 13x2 + 36 = 0 is not a quadratic equation but we can write it as
(x2)2 – 13x2 + 36 = 0. For this reason, it is a quadratic in x2. Let x2 = t.
First we solve for t, then solve the resulting equations for x.
(x2)2 – 13x2 + 36 = 0
x2 = t, so t2 – 13t + 36 = 0. By factoring,
(t – 4)(t – 9) = 0
t = 4 or t = 9.
Since t = x2
x2 = 4 x2 = 9
or .
x = 2 x = 3

28 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution 2 Alternatively, we can directly factorize the equation.
x4 – 13x2 + 36 = 0
(x2 – 4)(x2 – 9) = 0
x2 = 4 x2 = 9
or
x = 2 x = 3
In both solutions, the roots of the given equation are –3, –2, 2, 3.

EXAMPLE 31 Solve (5x – 1)2 + 4(5x – 1) – 5 = 0.

Solution For the equation (5x – 1)2 + 4(5x – 1) – 5 = 0, we let t = 5x – 1 so that t2 = (5x – 1)2. Then
the original equation becomes t2 + 4t – 5 = 0. First solve for t:
(t + 5)(t – 1) = 0, so
t = –5 or t = 1.
Now, solve for x.
5x – 1 = –5 5x – 1 = 1
or
5x = –4 5x = 2
–4 2
x1 = x2 =
5 5
–4 2
Hence, the roots of the equation are and .
5 5

EXAMPLE 32 Solve (a2 – a)2 – 2(a2 – a) = 0.

Solution Let t = a2 – a.
The equation becomes
t2 – 2t = 0
t(t – 2) = 0
t = 0 or t = 2.
Now, solve for a.
1. a2 – a = 0
a(a – 1) = 0
a = 0 or a = 1
2. a2 – a = 2
a2 – a – 2 = 0
(a – 2)(a + 1) = 0
a = 2 or a = –1
Hence, the roots of the equation are –1, 0, 1, 2.

Quadratic Equations 29
4
EXAMPLE 33  1 2
Solve  x   + 5 = 2 x2 + 2 .
 x x

Solution First x2  0, so x  0.
1
Let x  = t.
x
How can we write the right-hand side in terms of t?
Let’s take the square of t:
2
 1 1
t2 =  x   = x2 + 2  2, so
 x x
1
x2 + 2 = t 2 + 2. Now, let us multiply both sides of the equation by 2:
x
2
2 x2 + 2 = 2t2 + 4.
x
Then we have the equation
t4 +5 = 2t2 + 4
t4  2t 2 +1= 0
(t2  1)2  0
t2  1= 0
t =1 or t = 1.
1
Since t = x  ,
x
1 1
x  =1 or x  = 1.
x x
Let us multiply the equations by x:
x2  x  1= 0 or x2 + x 1= 0.
By using the quadratic formula,
1 5 1+ 5 1+ 5 1  5
x1 = , x2 = , x3 = , x4 = .
2 2 2 2

Check Yourself 9
Solve the equations.

1. (x + 15)2 – 3(x + 15) – 18 = 0.

2. (x + 5)4 – 6(x + 5)2 – 7 = 0.
3. x – 9ñx + 14 = 0.
Answers
1. –18, –9 2. –5 ñ7 3. 4, 49

30 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

B. EQUATIONS INVOLVING PRODUCTS AND QUOTIENTS
If the product of two or more numbers is zero, then at least one of the factors must be zero.
If the quotient of a division is zero, then the dividend must be zero.

Note
1. P  Q = 0 if and only if P = 0 or Q = 0, where P = P(x) and Q = Q(x).
P
2. = 0 if and only if P = 0 and Q  0.
Q

EXAMPLE 34 Solve (x2 – 1)(x2 – 2x – 8) = 0.

Solution Try to factorize each part if possible:

(x – 1)(x + 1)(x – 4)(x + 2) = 0.

If the product is zero then at least one of the factors is zero.

x–1=0; x=1

x+1=0; x = –1

x–4=0; x=4

x+2=0; x = –2

Thus, the roots of the equation are –2, –1, 1, 4.

EXAMPLE 35 Solve (x2 – 4x + 10)(x2 – 5x + 2) = 0.

Solution We cannot factorize the parts.

Let us try to solve x2 – 4x + 10 = 0 and x2 – 5x + 2 = 0 as two different quadratic
equations.
x2 – 4x + 10 = 0;  = 16 – 4  1  10 = –24 < 0.
Therefore, this equation has no real root.
x2 – 5x + 2 = 0 ;  = 25 – 4  1  2 = 17
This time, by the quadratic formula, the roots are
5  17 5+ 17
x1 = , x2 = .
2 2

Quadratic Equations 31
EXAMPLE 36 Solve x3 – x2 – 4x + 4 = 0.

Solution First try to factorize the expression.

x3 – x2 – 4x + 4 = x2(x – 1) – 4(x – 1) = (x – 1)(x2 – 4) = (x – 1)(x – 2)(x + 2).
Now, the question becomes:
solve (x – 1)(x – 2)(x + 2) = 0.
So the solution is
x–1=0; x1 = 1
x–2=0; x2 = 2
x+2=0; x3 = –2.

x2  5x  6
EXAMPLE 37 Solve
x+ 2
= 0.

Solution The denominator of a fraction cannot be equal to zero, so x + 2  0, x  –2.

We need to solve x2 – 5x – 6 = 0.
x2 – 5x – 6 = (x – 6)(x + 1)
(x – 6)(x + 1) = 0
x1 = –1 or x2 = 6
Since these roots are not equal to –2, x1 = –1 and x2 = 6 are both solutions to the equation.

x2 + 7 x  8
EXAMPLE 38 Solve
x2  3x+ 2
= 0.

Solution First solve x2 – 3x + 2 0: x  2, x 1.

x2 + 7x – 8 = (x – 1) (x + 8) = 0
So x1 = 1 and x2 = –8 are the roots of the numerator.
We know that x  1, so the only solution is –8.

Note
It is very important to check the roots of the numerator to see whether they make the
denominator zero or not. We can do this either by substituting the roots of the numerator in
the denominator, or by finding the roots of the denominator directly and checking whether
they are common or not.

32 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 39 Solve
x  7 x+ 3

x  4 x+ 4
= 1.

Solution x – 4  0, and x + 4  0, so x  4, and x  –4 (since the denominators cannot be zero).

x  7 x+ 3
Now we have   1 = 0.
x  4 x+ 4
Let us make the denominators common:
(x  7)( x+ 4)  ( x+ 3)( x  4)  ( x2 16)
= 0.
(x+ 4)(x  1)

 x2  2 x
=0
(x  4)(x+ 4)

–x2 – 2x = 0 ; –x(x + 2) = 0 ; x1 = 0 and x2 = – 2.

x+ 1 x2  5
EXAMPLE 40 Solve
4
 =
x+ 1 x  1 x2  1
.

4 x+ 1 x2  5
Solution In its present form, the equation  = is not a quadratic equation. However,
x+ 1 x  1 x2  1
we can make it quadratic by multiplying each side by x2 – 1 since (x2 – 1  0 ; x  1). The result is
4(x – 1) – (x + 1)2 = x2 – 5
4x – 4 – x2 – 2x – 1 = x2 – 5
–2x2 + 2x = 0
–2x(x – 1) = 0
x1 = 0 or x2 = 1, but x  1, so x = 0 is the only possible solution.

EXAMPLE 41  x 
Solve   
 x+ 2 
5x
x+ 2
+ 6 = 0.

Solution x + 2  0 ; x  –2
x
Let t = , then the equation becomes
x+ 2
t2 – 5t + 6 = 0
(t – 3)(t – 2) = 0
t1 = 2 or t2 = 3.

Quadratic Equations 33
Now, solve for x:
x x
=2 or =3
x+ 2 x+ 2
x = 2x+ 4 x = 3 x+ 6
x2 = 4 x1 = 3.

So the roots are –4 and –3.

Check Yourself 10
9
1. Solve + 2 x = 4.
4x+ 3
x+ 1 x  3 12
2. Solve  = .
x  2 x+ 2 x2  4

Answers
1 3
1.  ; 2. no real solution
4 2

C. EQUATIONS INVOLVING RADICALS

When the variable in an equation occurs in a square root, cube root, and so on, that is, when
it occurs in a radical, the equation is called a radical equation. For example, the equations
3
x+ 1 = 2 and x – 1 – 5 = 0 are radical equations. Sometimes a suitable operation will
change a radical equation to an equation that is linear or quadratic.

To solve a radical equation, follow the procedure.

1. Isolate the radicals

Isolating a radical means putting the radical on one side of the equation and everything else
on the other side, using inverse operations. If there are two radicals in the equation, isolate
one of the radicals.

2. Get rid of the radical sign

Raise both sides of the equation to a power equal to the index of the isolated radical.

3. If there is still a radical sign left, repeat steps 1 and 2.

4. Solve the remaining equation

34 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

5. Check for extraneous solutions
When you solve a radical equation, extra solutions may come up when you raise both sides
to an even power. These extra solutions are called extraneous solutions. In radical equations
you check for extraneous solutions by putting the values you found into the original
equation. If the left side of the equation does not equal the right side then you have an
extraneous solution.

Note
1. If a value is an extraneous solution, it is not a solution to the original problem.
2. It is very important to check your results in the original equation. In many equations, one
of the results may not satisfy the original equation. However, sometimes it is possible that
all results that you have found will be acceptable.

EXAMPLE 42 Solve the radical equation 2 x+ 5 = 7.

Solution Here the radicand is already alone; we do not need to isolate it. So take the square of both sides:
2x + 5 = 49 ; 2x = 44 ; x = 22.
Now let us check to see if x = 22 is an extraneous solution:

2 x+ 5 = 7

2  22 + 5 = 7

49 = 7

7 = 7.
Since the last statement is true, x = 22 is not an extraneous solution. Therefore, there is one
solution to this radical equation, x = 22.

EXAMPLE 43 Solve 2 x  5 + x = 4.

Solution First we isolate the radical:

2 x  5 = 4  x.
Now take the squares of both sides to eliminate the square root:
2x – 5 = 16 – 8x + x2.
The new equation is x2 – 10x + 21 = 0
(x – 3)  (x – 7) = 0
x = 3 or x = 7.
Let us check the results in the original equation:

Quadratic Equations 35
x=7; 2 .7  5 + 7 = 4 x=3; 2  3  5 +3 = 4

9 +7 = 4 1+ 3 = 4
3+7 = 4 4=4
10 = 4 This is true, so x = 3 is a solution.
This is false, so 7 is an extraneous solution.
Hence, the only solution to the equation is x = 3.

EXAMPLE 44 Solve 10 x+ 56  2 x +8 = 4 .

Solution In this question there are two radical expressions. We can isolate only one expression, so it
is better to isolate the more complex one. So we have
10 x+ 56 = 2 x+ 8 + 4.
Take the squares of both sides:
10 x+ 56 = (2 x+ 8) + 2  4  2 x+ 8 +16 .
This is a new equation involving radical expressions. Follow the same steps again to isolate
the second radical.

8 x+ 32 = 8  2 x+ 8

x+ 4 = 2 x+ 8

x2 + 8 x+ 16 = 2 x+ 8

x2 + 6 x+ 8 = 0
(x+ 4)  (x+ 2) = 0
x = –4 , x = –2
Now, check these results in the original equation.

x = –4 ; 2  (–4) + 8  10 (–4) +56 = 4

0  16 = 4
4 = 4
This is true!
x = –2 ; 2  (–2) + 8  10 (–2) + 56 = 4
4  36 = 4
2  6 = 4
4 = 4
This is true!
Hence, both –4 and –2 are solutions to the equation.

36 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 45 Solve the equation 5 + 3 x+ 3 = 3.

Solution 5 + 3 x+ 3 = 3
3
x+ 3 = 2 (by taking the cube of both sides)

x+ 3 = 8
x = –11. We do not need to check for extraneous solutions because this is an odd power.
Therefore, –11 is the only solution to the equation.

EXAMPLE 46 Solve the equation 4x+ 1 + x+ 2 = 10 x+ 5 .

Solution ( 4 x+1 + x+ 2 )2 = ( 10 x+ 5) 2

4x+ 1+ 2 (4x+ 1)(x+ 2) + x+ 2 = 10 x+ 5

2 (4 x+1)( x+ 2) = 5 x+ 2

(2 (4 x+1)(x+ 2))2  (5 x+ 2)2

4(4 x+1)(x+ 2)  25 x2 + 20 x+ 4

16 x2 + 36 x+ 8 = 25 x2 + 20 x+ 4

9x2  16 x  4 = 0

(9 x+ 2)( x  2) = 0
2
x=  or x = 2
9

Now, check these results in the orijinal equation.

2 8 2 20 1 16 5 5 5
x=  ;  +1 +  + 2 =  + 5 = + = ; =
9 9 9 9 9 9 3 3 3

x=2 ; 8 +1 + 2 + 2 = 20 + 5 ; 5 =5

2
Both statements are true, so both x =  and x =2 are solutions.
9

Quadratic Equations 37
Check Yourself 11
Solve the equations.
1. 5x+ 3 = 4 2. 2x  4 = x  2 3. x+ 2  4 x+ 8 = –3

4. 3x2  2 x+15 + 3x2  2 x+ 8 = 7

Answers
13 1
1. 2. 2, 4 3. 7 4.  , 1
5 3

D. EQUATIONS INVOLVING AN ABSOLUTE VALUE

On the real number line, the absolute value of x is the distance from the origin to the point
x. For example, there are two points whose distance from the origin is three units, –3 and 3.
So the equation |x| = 3 has two solutions, 3 and –3. Let us first remember the mathematical
definition of absolute value.

Definition absolute value of a function

For all real numbers x,
 f x  , for f x   0

f ( x) = 
 – f x  , for f x  < 0.

We can use this information to begin solving equations involving one or more absolute values.

EXAMPLE 47 Solve the equation |x – 2| = 5.

Solution Case 1
__________________ Case 2
_________________
x–20; x2 x–2<0; x<2
The absolute value of a x–2=5 –(x – 2) = 5
number is never negative. x=7 x = –3
|a|  0
So the solutions are –3 and 7.

EXAMPLE 48 Solve |2x – 3| = x + 1.

Solution 1 Case 1
__________________ Case 2
____________________
3 3
2x  3  0 ; x  2x  3 < 0 ; x <
2 2
2 x  3 = x+ 1 (2 x  3) = x+ 1
x= 4 2 2 3
x= since < ,
3 3 3 2
since 4 > , x = 4 is a solution.
2 2
x= is a solution.
3
2
So the solutions are 4 and .
3

38 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution 2 Let us take the square of both sides:
4x2 – 12x + 9 = x2 + 2x + 1
3x2 – 14x + 8 = 0
|f(x)|2=f 2(x)= f(x). f(x)
(x – 4)  (3x – 2) = 0.
2
So the solutions are 4 and .
3

EXAMPLE 49 Solve x2 – 2|x + 2| + 1 = 0.

Solution Case 1
_______________________ Case 2
________________________
x + 2  0 ; x  –2 x + 2 < 0 ; x < –2
x2 – 2(x + 2) + 1 = 0 x2 – 2(–(x + 2)) + 1 = 0
x2 – 2x – 3 = 0 x2 + 2x + 5 = 0
(x – 3)(x + 1) = 0  = –16
x = 3 or x = –1 Since  < 0, there are no real roots.
Both 3 and –1 are greater than –2, so the solutions to the equation are –1 and 3.

EXAMPLE 50 Solve the equation |x2 – 5x + 3| = 3.

Solution Case 1
_______________________ Case 2
________________________
x2 – 5x + 3  0 x2 – 5x + 3 < 0
x2 – 5x + 3 = 3 –(x2 – 5x + 3) = 3
x2 – 5x = 0 x2 – 5x + 6 = 0
x(x – 5) = 0 (x – 3)(x – 2) = 0
x = 0 or x = 5 x = 3 or x = 2
These values satisfy the inequality, so they These values also satisfy the inequality, so
are solutions. they are also solutions.
Hence, the solutions to the equation are 0, 2, 3, 5.

EXAMPLE 51 Solve the equation x  3x+ 1 = x  4x+ 4 .

2 2

Solution Remember that x2 – 4x + 4 = (x – 2)2. Hence, the expression becomes

x2  3x+ 1 = (x  2)2 = x  2
For any real number x,
x2 = x .
x2  3x+ 1 = x  2 .

Quadratic Equations 39
Case 1
_______________________ Case 2
________________________
x–20; x2 x–2<0; x<2
2
x – 3x + 1 = x – 2 –(x2 – 3x + 1) = x – 2
x2 – 4x + 3 = 0 x2 – 2x – 1 = 0
(x – 3)(x – 1) = 0 x1 = 1 – ñ2, x2 = 1 + ñ2
x = 3 or x = 1 Since (1 + ñ2) is greater than 2,
Since 1  2, x = (1 – ñ2) is the only solution.
x = 3 is the only solution.
Hence, the solutions to the equation are (1 – ñ2) and 3.

EXAMPLE 52 Solve the equation |2x – 3| = |x – 7|.

Solution 1 Let’s take the square of both sides. Then,

4x2 – 12x + 9 = x2 – 14x + 49
3x2 + 2x – 40 = 0
(3x – 10)(x + 4) = 0
10
x1 = –4 or x2 = .
3
10
Therefore, both –4 and are solutions to the equation.
3

Solution 2 2x – 3 = x – 7 or 2x – 3 = –(x – 7)
10
x = –4 x=
3
If |f(x)| = |g(x)|
then f(x) = g(x). 10
So both –4 and are solutions to the equation.
3

Check Yourself 12
Solve the equations.
1. |2 – x| = 2x + 1 2. x|x + 1| – 2 = 2x
Answers
1
1. 2. –2, –1, 2
3

Algebraic symbols are used when you do not know what you are talking
about.

40 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

The following problem is posed and solved in the Chiu Chang Suan-Shu,
a Chinese mathematical treatise which is over two thousand years old.

A tree of height 20 m has a circumference of 3 m. An arrowroot vine

winds seven times around the tree before it reaches the top. What is the
length of the vine?

Can you solve this puzzle?

EXERCISES 1 .4
A. Writing Equations in Quadratic 1 2 6
d. + 2 = 2
Form 2
x  3x+ 3 x  3x+ 4 x  3x+ 5
1. Solve the equations. e. (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)(x + 4) = 120
a. x4 – 13x2 + 36 = 0 B. Equations Involving Products and
4 2
b. 3x – 8x – 3 = 0 Quotients
c. (x2 – 9)2 – 4(x2 – 9) + 3 = 0 3. Solve the equations.
4 2
d. (x + 5) – 6(x + 5) – 7 = 0 a. (16x3 – x)(x2 – 6x + 5) = 0
2
 3  4x  b. (x2 + 8x)(x2 + 8x – 6) = 280
e.    2(3  4 x) + 25 = 0
 5 
c. x3 + 4x2 – 24 = 0
f. x+ 2  4 x+ 2 = 6 d. x3 – 5x2 + 9x – 45 = 0
3
g. x3  7 x 2  8 = 0 2x+ 3 3x  2
e. =
2 4x  1 3x+ 2
1 7 1
h.  x+    x+  = 2
 x 2  x f. (x2 – 5x + 6)2 – (2x2 – 5x + 1)2 = 0

i. x2 + 2 8x g. (6x2 – 5x – 4)2 + (10x2 – 29x + 21)2 = 0

+ 2 =6
x x +2

2. Solve the equations. 3x2  9x 12

h.  2 =3
2 x  3x
 1   1
a. 3  x2 + 2   7  x+  = 0
 x   x 3x+ 4 6(x  2)
i.  =1
2 2 2 x2 3x+ 4
b. (x – 2x – 5) – 2(x – 2x – 3) – 4 = 0
3 4 x2 x 2 8
c. = 3  x  x2 j. + + 4  + = 0
1+ x+ x2 x2
9  3 x 3

Quadratic Equations 41
C. Equations Involving Radicals D.Equations Involving an Absolute
Value
4. Solve the equations.
6. Solve the equations.
a. x  1  1= 0 a. |x| = x + 2

b. ñx + x = 5 b. |2x – 5| = x – 2
c. x  |x – 1| = 2
c. 3
x  1 = 2
d. |x2 – 4x| = 5
d. x 1 = x 1 e. |x2 – 2x + 3| = 6
f. x2 + |x – 1| + 1 = 0
e. x 3+ x 8 =5
g. x2 + |2x – 1| + 3 = 4x + 2
f. 3  x +1 = x  2 h. x2  2 x +1 = 2 x  3
3
g. x2  x +6  2 = 0 i. x2 + x2  6 x +9 = 0

h. x +16  x = 2 7. Solve the equations.



i. x2  6 x  x2  6x  3 = 5 a. |x| + x2 = 0

1
j. 4x – 1+ 2 x + 3 =1 b. ( x +1)( x – 1) = 
2
c. (x + 1)2 – 2|x + 1| + 1 = 0
5. Solve the equations.
 d. |x – x2 – 1| = |2x – 3 – x2|
a. x +1  9  x = 2 x  12 x2  4 x + 3
e. =1
x2 + x  5
b. 2 x +5 + 5 x +6 = 12 x + 25
f. |x + |3 – 2x|| = 3 – x
c. x  x +1+ x +9  x + 4 = 0
Mixed Problems
d. 2
2 x + 6 x +1 = x +1
8. Solve the equations.

e. 1  x2  3x = x +1
a. x2  2x +1 =1  x

f. x2 +1+ x2  8 =1 b. x2 + x2  6 x +9 = 2 x + 3

g. 3x2 +5 x +8  3 x2 +5 x +1 =1 2
c. x + x +1 = 2 x  4x + 4

h. 1+ x + 2 = 2 x + 2 +5 d. x2  x + 2 = x2 + 4x + 4 + x

42 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Sometimes we need to solve two or more equations simultaneously. A set of equations like
this is called a system of equations. There are no concrete rules that we can follow to solve
systems of equations, but let us look at some general strategies.

EXAMPLE 53 Solve the system of equations.

x+y=5
xy = 6

Solution We can write y = 5 – x. Now substitute this value of y in the second equation.
x(5 – x) = 6
x2 – 5x + 6 = 0
(x – 2)(x – 3) = 0
x = 2 or x = 3
If x = 2 then y = 3.
If x = 3 then y = 2.
Therefore, the solutions of the system are (2, 3) and (3, 2).

EXAMPLE 54 Solve the system.

x2 + y2 = 65
x  y = 28

Solution 1 Multiply the second equation by 2 and then add and subtract the resulting equations.
x2 + y2 = 65 x2 + y2 = 65
2x  y = 56 2x  y = 56
+
________________________ –______________________
x2 + 2xy + y2 = 121 x2 – 2xy + y2 = 9
(x + y)2 = 121 (x – y)2 = 9
x + y = 11 x – y = 3
Therefore, we have four cases.

Quadratic Equations 43
Case 1
__________ Case 2
__________ Case 3
__________ Case 4
__________
x + y = 11 x + y = 11 x + y = –11 x + y = –11
x–y=3 x – y = –3 x–y=3 x – y = –3
+
____________ +
_____________ +
_____________ +
_____________
2x = 14 2x = 8 2x = –8 2x = –14
x=7 x=4 x = –4 x = –7
y=4 y=7 y = –7 y = –4

The solutions of the system are therefore (7, 4), (4, 7), (–7, –4), (–4, –7).

 x2 + y2 = 65
Solution 2 
 x  y = 28

28
y= , x  0, substitute y in the first equation.
x
2
 28 
x2 +   = 65
 x 

28 2
x2 + = 65
x2
x4  65 x2 + 784 = 0

(x2  49)( x2  16) = 0

x2 = 49 or x2 = 16

x = 7 or x = 4

28
By substituting these x values in y = , we get the y values.
x
The solutions of the system are (7, 4), (–7, –4), (4, 7), (–4, –7).

EXAMPLE 55 Solve the system.

x2 = 13x + 4y
y2 = 4x + 13y

44 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution Let us subtract the two equations side by side.
x2 – y2 = 9x – 9y
(x – y)(x + y) = 9(x – y)
x – y = 0 or x + y = 9
Case 1
______________________________________________________
x–y=0; x=y
Let us substitute x in the equation y2 = 4x + 13y.
y2 = 4y + 13y
y2 – 17y = 0
y1 = 0 or y2 = 17
x1 = 0 or x2 = 17
Therefore we have two solutions, (0, 0), (17, 17).
Case 2
______________________________________________________
x+y=9; x=9–y
Let us substitute x in the equation y2 = 4x + 13y.
y2 = 4(9 – y) + 13y
y2 – 9y – 36 = 0
(y – 12)(y + 3) = 0
y3 = 12 or y4 = –3
x3 = –3 or x4 = 12
Therefore we have two more solutions, (–3, 12), (12, –3).
Hence, the solutions of the system are (0, 0), (17, 17), (–3, 12), (12, –3).

EXAMPLE 56 Solve the system.

 x+ y x  y 5
 x  y + x+ y = 2

 2 2
 x + y = 20

Solution x – y  0 ; x  y and x + y  0 ; x  –y.

Let us multiply both sides of the equation by 2(x – y)(x + y).
2(x + y)2 + 2(x – y)2 = 5(x – y)(x + y)
2x2 + 4xy + 2y2 + 2x2 – 4xy + 2y2 = 5x2 – 5y2
–x2 + 9y2 = 0.

Quadratic Equations 45
 2
 x + 9y = 0
2

Now, we have the system  .

 x2 + y2 = 20
Let us add these two equations side by side.
10y2 = 20
y2 = 2 ; y = ñ2
x2 = 18 ; x = 3ñ2
Hence, the solutions of the system are (3ñ2, ñ2), (–3ñ2, ñ2), (3ñ2, –ñ2), (–3ñ2, –ñ2).

Check Yourself 13
Solve the systems of equations.
 x2  y = 2  x2 + 3xy  10y2 = 0
1.  2. 
 x+ y = 4  x2 + 2xy  y2 = 28
Answers
1. (2, 2), (–3, 7) 2. (4, 2), (–4, –2), (5ñ2, –ñ2), (–5ñ2, ñ2)

One person’s constant is another person’s variable.

EXERCISES 1 .5
1. Solve each system of equations. 2. Solve each system of equations.

 x2 + y2 + 6x+ 2y = 0 3x+ xy  y2 = 0
 x  y = 12 9x2  y2 = 44 a.  b. 
a.  b. 
 x+ y+ 8 = 0 2 x2  3xy+ y2 = 0
 x  y = 108 3x  y = 11
 1 1
6 x + xy  y = 0
2 2  x+ y + x  y = 2
1 1 1
 x = 3  y  + = c.  d. 
c.  d.  x y 6 3x2  xy  y2 = 0  3 4
 y2  x = 39   x+ y + x  y = 7
 x+ y = 25 
 x+ y  xy = 2  x3  y3 = 8
 x2  3y2 = 13  x2 + y2 = 18 e.  f. 
e.  f.   xy(x+ y ) = 48  x  y = 2
 xy = 4  xy = 9
 x+ y 2(x  y)
  =1 3x2  2 xy  y2 = 7
 x+ y+ xy = 5  x2 + 3x  4y = 20 g.  x  y x+ y h. 
g.  h. 
 xy+ x  y = 13  2  x2 + xy+ 8y2 = 14
 x  2 x+ y = 5
2
 x  5xy+ 2y = 4
2

46 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY
 A quadratic equation in standard form is an equation that  Let x1, x2, and x3 be the roots of the equation
is in the form
ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0. Then,
2
ax + bx + c = 0, a  0.
b
In this standard form, x is a variable and a, b, and c are 1. x1 + x2 + x3 =  .
a
real number coefficients.
Methods of solving quadratic equations include c
2. x1x2 + x1x3 + x2 x3 = .
a
1. Factoring and using the zero product property:
a  b = 0 if and only if a = 0 or b = 0. d
3. x1x2 x3 =  .
2. Using the square root property: a

If a2 = b, then a = ñb.
3. Completing the square:  We can write a quadratic equation with roots x1 and x2 as
2 2 x2 – (x1 + x1)x + (x1  x2) = 0.
 b  b
x2 + bx+   =  x+ 
 2  2
 To solve a radical equation, follow the procedure.
4. Using the quadratic formula:
1. Isolate the radicals.
2
 b  b  4ac 2. Get rid of the radical sign.
x=
2a 3. If there is still a radical sign left, repeat steps 1 and 2.
4. Solve the remaining equation.
 For a quadratic equation ax + bx + c = 0,  = b – 4ac,
2 2 5. Check for extraneous solutions.
1. if  > 0, there are two distinct real roots. When solving radical equations, extraneous solutions are
2. if  = 0, there is one real root (a double root). extra solutions that may come up when you raise both sides
to an even power. If a solution is extraneous, it is not a
3. if  < 0, there is no real solution.
solution to the given problem.
 is called the discriminant of the quadratic.

 For all real numbers x,

 Vieta’s Theorem
 f x , for f x   0
For a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 
f x =  .
  f x  , for f x  < 0
b c
x1 + x2 =  and x1  x2 = .
a a

 If x is a real number, then x2  x .

 By using Vieta's Theorem, we can also conclude.

1 1 b
1. + = .
x1 x2 c Concept Check

2. x12 + x22 = b  22ac .

2
 What is the standard form of a quadratic equation?
a
 What do we mean by a root of a quadratic equation?
3 3 3abc  b 3
3. x1 + x2 = .
a3  Explain the square root property.

Quadratic Equations 47
 If a  b = 0 then what can you conclude about the factors
a and b?

 Can a quadratic equation with rational coefficients have

one rational root and one irrational root? Explain why or
why not.

 What is the discriminant of a quadratic equation?

 Explain why it is a good idea to find the discriminant of a

quadratic equation before you try to solve the equation.

 How can we write a quadratic equation if we know only

its roots?

 Explain Vieta's Theorem.

 Form a radical equation that has no solution.

 What do we mean by an extraneous solution?

 Form a radical equation that has an extraneous

solution.

 Describe the step in the solution process for radical

equations that leads to the possibility of extraneous
solutions. Why are there no extraneous solutions for
linear and quadratic equations?

48 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 1A
1. Find the solutions of the quadratic equation 5. The sum and product of the roots of the equation
2
2x + 5x + 3 = 0. 2x2 – hx + 2k = 0 are 4 and –3, respectively.
Find the values of h and k.
1 1 3
A) and 3 B) 3 and C) 1 and 
2 2 2 A) 8 and –6 B) 4 and –3 C) –3 and 4
1 1 D) –3 and 8 E) 8 and –3
D)  and –3 E) 1 and
2 2

6. What is the sum of the roots of the equation

2. –1 is a root of x2 + mx + n = 0 and
x4 – 13x2 + 36 = 0?
m + n = 5. Find m.
A) 13 B) 18 C) 1 D) 0 E) –13
A) 1 B) –1 C) 2 D) –2 E) 3

3. Which one of the following is false for the 7. Which one of the following equations has roots
equation x2 – 7x + 1 = 0? –2 and 3?

A) 2x2 – x – 6 = 0 B) x2 + x – 6 = 0
A) The roots are not integer.
B) The roots have the same sign. C) x2 – x – 6 = 0 D) x2 + x + 6 = 0

C) The roots are rational. E) 2x2 + x – 6 = 0

D) The roots are both positive.

E) The sum of the roots is positive.

25
8. The sum of a number and its reciprocal is .
12
Find the number.
4. Find the discriminant of x2 – 2ñ5x + 4 = 0.
4 1
A) 1 B) –1 C) D) – E) –3
A) 2 B) 4 C) 36 D) 16 E) 24 3 2

Quadratic Equations 49
9. What are the roots of the equation 13. What is the solution of the equation x = ñx + 6?
1 3
 + 2 = 0? A) –9 B) 4 C) –4 D) 16 E) 9
x2 x

1 1 1 4
A) 1 and B) and 1 C)  and
2 2 2 3

1
D) – and – 1 E) –1 and 1
2
14. Which one of the following is not a solution of the
system
 5 x2  6 xy+ 5 y2 = 29
 ?
 7 x2  8 xy+ 7 y2 = 43

A) (2, 3) B) (–2, –3) C) (–2, 3)

10. One of the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 D) (3, 2) E) (–3, –2)
is twice the other root. What is the relation
between the coefficients a, b, and c?

A) 4b2 = 4c B) 2b2 = 9ac C) 2b2 = 9a

D) b2 = 8ac E) 9b2 = 2ac 15. Two technicians can complete a mailing job in 12
hours while working together. Alone, the first
technician can complete the mailing job seven
hours faster than the other technician. How long
will it take each technician to complete the mailing
alone?

11. The diagonal of a rectangle is 5 cm, and the area A) 14 and 21 B) 21 and 28 C) 7 and 14
is 12 cm2. Find the perimeter of the rectangle. D) 11 and 18 E) 15 and 22
A) 12 B) 24 C) 10 D) 14 E) 15

16. The equations 6x2 – 18x + 12 = 0 and

mx2 – nx + 1 = 0 have the same solution. Find
m and n.

3 1 3 1 3 1
A)  and  B)  and C) and
2 2 2 2 2 2
12. x – 1  x+ 1 + 1 = 0. Find the value of 4x.
1 3 3 1
D) and E) and 
A) 5 B) 4 C) 0 D) 16 E) –4 2 2 2 2

50 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 1B
1. x1 and x2 are roots of the equation 5. The longest side of a right triangle is 3 cm less
x2 + (2 – x1)x + 7x2 = 0. What is x1 + x2? than twice the length of the medium side. The
shortest side is 3 cm. Find the lengths of the other
A) –2 B) 5 C) 7 D) 10 E) –14 two sides.

A) 8 and 15 B) 7 and 14 C) 8 and 10

D) 4 and 5 E) 6 and 8

2. Which one of the following is true for the

equation |x|2 + |x| – 6 = 0?

A) There is only one root. 6. A triangle has area of 2 cm2. The base of the
triangle is 3 cm longer than its height. Find the
B) The product of the roots is –3.
length of the base and the height of the triangle.
C) The product of the roots is 4.
D) The sum of the roots is 0. A) 5 and 2 B) 4 and 1 C) 6 and 3

E) The sum of the roots is 1. D) 7 and 4 E) 8 and 5

7. Which one of the following equations has roots

3. The sum of the squares of the roots of the equation 1 – ñ3 and 1 + ñ3?

x2 + 2hx = 3 is 10. Find the value of h. A) x2 – 2x – 2 = 0 B) x2 + 2x – 2 = 0

A)
1
B) –3 C)
3
D) 
1
E) –1 or 1 C) x2 – x – ñ3 = 0 D) x2 – 2x + 2 = 0
2 2 2 E) x2 – 6 = 0

8. The sum and product of two numbers are 21 and

4. Find the discriminant of 2x – 2x + 5 = 0.
2
104, respectively. What is the bigger number?

A) –36 B) 4 C) 25 D) –16 E) 9 A) 16 B) 22 C) 13 D) 14 E) 19

Quadratic Equations 51
9. What are the roots of the equation 1 1

2
13. What is the solution to the equation x 2 + x 4 = 2?
 x   x 
3  +7   – 6 = 0?
 x+ 1   x+ 1  A) 9 B) 1 C) –4 D) 4 E) 16

3 1 1 4
A)  and 2 B) and 2 C)  and
4 2 2 3
1
D)  and –3 E) –1 and 2
2
14. Which one of the following is not a solution of the
system
 x2 + y2 = 26
 ?
 x2  y2 = 24

A) (1, –5) B) (–5, –1) C) (–5, 1)

10. Which number is a solution to the equation D) (5, 1) E) (5, –1)

x2 + |x – 1| – 3 = 0?

2 3
A) 3 B)  C) D) 0 E) –1
2 2

15. A pipe can fill a pool four hours faster than another
pipe. The slower pipe filled the pool for seven
hours, then the other pipe was opened. The pipes
then filled the pool in two hours, working together.
How long would each pipe take to fill the pool
alone?
11. x – y = 12 and x  y = 108 are given. Find x + y.
A) 14 and 18 hours B) 8 and 12 hours
A) ±20 B) ±24 C) ±28 D) ±30 E) ±32 C) 11 and 15 hours D) 9 and 13 hours
E) 10 and 14 hours

16. The roots of the equation x3 – 3x + 7 = 0 are p,

12. x – 5 = x – 3 is given. Find the value of x. q, and r. What is the product (p + 1)(q + 1)(r + 1)?

A) 5 B) –7 C) 1 D) 7 E) –4 A) –8 B) –9 C) 7 D) 8 E) 9

52 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

An equation is a statement that says two expressions are equal. For example, a = b is an
equation. An inequality is a statement that says two expressions may or may not be equal. For
example, a > b, a  b, and a < b are all inequalities. An equation usually has a finite number of
solutions, but an inequality may have an infinite number of solutions.
We can show the solutions of an inequality as an interval and as a graph. Look at the following
examples of intervals and their graphs.

Interval Inequality Graph

the interval (–, a) x<a a

the interval (–, a] xa a

the interval (a, ) x>a a

the interval [a, ) xa a

Trichotomy Property:
For any two real numbers
a and b, exactly one of the open interval (a, b) a<x<b a b
the following is true:
a < b, a = b or a > b. the closed interval [a, b] axb a b

the half-open interval [a, b) ax<b a b

the half-open interval (a, b] a<xb a b

the interval (–, )

Notice in the table that an open circle on a graph shows an open interval, i.e. a line segment
with an open endpoint (a point which is not included in the segment). A filled circle shows
a closed endpoint (a point which is included in the segment).

EXAMPLE 1 Write each inequality using interval notation and show it as a graph.

a. 1  x < 5 b. x > 7 c. –3 < x < 4 d. x  9

1 5
Solution a. The interval notation is [1, 5) and the graph is .
7 –3 4 9
b. (7, ) c. (–3, 4) d. (–, 9]

54 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Definition linear inequality
A linear inequality is an inequality that can be written in one of the forms
ax + b > 0, ax + b < 0
ax + b  0, ax + b  0
for the real numbers a and b, a  0.

Property If both sides of an inequality are multiplied or divided by a negative number, the direction of
the resulting inequality must be reversed.

For example, if we multiply both sides of the inequality a < b by –2, we obtain –2a > –2b.
The order of the inequality is reversed.

EXAMPLE 2 Solve the inequality 2x + 3  5x and graph this solution.

Solution 2x + 3  5x
–3x  –3
1x
1
Therefore, x  [1, ), or .

EXAMPLE 3 Solve the inequality 2 < 3x – 1  8 and graph this solution.

Solution 2 < 3x – 1  8
3 < 3x  9
1<x3
1 3
Therefore, x  (1, 3], or .

Property For k > 0, the following statements are true.

1. |x|  k means –k  x  k.
2. |x| > k means x < –k or x > k.

EXAMPLE 4 Solve the inequality |2x – 1| < 5 and graph this solution.

Solution |2x – 1| < 5

–5 < 2x – 1 < 5
–4 < 2x < 6
–2 < x < 3
Therefore, x  (–2, 3), or –2 3 .

Quadratic Inequalities 55
Check Yourself 1
Solve the inequalities.
1. –x + 7 > 2x + 1
2. 11  x+ 3  17
4
3. |2x – 1| + 2  7
Answers
1. x < 2 2. –47  x  65 3. –2  x  3

FIND THE MISTAKE!

a>4
4a > 16
4a – a2 > 16 – a2
a(4 – a) > (4 – a)(4 + a)
a>4+a
0>4
Can you find the mistake in this working?

Sign Chart
In general, to solve a linear inequality such as ax + b > 0 or ax + b  0 we need to know the
sign of the polynomial ax + b, a  0.
Look at the steps.
First we find the zero of the polynomial:
b
ax+ b = 0 ; x =  .
a
Then we construct a sign chart.
b
x –¥ x0= – ¥
a
ax+b ax+b has sign opposite to a ax+b has the same sign as a

This sign chart shows us:

 b
if x    ,   , the sign of the polynomial is opposite to the sign of a,
 a 
 b 
if x    ,   , the sign of the polynomial is the same as the sign of a.
 a 

56 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 5 Solve the inequality 3x – 2  0.

2
Solution Find the zero: 3 x  2 = 0 ; x = .
3
Draw the sign chart:
2
x –¥ x0= ¥
3
3x – 2 – +

 2
If x   ,  , then 3 x2 is negative.
 3

2 
If x   ,   , then 3 x2 is positive.
3 
2  2 
Since 3 x – 2  0, x is in the interval  ,   , i. e. x   ,  .
 3   3 

EXAMPLE 6 Solve the inequality 6 – 2x  0 by using a sign chart.

Solution 6 – 2x = 0 ; x = 3

x –¥ 3 ¥

6 – 2x + –

Since 6 – 2x  0, the sign is positive. So x  (–, 3].

Check Yourself 2
Solve the inequalities by using a sign chart.
x+ 14 x  12
1. 5 – 2x < 0 2.  3 3. 6x + (x – 2)(x + 2)  (x + 4)2
6 8
Answers
5
1. x > 2. x  –20 3. x  –10
2

Mathematics, of course, is not the only cornerstone of opportunity in today’s

world. Reading is even more fundamental as a basis for learning and for life. What
is different today is the great increase in the importance of mathematics to so
many areas of education, citizenship, and careers.

Quadratic Inequalities 57
A rectangular room has dimensions 30 m  12 m  12 m. A spider is in the horizontal center of one end wall,
one unit away from the ceiling. A fly is in the horizontal center of the opposite wall, one unit away from the floor.
What is the shortest distance the spider needs to travel (without leaving a surface) to get to the fly (which
remains stationary)?

EXERCISES 2 .1
1. Write each inequality using interval notation. 3. Solve and graph the inequalities.
a. x > –2 b. x  6 a. –2x + 3 < 4
c. x < –7 d. x  4
x x x x
e. 2  x < 4 f. –1 < x  0 b. +  
2 3 4 5
1 3
g. –5 < x < h. 0 ,5  x  3x x
2 2 c.  + 5 < 1+
2 2
x+ 3 x  2 2x
d.   
2. Determine the sign of each polynomial. 4 2 3
e. (3x + 1)2 – (x + 2)(4x – 1) > 5(x – 1)2 + 6x
a. 4x + 1 b. –3x – 5
x 7 f. (a + 3)x – 5  1 (a > –3)
c.  + d. ñ3x – 6
2 3 g. (a4 + 4)x + 3 > 0 (a  )

58 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Definition quadratic inequality
A quadratic inequality is an inequality that can be written in one of the forms
ax2 + bx + c > 0, ax2 + bx + c < 0,
ax2 + bx + c  0, ax2 + bx + c  0,
for the real numbers a, b, and c, a  0.

We have seen how to solve linear inequalities such as

We will never
be equals. 2(x + 3) + 3  5(x – 1).
But how do we solve quadratic inequalities such as
x2 – 5x  –6?
First we write the inequality in standard form, leaving only zero on the right side:
x2 – 5x + 6  0.
In this example, we are looking for values of x that will make the quadratic on the left side
greater than or equal to zero.

Note
If  and  are used in the inequality, then remember that the zeros of the polynomial are
included in the solution set.
First, let us find the zeros of the polynomial x2 – 5x + 6:
(x – 2)(x – 3) = 0

positivepositive=positive x = 2 or x = 3.
positivenegative=negative
negativenegative=positive Then we construct a sign chart for each linear factor of the polynomial, and their product.
x –¥ 2 3 ¥

x–2 – + +

x–3 – – +

(x – 2)(x – 3) + – +

Since x2 – 5x + 6  0, we need to take the positive intervals.

Therefore, the solution is the union of intervals (–, 2] and [3, –), i.e. x  (–, 2]  [3, ).

Quadratic Inequalities 59
We can also construct the sign chart in one step. The zeros of the polynomial divide the real
number line into three intervals, (–, 2], [2, 3] and [3, ). We know that the polynomial has
constant sign in each of these three intervals. If we select a test number in each interval and
evaluate the polynomial at that number, then the sign of the polynomial at this test number
must be the sign for the whole interval.
Let us try testing each interval in our problem. Choose a number from each interval, and
substitute for x in the original inequality. For example, we could choose the numbers 1, 2.5,
and 4.
Test number 1 2.5 4

Value of the polynomial 2 –0.25 5

Sign of the polynomial + – +

With this information, we can draw the sign chart.

x –¥ 2 3 ¥

x2 – 5x + 6 + – +

This is the same as the last line of the previous chart.

We can also use the discriminant of a quadratic to help complete the sign chart. We have
already seen that the discriminant  of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 tells us it the
equation has two real roots ( > 0), one double root ( = 0), or no real solutions ( < 0).

If  < 0, then the polynomial ax2 + bx + c always has the same sign as a.

x –¥ ¥

ax2 + bx + c same sign as a

If  = 0, then of the polynomial ax2 + bx + c has the same sign as a but we must consider
the zero of the polynomial.

b
x –¥ x1=x2= – ¥
2a
ax2 + bx + c same sign as a same sign as a

If  > 0, the polynomial ax2 + bx + c has the opposite sign to a between the zeros of the
polynomial and the same sign as a in other intervals.

x –¥ x1 x2 ¥

ax2 + bx + c same sign as a opposite sign to a same sign as a

60 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXAMPLE 7 Solve the inequality –x2 – 4 < –5x.

Solution –x2 – 4 < –5x

–x2 + 5x – 4 < 0
(–x + 4)(x – 1) = 0
x = 4 or x = 1

x –¥ 1 4 ¥

–x2 + 5x – 4 – + –

Therefore, x  (–, 1)  (4, ).

EXAMPLE 8 Solve the inequalities.

2x  1
a. 3x + 4  x2 b. x(x + 2) > 35 c. 9x2 – 12x + 4  0 d. x2  <0
4
Solution a. 3x + 4  x2 ; –x2 + 3x + 4  0
 = 9 + 16 = 25 ; x1 = –1, x2 = 4

x –¥ –1 4 ¥

–x2 + 3x + 4 – + –

So x  [–1, 4].
Plot the roots in the sign
chart line in ascending b. 35 < x(x + 2) ; –x2 – 2x + 35 < 0
order.
 = 4 + 140 = 144 ; x1 = –7, x2 = 5

x –¥ –7 5 ¥

–x2 + 3x + 4 – + –

So x  (–, –7)  (5, ).

c. 9x2 – 12x + 4  0
12 2
 = 144 – 144 = 0 ; x1 = x2 = =
18 3
2
x –¥ 3 ¥

9x2 – 12x + 4 + +

2
So the only solution is x = .
3

Quadratic Inequalities 61
2x  1
c. x2  < 0 ; 4x2 – 2x + 1 < 0
4
 = 4 – 16 = –12 < 0.

x –¥ ¥

4x2 – 2x + 1 + + + + +

4x2 – 2x + 1 is always positive, so there is no solution.

EXAMPLE 9 Consider the equation x2 – 2(m + 1)x + 1 = 0. For which values of m does the equation have

a. no real root?
b. one double root?
c. two distinct real roots?

Solution Let us check the sign of discriminant.

 = 4(m + 1)2 – 4 = 4m2 + 8m + 4 – 4 = 4m2 + 8m
4m2 + 8m = 0
m = –2 or m = 0

m –¥ –2 0 ¥

4m2 + 8m + – +

Now we can answer the question.

a. For  < 0, there is no real root, and m  (–2, 0).

b. For  = 0, there is one double root, and m = –2 or m = 0.
c. For  > 0, there are two real roots, and m  (–, –2)  (0, ).

EXAMPLE 10 Solve the inequalities.

a. (3 – x)(x3 – 2x2 – 8x)(x2 + 3) < 0

(3x+ 2)(x  5)
b. 0
x(x – 1)(x2 + x +1)
(x2  x  6)(x  1)17
c. 0
x8 (1  x2 )55

62 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution a. First we find all the zeros of the polynomials, then we determine the sign for each poly-
nomial and multiply the signs of each polynomial.
(3 – x)(x3 – 2x2 – 8x)(x2 + 3) = (3 – x)x(x2 – 2x – 8)(x2 + 3)
3–x=0; x=3
x=0
x2 – 2x – 8 = 0 ; x = –2 or x = 4
x2 + 3 = 0 ; no real solution.
x –¥ –2 0 3 4 ¥
3–x + + + – –
x – – + + +
x2 – 2x – 8 + – – – +
x2 + 3 + + + + +
(3 – x)x(x2 – 2x – 8)(x2 + 3) – + – + –

We need a value less than zero, so x  (–, –2)  (0, 3)  (4, ).
b. First we find all the zeros of the polynomials. The equality part of the original inequality is satisfied
for these zeros and they must be included in the final solution set. On the other hand, since
positive division by zero is never allowed, the zeros of x4 – x must not be included in the solution set.
= positive
positive
(3x+ 2)(x  5)
positive
= negative x(x  1)(x2 + x+ 1)
negative
2
negative
= positive 3x+ 2 = 0 ; x = 
negative 3
x5=0 ; x=5
x=0
x  1= 0 ; x = 1
x2 + x+ 1 = 0; no real solution.
2
–
x –¥ 3 0 1 5 ¥
3x + 2 – + + + +
x–5 – – – – +
x – – + + +
x–1 – – – + +
x2 +x+1 + + + + +
(3x + 2)(x – 5)
+ – + – +
x4 – x

 2
We need a value greater than or equal to zero, so x    ,    (0 , 1)  [5 , ).
 3

Quadratic Inequalities 63
(x2  x  6)(x  1)17
c. 0
x8 (1  x2 )55
x2 – x – 6 = 0 ; x = –2 or x = 3
(x – 1)17 = 0 ; x – 1 = 0 ; x = 1
x8 = 0 ; x = 0 (double root)
(1 – x2)55 = 0 ; 1 – x2 = 0 ; x = 1 or x = –1 (1 is also a double root)
If the power is an odd
number, you can ignore x –¥ –2 –1 0 1 3 ¥
it when you calculate the
zero. If the power is an x2 – x – 6 + – – – – +
even number, consider it
just as 2 when you calculate (x – 1)17 – – – – + +
the zero.
x8 + + + + + +

(1 – x2)55 – – + + – –
(x2 – x – 6)(x – 1)17
+ – + + + –
x8(1 – x2)55

We need a value less than or equal to zero, so x  [–2, –1)  [3, ).

The signs of M  N and Let us summarize the key steps to solving any inequality.
M
, N  0 are the same. 1. Write the polynomial inequality in standard form.
N
2. Find all zeros of the polynomial(s).
3. Determine the character of the roots.
4. Determine the sign of the coefficient of leading term of the polynomial(s).
5. Construct a sign chart.
6. In the sign chart, from right to left start with the sign of the coefficient of the leading term
a. After each root change the sign, but if there is a double root do not change the sign.

Let us solve Example 10c in another way.

EXAMPLE 11 Solve the inequality

(x2  x  6)(x  1)17
x8 (1  x2 )55
 0.

Solution x2 – x – 6 = 0 ; x = –2 or x = 3
(x – 1)17 = 0 ; x – 1 = 0 ; x = 1
x8 = 0 ; x = 0 (double root)
(1 – x2)55 = 0 ; 1 – x2 = 0 ; x = 1 or x = –1 (1 is also a double root)

64 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

x –¥ –2 –1 0 1 3 ¥
(x2 – x – 6)(x – 1)17
+ – + + + –
x8(1 – x2)55

Therefore, x  [–2, –1)  [3, ).

EXAMPLE 12 Solve the inequality (x2 – 2x – 8)(x2 + x – 12)  0.

Solution Find the zeros of the polynomials.

x2 – 2x – 8 = 0 ; x = 4 or x = –2
x2 + x – 12 = 0 ; x = –4 or x = 3
x –¥ –4 –2 3 4 ¥

(x2 – 2x – 8)(x2 + x – 12) + – + – +

So, x  [–4, –2]  [3, 4].

x+ 2
EXAMPLE 13 Find the domain of the function y =
3x  12 x2
.

Solution 3x – 12x2 > 0

3x – 12x2 = 0
1
x = 0 or x =
4
1
x –¥ 0 4 ¥

3x – 12x2 – + –

 1
So x   0 ,  .
 4

EXAMPLE 14 Solve the inequality (x – 1)2(x – 2)3(x – 3)4(x – 4)5  0.

Solution (x – 1)2 = 0 ; x – 1 = 0 ; x = 1 (double root)

(x – 2)3 = 0 ; x – 2 = 0 ; x = 2
(x – 3)4 = 0 ; x – 3 = 0 ; x = 3 (double root)
(x – 4)5 = 0 ; x – 4 = 0 ; x = 4
x –¥ 1 2 3 4 ¥

(x – 1)2(x – 2)3(x – 3)4(x – 4)5 + + – – +

So x  (–, 2]  {3}  [4, ].

Quadratic Inequalities 65
EXAMPLE 15 Solve the inequality
x4  3x3 + 2x2
x3  5x2
< 0.

x4  3x3 + 2x2
Solution <0
x3  5x2
x2 (x  1)(x  2)
<0
x2 (x  5)
x = 0 (double root)
x = 1, x = 2, x = 5
x –¥ 0 1 2 5 ¥
x4 – 3x3 + 2x2
– – + – +
x3 – 5x2

So x  (–, 0)  (0, 1)  (2, 5).

x  1 x+ 1
EXAMPLE 16 Solve the inequality
x

x 1
< 2.

x  1 x+ 1
Solution   2 < 0 ; x  0 and x  1
x x 1
(x  1)2  x(x+1)  2 x( x  1)
0
x(x  1)

2 x2  x+ 1
<0
x(x  1)

2 x2  x+ 1 = 0

1
x = 1 or x =
2
x(x  1) = 0

x = 0, x = 1

1
x –¥ –1 0 2 1 ¥
–2x2 –x+1
– + – + –
x(x – 1)

 1
So x  (–  , –1)   0 ,  (1, ).
 2

66 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

1  2x
17
1 2
EXAMPLE Solve the inequality   .
x+ 1 x2  x+ 1 x3 + 1

1 2 1  2x
Solution   0 ; x  1
x+ 1 x2  x+ 1 x3 + 1
x2  x+ 1  2(x+ 1)  (1  2 x)
0
(x+ 1)(x2  x+ 1)

x2  x  2
0
(x+ 1)(x2  x+ 1)

x2  x  2 = 0 ; x = 1 or x = 2
x + 1 = 0 ; x = –1 (double root)
x2 – x + 1 = 0 ; no real solution
x –¥ –1 2 ¥
x2 –x–2
– – +
(x + 1)(x2 – x + 1)

So x  (–, –1)  (–1, 2].

2 x2 + 3x  2 . (1  x2 )
EXAMPLE 18 Solve the inequality
(x2 + 3x) . x  2
 0.

Solution Since |2x2 + 3x – 2| and |x – 2| are non-negative, just check their roots.
1
2x2 + 3x – 2 = 0 ; x = –2, x =
2
x–2=0; x=2
The absolute value of a 1
number is never negative.
–2 and satisfy the inequality, so these values are in the solution set. However, 2 is not in
2
|x|  0, x  the solution set because it makes the denominator zero.
1 – x2 = 0 ; x = –1, x = 1
x2 + 3x = 0 ; x = 0, x = –3
x –¥ –3 –1 0 1 ¥
|2x2 + 3x – 2|(1 – x2)
– + – + –
(x2 + 3x)|x – 2|

1
So x  (–, –3)  [–1, 0)  {–2, }  [1, 2)  (2, ).
2

Quadratic Inequalities 67
EXAMPLE 19 Find the domain of the function y = 4
x2  6x  16
x2  12 x+ 11
+ 7 3x4  4x3 + x  1 if y is a real number.

7
Solution 3x4  4x3 + x  1 is a real number for all values of x because the index is an odd number.

x2  6 x  16 x2  6 x 16
4 is a real number if 0
x2  12 x+ 11 x2 12 x+11
Therefore, y is a real number if
x2  6x  16
 0.
x2  12 x+ 11
x2  6 x  16 = 0 ; x = 2 , x = 8
x2  12 x+ 11 = 0 ; x = 1, x = 11
x –¥ –2 1 8 11 ¥
x2 – 6x – 16
+ – + – +
x2 –12x + 11

So x  (–, –2]  (1, 8]  (11, ).

20
3 x 1 x 3
3
EXAMPLE Solve the inequality 2 x1 < 8 3 x7 .

1
3
3 x 1 x 3
 3 x 1  3 x 3
Solution 2 x 1
<8 3 x7
;  2 x1  < (2 3 ) 3 x7
 
3 x 1 3x  3
3x 1
2 < 2 3 x 7
3x  1 3(x  3)
<
If ab < ac then b < c. 3(x  1) 3x  7
3x  1 3 x  9
 <0
3x  3 3x  7
(3x  1)(3 x  7)  (3 x  9)(3 x  3)
<0
(3x  3)(3 x  7)
12 x  20
<0
(3x  3)(3 x  7)
5
12 x  20 = 0 ; x =
3
3x  3 = 0 ; x = 1
7
3x  7 = 0 ; x =
3

68 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

5 7
x –¥ 1 3 3 ¥
12x – 20
– + – +
(3x – 3)(3x – 7)

5 7
So x  (   , 1)   ,  .
 3 3

Check Yourself 3
Solve the inequalities.
2 3 4
1. x2 + 5x – 6 > 0 2. (x + 3)3(x – 1)2(x – 4)  0 3. + 
2  x 2 + x 4  x2
2 x
4. (x  2)( x2 + 4) 1
5.    4x  x
2
<0
x2  4 2
Answers
1. (–, –6)  (1, ) 2. (–, –3]  {1}  [4, ) 3. (–2, 2)  [6, )
1
4. (–2, –ñ2)  (ñ2, 2) 5. (–, 0]  [ , )
2

‘Obvious’ is the most dangerous word in mathematics.

EXERCISES 2 .2
1. Determine the sign of each polynomial. 3. For which values of k does the equation
a. x2 – 5x + 4 b. 2x2 + x – 6 x2 + 2(1 – k)x + 1 = 0 have

c. 2x2 – 3x + 4 d. –16x2 + 8x – 1 a. no real solution? b. one double root?

e. –4x2 + 10x – 25 f. 12x2 + 4ñ3x + 1 c. two distinct real roots?

4. For which values of b does the equation

3x2 + (b + 1)x + 1 = 0 have two distinct real
roots?
2. Solve the inequalities.
a. x2 < 9x – 20 b. 4x – 7x2 > 0 5. For which values of a does the equation

c. x(6x + 7)  0 d. 2x – 6 < 3x2 ax2 + (a + 1)x + 2 = 0 have no real root?

16 4 1 6. The product of a number and four plus the

e. 3 x2 + 8 x   f. x(x  1) + 1 < x+
3 5 5 number is less than 15. Find all possible integer
g. (2x – 1)2 > (x – 5)2 values of the number.

Quadratic Inequalities 69
7. Solve the inequalities. 8. Solve the inequalities.

a. x(x – 1)2 > 0
1 1 1 1 1
a. 1  +  +  <0
b. (2 – x)(3x + 1)(2x – 3) > 0 x x2 x3 x4 x5

c. (3x – 2)(x – 3)3(x + 1)3(x + 2)4 < 0 (a2 + a+ 1)x2 + 4

b. >0
a 4 x  a 4 x2
(x  1)(3 x  2)
d. >0
5  2x 3 x (x2 + x+ 3)
c. <0
2  x+ 2 x2  5x+ 2
(x+ 1)(x+ 2)( x+ 3)
e. >0 x3
(2 x  1)( x+ 4)(3  x) d. 2
2
x  5x+ 6
x4 + x2 + 1
f. <0
x2  4x  5

3x  2
g. <3
2x  3
9. Find the domain of each function.
2 x2 + 18 x  4
h. >2
x2 + 9x+ 8 2
a. y =
3 2
x  49
x+ 1 3 1
i.  
x2 x2 2 1
b. y =
x 4
2x 1  2x
j. 3 2
 3
x +x x  3x2 3x  6
c. y =
x+ 2
 1  3
k.  x    x2    0
 x  2 d. 4
(x4  5x3 + 6 x2 )(1  x2 )

1 3
l. >
3x  2  x 2
7x  4  3x2

(x2 + 4x+ 4)(x  2)1001

m. <0
(x  2)2004 x+ 4
12 3
n. |6x2 – 2x + 1|  1 10. Solve the inequality 2
 2 > 1.
 x + 2x x + 2x  2
x+ 2
o. <3
2x  3

x2  3x+ 2
p. >1
x2 + 3x+ 2
4 3
x2  3x  1 11. Solve the inequality x + 3x + 4x2  8
q. 1 2
< 0.
x2 + x+ 1  x

70 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

We saw in Chapter 1 that a set of simultaneons equations to solve is called a system of equations.
A system that of equations includes more than one inequality is called an inequality system.
To find the solution of a system, we solve each inequality separately and then find the
intersection of the solutions.

 x2  7 x  8 > 0
EXAMPLE 21 Solve the inequality system 
 x  4x+ 3 > 0
2
.

Solution First find the zeros of each polynomial.

(1) x2 – 7x – 8 > 0
x2 – 7x – 8 = 0 ; x = –1, x = 8
(2) x2 – 4x + 3 > 0
x2 – 4x + 3 = 0 ; x = 1, x = 3
We need to find values so that both polynomials are greater than zero. Let us check the chart.
x –¥ –1 1 3 8 ¥

(1) + – – – +

(2) + + – + +

system

We can see that both polynomials are greater than zero when x  (–, –1)  (8, ). This
is the intersection of the solutions.

 x2 + x  4
EXAMPLE 22 
Solve the inequality system  x
 x2 < 64
<1
.

x2 + x  4 x2 + x  4  x x2  4
Solution (1) <1; <0 ; <0
x x x
x2 – 4 = 0 ; x = 2 ; x = 0
(2) x2 < 64 ; x2 – 64 < 0
x2 – 64 = 0 ; x = 8
x –¥ –8 –2 0 2 8 ¥

(1) – – + – + +

(2) + – – – – +

system

This time, both polynomials need to be less than zero, so x  (–8, –2)  (0, 2).

Quadratic Inequalities 71
 x5  100 x3
EXAMPLE 23 
Solve the inequality system 

(x+ 9)(5 x  x2  18)
 0
.
 x2  18 x+ 45

Solution (1) x5  100x3

x5 – 100x3  0 ; x3(x2 – 100) = 0
x = 0, x = 10
(x+ 9)(5 x  x2  18)
(2) 0
x2  18 x+ 45
x + 9 = 0 ; x = –9
5x – x2 – 18 = 0 ; no solution
x2 – 18x + 45 = 0 ; x = 3, x = 15
x –¥ –10 –9 0 3 10 15 ¥

(1) – + + – – + +

(2) + + – – + + –

system

So x  [–10, –9]  [10, 15).

EXAMPLE 24 Solve the inequality 2 x  1 < x+ 2.

 2x  1  0 (1)
Solution 
 x+ 2 > 0 (2)

2 x  1 < (x+ 2)
2
(3)

(1) 2x – 1  0 (2) x + 2 > 0 (3) 2x – 1 < x2 + 4x + 4

2x – 1 = 0 x+2=0 x2 + 2x + 5 > 0
1 x = –2 x2 + 2x + 5 = 0
x=
2 since  < 0, there is no real solution
If f ( x)  g( x)
1
 f ( x)  0 x –¥ –2 2 ¥

then,  g( x)  0

(1) – – +
 f ( x)  g (x)
2

(2) – + +

(3) + + +

system

1
So x  [ , ).
2
72 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions
EXAMPLE 25 Solve the inequality x2 + x  2 > x.

Solution Case 1
__________________ Case 2
__________________
 x < 0 (1)  x  0 (1)
 2  2
 x + x  2  0 (2)  x + x  2 > x2 (2)

If f ( x)  g( x) then (1) x < 0 (1) x  0

2
 g( x) < 0
(2) x + x – 2 = 0 ; (2) x – 2 > 0 ;
 x1 = –2, x2 = 1 x – 2 = 0, x = 2
 f ( x)  0
or
 g( x)  0 x –¥ –2 0 1 2 ¥

 f ( x)  g2 (x) (1) – – + + +

Case 1 (2) + – – + +

system

(1) – – + + +

Case 2 (2) – – – – +
system

So x  (–, –2]  (2, ).

EXAMPLE 26 Solve the inequality (x2 + x + 1)2 – 4(x2 + x + 1) + 3 < 0.

Solution For the inequality, we let t = x2 + x + 1. Then the original inequality becomes
t2 – 4t + 3 < 0. First let us solve the inequality for t.
t2 – 4t + 3 = 0 ; t = 1, t = 3
x –¥ 1 3 ¥

t2 – 4t + 3 + – +

So 1 < t < 3. Now solve for x.

1 < x2 + x + 1 < 3
0 < x2 + x < 2, which gives us the system of inequalities
 x2 + x > 0 (1)
 .
 x2 + x  2 < 0 (2)

Quadratic Inequalities 73
(1) x2 + x > 0
x2 + x = 0 ; x = 0, x = –1
(2) x2 + x – 2 < 0
x2 + x – 2 = 0 ; x = –2, x = 1
x –¥ –2 –1 0 1 ¥

(1) + + – + +

(2) + – – – +

system

So x  (–2, –1)  (0, 1).

EXAMPLE 27 Solve the inequality |x2 – 3x + 2|  2x – x2.

Solution Case 1
________________________________________
 x2  3x+ 2  0 (1)

 x2  3x+ 2  2 x  x2 (2)

(1) x2 – 3x + 2  0
x2 – 3x + 2 = 0 ; x = 1, x = 2
(2) x2 – 3x + 2  2x – x2 ; 2x2 – 5x + 2  0
1
2x2 – 5x + 2 = 0 ; x = , x = 2
2

Case 2
_______________________________________
 x2  3x+ 2 < 0 (1)

  (x2  3x+ 2)  2 x  x2 (2)

(1) x2 – 3x + 2 < 0
x2 – 3x + 2 = 0 ; x = 1, x = 2
(2) –(x2 – 3x + 2)  2x – x2
–x2 + 3x – 2  2x – x2
x–20
x–2=0; x=2

74 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

1
x –¥ 2 1 2 ¥

(1) + + – +

Case 1 (2) + – – +

system

(1) + + – +

Case 2 (2) – – – +

system

1 
So x   , 1  (1, 2)  {2}, i.e.
2 

1 
x   , 2 .
2 

Check Yourself 4
Solve the systems.

 x2 – 4x  0  x2  4x+ 3 > 0
1.  2.  3. x2  x > 1+ x
 x – 3  0  x2 (x  7)2 > 0
Answers

1. [4, ) 2. x  0, x  7, (–, 1)  (3, ) 3. ( ,  )
3

In the center of a square pond whose side measures 10 m

grows a plant whose top reaches 1 m above the water level. If
we pull the plant toward the bank, its top becomes even with
the waters surface. What is the depth of the pond and the
length of the plant?

Do not worry about your difficulties in mathematics. I can assure

you that mine are still greater. Einstein

Quadratic Inequalities 75
EXERCISES 2 .3
1. Solve the inequality systems. 4. Solve the inequalities.

 x+ 2 > 0  x  1 > 0 x+ 3
a. 2 x+ 10 < 3x  5 b. 2
a.  b.  4x
2 x  3 < 0  x2  2 x  3 < 0
17  15 x  2 x3
x  2 c. x2  x  12 < x d. >0
 x2 + 3x  10 > 0  x+ 1  0 x+ 3

c.  d.  x4
2 x2 + 11x  6 < 0  x2  1 e. x+ 1  x  2  1 f. <x8
 x  3 > 0 x+2

 x2  4x+ 3 < 0 2 x2 + 2 < 5x 5. Solve the inequalities.

e.  f. 
2 x  4 < 0  x2  x
a. x2  9 < x+ 2
 x+ 2 x 1
2

 x+ 1 > 1  <0 b. 2  3x  x2  2 x+ 3
  3x
g.  h. 
 x  x 1 c. x2  x  2  x  1
 x  2 > 2  x+ 1 < 0
d. 4  1 x < 2  x
2. Solve the inequality systems.
e. x2+ x3<4
 x+ 3
3 x <2 6. Solve the inequalities.


a.  x3 < 16 x b. 4x – 2 < x2 + 1 < 4x + 6 a. b.
2+ x  x  1 1+ x  x  1

 4  x2
 c. 6  x2 < x  1


c. 5x  7 < 4  x + 2 3x < 4 7. Solve the inequality

x5 5  x x  25 
x+ 3  4 x  1 + x+ 8  6 x  1 > 1.
3. Solve the inequalities.
a. |4 – 3x|  2 – x 8. For which values of m are the following inequalities

satisfied for any real number x?
b. |x2 – 3x – 15| < 2x2 – x
c. |2x2 + x + 11| > x2 – 5x + 6 a. 2x2 + 5x + m > x2 – x – 7
d. |x – 4| + |2x + 6| > 10 b. 2x2 + mx2 – 2x + m – 1 > (1 + m)x2 – 4x – m
x3 c. (m + 2)x2 – 3x + m – 2 < 0
e. 2
x2  5x+ 6 d. x2 – 6x + 4m2 > 7
f. |2x + 1| – |5x – 2|  1
9. Solve the inequality
x2  x  12 
g.  2x
x3 (x2 + 6x + 14)2 – 9  (x2 + 6x + 15) + 9 < 0.

76 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY
 To solve a linear inequality, we examine the sign of the polynomial ax + b, a  0.
First, find the zero of the polynomial.
b
ax+ b = 0 ; x = 
a
Then, construct a sign chart.
b
x –¥ x0= – ¥
a
ax+b ax+b has sign opposite to a ax+b has the same sign as a

 b
If x    ,   , the polynomial has the opposite sign to a.
 a 

 b 
If x    ,   , the polynomial has the same sign as a
 a 
 The equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 has two real roots if  > 0, one double root if  = 0, and no real
solutions if  < 0.
If  < 0, then the sign of the polynomial ax2 + bx + c always has the same sign as a.

x –¥ ¥

ax2 + bx + c same sign as a

If  = 0, then the polynomial ax2 + bx + c has the same sign has a but we must consider the zero
of the polynomial.
b
x –¥ x1=x2= – ¥
2a
ax2 + bx + c same sign as a same sign as a

If  > 0, then the polynomial ax2 + bx + c has the opposite sign to a between the zeros of the
polynomial and the same sign as a in other intervals.

x –¥ x1 x2 ¥

ax2 + bx + c same sign as a opposite sign to a same sign as a

 Key steps to solving any inequality

1. Write the polynomial inequality in standard form.
2. Find all zeros of the polynomial(s).
3. Determine the character of the roots.
4. Determine the sign of the coefficient of leading term of the polynomial(s).
5. Construct a sign chart.
6. In the sign chart, from right to left start with the sign of the coefficient of the leading term a. After
each root change the sign, but if there is a double root do not change the sign.

Quadratic Inequalities 77
 A system including more than one inequality is called an inequality system.
To find the solution of a system, solve each inequality separately and then find the intersection of
the solutions.

Concept Check

 What is an inequality?

 Which symbols do we use to express inequality?

 Show the different interval notation for each type of inequality.

 Write an inequality that has no solution.

 Write an inequality that is always positive.

 Write an inequality that is always negative.

 What are the basic steps to solving an inequality?

 What is the sign of a polynomial?

 Why do we need to determine the sign of a polynomial?

 How do we determine the sign of a polynomial?

 In how many different ways can we write solution to an inequality?

 Why is it a bad idea to multiply each side of an inequality by an expression which includes a variable?

 Why do we need to write an inequality in standard form?

 Can an inequality have exactly one solution? Give an example.

78 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 2A
1. What is the solution of the inequality 5. What is the solution of the inequality
2 – 3(1 – x) < x + 1.8? 1 1
< ?
x+ 2 x  1
A) x > 1.4 B) x < 0.4 C) x > 0.7
D) x > –0.7 E) x < 1.4 A) x < 0 or x > 2 B) –2 < x < 1
C) x < –2 or x > 1 D) 0 < x < 2
E) –2 < x < 2

2. What is the solution of the inequality

x2 + 5x – 14  0?

A) [–2, 7] B) [–7, 2] C) (–7, 2)

D) [2, 7) E) (–2, 7]
6. What is the greatest integer value of x which satisfies
the inequality x2 – 13x + 36 < 0?

A) 13 B) 7 C) –8 D) 8 E) –13

x2  4
3. What is the solution of the inequality > 0?
x2  1

A) (–, –2)  (1, ) B) (–, –2)  (2, )

C) (–, –1)  (1, ) D) – {–1, 1}
E) (–, –2)  (–1, 1)  (2, )
7. What is the solution of the inequality
1 1 1
+ 2 + 3 < 0?
x x x

A) (–, 0) B) (0, ) C) D)  E) {0}

4. What is the solution of the inequality
(2  3x)(3 x  3)
 0?
3x +1

 1 2  1  2 
A)   ,   [1, ) B)  ;     ; 1
 3 3  3  3 

2   1 2
C)    (1, + ) D)   ,   (1, + )
3  3 3 8. How many integer values of x are there which
satisfy the inequality |x + 2|  2 x +7 ?
 1  2 
E)  ;     ; 1
 3 3  A) 1 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 7

Quadratic Inequalities 79
9. What is the solution of the inequality 13. What is the domain of the function
(1+ x2 )2001  (1  x)2002 x2
 0? y= ?
( x + 2)2003  (3  x)2005 20  8 x  x2
A) x > –2 B) x < –2 C) x < 3 A) [–1, 7] B) [–10, 2] C) (–10, 2)
D) x > 3 E) –2 < x < 3 D) [5, 4) E) (–2, 10]

14. What is the solution of the inequality system

10. The equation 2x(ax – 4) – x + 6 = 0 has no real
2
 x2  5x +6  0
roots. What is the smallest possible integer value  ?
 x2 + x  2  0
of a?
A) (2, 3) B) [2, 3] C) (–2, 3)
A) –1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 E) 5
D) [3, 2) E) (–3, –2)

11. What is the solution of the inequality 15. What is the solution of the inequality system
( x  3)( x + 2)
<1?  x < 2
x2  1  ?
 ( x  3)( x  2)  0
A) (–2, –1)  (1, 3) B) (–2, –1) C) (1, 3)
D) (–5, –1)  (1, ) E) (–1, 1)  (5, ) A) (–2, 2) B) [2, 3] C) (–2, 3)
D) [3, 2) E) (–3, –2)

12. What is the sum of the integer values of x which 16. What is the solution of the inequality
x2  8x +7 3 x  x + 3 >1?
satisfy the inequality < 0?
( x + 2)2 A) (–2, 2) B) (1, ) C) (–2, –3)
A) 32 B) 28 C) 24 D) 20 E) 16 D) (–, 2) E) (2, )

80 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 2B
1. What is the solution of the inequality 5. What is the solution of the inequality
x +1 x  1
 > x? x2 > x +1?
2 3

A) x > 1 B) x < –3 C) x < 3  1

A) (–2, 4) B)  1,   C) (–, 2)
 2
D) x < 1 E) x > 6
 1
D) [2, ) E)  ,  
 2

2. What is the solution of the inequality

(x – 6)(x + 3)  2 – 2x?
6. What is the smallest possible integer value of x
A) [–5, 4] B) [–4, 5] C) (–4, 2) which satisfies the inequality (x + 7)2(x – 4)  0?
D) [–5, 4) E) (–4, 5]
A) 3 B) 4 C) –8 D) 8 E) –13

3. What is the solution of the inequality

7. What is the solution of the inequality
x2 + x (x2 + 8x – 9)(x2 – 4)  0?
<1?
5x  3
A) (–, –2)  [1, ) B) (–, –2]  (2, )
 3 3  C) (–, –1]  [1, ) D) R – {–1, 1}
A)   ,   (1, 3) B)  , 1  (3, )
 5 5 
E) (–, –9]  [–2, 1]  [2, )
C) (–, 1) D) – {–1, 1}

E) (–1, 1)  (3, )

8. Which inequality is represented in this sign

chart?
4. What is the solution of the inequality -2 5

1 5 + – +
+ <1?
2  x 2+ x
A) [–, –1)  (1, 3) B) [3, ] A) x2 – 3x + 10 < 0 B) x2 > 3x – 10
C) (–, –2)  (2, ) D) (1, 3) C) x2 < 3x + 10 D) x2 – 2x + 5  0
E) (1, 3) E) x2 < 2x + 5

Quadratic Inequalities 81
9. What is the solution of the inequality 13. What is the domain of the function
( x  1)3( x  2) 7
 0? y = 4 x  x2 + ?
( x  3)2 x2
A) (–, 1) B) [2, ] C) [1, 2]
A) (–2, 4] B) [–1, 2] C) (–4, 2)
D) [–1, 2) E) (2, )
D) [2, 4) E) (2, 4]

14. What is the solution of the inequality system

10. The equation 3x2 + bx + 12 = 0 has real roots.
What are the possible values of b?  x5
 >0
 x+ 3
A) [–12, 12] B) (–, –12] C) [12, )  ?
 x+ 7
D) (–, –12]  [12, ) E) (–1, 1)  (5, )  <0
x3

A) (2, 3) B) [–7, 3] C) (–7, –3)

D) [–3, 3) E) (7, –2)

x
11. What is the solution of the inequality  1?
x +1 15. How many integer values of x are there which
satisfy the inequality (x + 8)(x - 1)2(x – 5) < 0?
 1 
A)   ,   B) (–2, –1) C) (1, 3)
 2  A) 8 B) 9 C) 10 D) 11 E) 16
1 
D)  ,   E) (–1, 1)
2 

16. x1 and x2 are the roots of x2 – 3mx + m – 3 = 0.

1 1
+ > 4 is given.
x1 x2
12. What is the sum of the integer values of x which What are the possible values of m?
( x  2)( x  4)x2
satisfy the inequality  0?
( x +1)2 A) (–, ) B) [2, ] C) (–, –3)
A) 8 B) 9 C) 10 D) 11 E) 16 D) (3, 12) E) (0, 12)

82 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Quadratic Functions 83
Definition quadratic function
A function f(x) is a quadratic function if
y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a0
where a, b, and c are real numbers.

For example, f(x) = 2x2 + 3x + 1, y = x2 – 1, y = –ñ2x2 and f(x) = 2x – x2 are all quadratic
functions. y = 3x – 4 is not a quadratic function, because a = 0.

The domain of a quadratic function is the set of all real numbers.

The graph of a quadratic function f(x) = ax2 + bx + c is called a parabola.

a>0 a<0

y axis of symmetry y V

c
The sign of a has no
effect on the size or
shape of the parabola,
the sign of a determines x-intercept
whether the parabola x1 x2
opens upward or x1 x2 x x
downward.
x-intercept

c
vertex
y-intercept V

a>0 a<0 When a > 0, the parabola opens upward. When a < 0, the parabola opens downward.

The point V in the parabolas above is called the vertex of the parabola. The vertex is the
lowest or the highest point of the parabola.
The vertical line drawn through the vertex is called the axis of symmetry. It divides the curve
into two symmetrical halves.
The points x1 and x2 are called the x-iintercepts of the parabola. They are the zeros of the
function.
The point c is called the y-iintercept of the parabola.

84 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

A. GRAPHING y = ax2
How can we find the graph of the quadratic function y = ax2? If we have the function, we can
plot the graph by making a table of values. To find the values, we substitute different values
of x into the equation to obtain the corresponding y values. These x and y values provide the
coordinates for points which we can plot to form the shape of the graph.
Let us graph the function y = ax2.
If a > 0, we get the table of
x – –2 –1 0 1 2 +
ordered pairs opposite.
y + 4a a 0 a 4a +
Then we plot the points
on a graph and draw a
parabola through them.
y
4a

3a

2a

-2 -1 1 2 x

y = ax2, a > 0

We can see that the vertex of the parabola is at the origin (0, 0), and the axis of symmetry
lies along the y-axis (the line x = 0).
If a < 0, we get a different
x – –2 –1 0 1 2 +
set of ordered pairs.
y – 4a a 0 a 4a –

-2 -1 1 2 x
a

2a

3a

4a

Quadratic Functions 85
Example 1 Sketch the graphs of the functions.

a. y = x2 , y = 2x2 and y = 1 x2 b. y =  x2 , y = 2x2 and y =  1 x2

2 2

Solution a.
x – –2 –1 0 1 2 

As |a| increases, the y = x2  4 1 0 1 4 

parabola becomes
narrower. As |a|
decreases, the parabola y = 2x2  8 2 0 2 8 
becomes wider.
1 2 1 1
y= x  2 0 2 
y 2 2 2
ax2 x2
1 x2
2 x2 2x2 y

3
a>1 x
y x2 ax2 2

-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 x

0<a<1 x

b.
x – –2 –1 0 1 2 

y = –x2 – –4 –1 0 –1 –4 –
y= ax2 + bx
y y y = –2x2 – –8 –2 0 –2 –8 –

1 2 1 1
y= – x – –2 – 0 – –2 –
2 2 2
–b x –b x
a a
a>0
y
y y -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
x

–b x –b x
a a
a<0

–x2 – 1 x2
–2x2 2

86 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Check Yourself 1
Graph the functions.

1. y = 3x2 2. y = 1 x2 3. y = –3x2 4. y = – 1 x2
3 3

B. GRAPHING y = ax2 + bx + c
1. Vertex Point
Let x1 and x2 be zeros of the polynomial ax2 + bx + c.
a>0 a<0
b Then ax2 + bx+ c = a(x  x1 )(x  x2 )
–
2a
b 
– b+    b   
2a = a  x    x  
 2a   2a 
b
–
2a
  b     b+   b 2   
= a  x2  x  
  x  2a + 4a2 


b   2a    
–
2a

b  xb+ x  + xb  x  b2  
– = a  x2 + + 2  2 
2a 2a 4a 4a
 

 bx b 2  
= a  x2 + + 2  
 a 4a  4a
b
–
2a
2
 b  
= a  x+  
 2 a  4 a

b 
= a(x  h)2 + k where h =  and k =  .
2a 4a

This is called the completed square form of the quadratic function.

If a quadratic function has
two known x-intercepts,
we can find the COMPLETED SQUARE FORM
x-coordinate of the vertex
point by averaging them. The completed square form of a quadratic function is f(x) = a(x – h)2 + k.
x1 + x2 b The vertex of a parabola of a function in complete square form is the point (h, k).
h= =–
2 2a

b 4ac  b 2
At the vertex point V(h, k), h =  and k = f(h) or k = .
2a 4a
Since (h, k) is the vertex of a parabola, then the x-coordinate of the vertex point is the equa-
tion of the axis of symmetry, x = h.

Quadratic Functions 87
If a > 0, then the y-coordinate of the vertex is the minimum value of the function. If a < 0,
then the y-coordinate of the vertex is the maximum value of the function.
a>0 a<0
maximum value of
y y the function
D V(h,k)
–
4a
b
–
2a
x
The trajectory of a shell
fired from a cannon is a
parabola. To reach the b x
–
maximum value range with 2a
a cannon, it is shown in D
calculus that the barrel of –
4a V(h,k)
the cannon must be set at
45°. minumum value
of the function

Example 2 Find the coordinates of the vertex point of each function. Write the equation of the axis of
symmetry, and determine the maximum or minimum value of the function.

a. y = x2 – 2x – 3 b. y = –x2 + 4x + 5 c. y = x2 + 3x + 1

Solution a. V(h, k) is the vertex point.

b 2
h  1
2a 2
k = f(h) = 12 – 2  1 – 3 = –4
So the vertex is V(1, –4).
The equation of the axis of symmetry is x = 1.
Since a = 1 > 0, the vertex is the minimum value and k = –4 is the minimum value of
the function.

b 4
b. h =  = =2
2a 2  (–1)
k = f(h) = –22 + 4  2 + 5 = 9
So the vertex is V(2, 9).
The equation of the axis of symmetry is x = 2.
Since a = –1 < 0, the vertex is the maximum value and k = 9 is the maximum value of
the function.

88 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

b 3 3
c. h =  = =
2a 2 1 2
2
 3  3 5
k = f (h) =    + 3     + 1 = 
 2  2 4

 3 5
So the vertex point is V   ,   .
 2 4
3
The equation of the axis of symmetry is x =  .
2
5
Since a = 1 > 0, the vertex is the minumum value and y =  is the minimum value of
4
the function.

Example 3 The line 3x + 1 = 0 is the axis of symmetry of the parabola y = –2x2 + mx – 1.

Find the maximum value of the function.

1
Solution 3x + 1 = 0 ; x =  is the equation of axis of symmetry.
3
1 b m 4
h=  =  = ; m= 
3 2a 2  (–2) 3

Since a = –2 < 0, the vertex is the maximum value.

2
 1 4 1 7
k = f (h) =  2         1 = 
 3 3 3 9

7
So k =  is the maximum value.
9

Example 4 The minimum value of the function y = x2 – 8x + n is –4. What is the value of n?

b 8
Solution Given k = –4 and h =  = = 4 ; h = 4.
2a 2 1
k = f (h) ;  4 = 42  8 4 + n ; n = 12

Check Yourself 2
Find the vertex of each parabola.

1. y = x2 – 10x + 20 2. y = 1 x2 + x – 8 3. y = 4 – x2 4. y = 4x + x2
2
Answers
1. (5, –5) 2. (–1, –8.5) 3. (0, 4) 4. (–2, –4)

Quadratic Functions 89
2. Intercepts
Consider the function y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, a  0.
If x = 0, then y = c. The point (0, c) is called the y-intercept of the graph. We mean that the
parabola intersects the y-axis at this point.
If y = 0, then ax2 + bx + c = 0. Let x1 and x2 be roots of this equation. The points (x1, 0)
and (x2, 0) are called the x-intercepts of the graph. We mean that the parabola intersects the
x-axis at these points. There are three possibilities for the x-intercepts.
1. If  > 0, the parabola intersects the x-axis at two distinct points.
2. If  = 0, the parabola is tangent to the x-axis.
3. If  < 0, the parabola does not intersect the x-axis.

D<0

D=0 a<0
D>0

x
D>0

a>0 D=0

D<0

Example 5 Find the x- and y-intercepts of each function.

a. y = x2 – 9 b. y = –4x2 + 5x c. y = 3x2 + 4x – 2
d. y = x2 + 3x + 7 e. y = 4x2 + 20x + 25

Solution a. x = 0 ; y = –9
So (0, –9) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; x2 – 9 = 0
x1 = –3, x2 = 3
So (–3, 0) and (3, 0) are the x-intercepts.
b. x = 0 ; y = 0
So (0, 0) is the y-intercept.
5
y = 0 ; –4x2 + 5x = 0 ; x1 = 0 , x2 =
4
5 
So (0, 0) and  , 0  are the x-intercepts.
4 

90 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

c. x = 0 ; y = –2
So (0, –2) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; 3x2 + 4x – 2 = 0
 = 42 – 4  3  (–2) = 40

4  2 10 2  10 4 + 2 10 2 + 10
x1 = = , x2 = =
6 3 6 3
2  10 2 + 10
So ( , 0) and ( , 0) are the x-intercepts.
3 3

d. x = 0 ; y = 7
So (0, 7) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; x2 + 3x + 7 = 0
 = 32 – 4  1  7 = –19 < 0
So the parabola does not cut the x-axis, i.e. there are no x-intercepts.
e. x = 0 ; y = 25
So (0, 25) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; 4x2 + 20x + 25 = 0
 = 202 – 4  4  25 = 0
20 5
x1 = x2 =  =
8 2
 = 202 – 4  4  25 = 0
5
So the parabola is tangent to the x-axis at the point (– , 0).
2

Example 6 The function y = x2 – (m + 2)x + 5 + m is given. Find the value(s) of m for which the
parabola

a. does not cut the x-axis. b. is tangent to the x-axis.

c. intersects the x-axis at two distinct points.

Solution  = (m + 2)2 – 4(5 + m)

= m2 – 16
 = m2 – 16 = 0 ; m = 4
Let us consider the sign of .
m –¥ –4 4 ¥

m2 – 16 + – +

Quadratic Functions 91
a. If m  (–4, 4), the parabola does not cut the x-axis.
b. If m = 4, the parabola is tangent to the x-axis.
c. If m  (–, –4)  (4, ), the parabola cuts the x-axis at two distinct points.

Check Yourself 3
Find the x- and y-intercepts of each parabola.

1. y = –x2 + 3x – 4 2. y = 3x2 – 6x + 3 3. y = 3x – x2
Answers

1. no x-intercepts, (0, –4) 2. (1, 0), (0, 3) 3. (0, 0), (3, 0)

3. Sketching a Graph
To sketch the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c, follow the steps.
1. Check a.
When a > 0, the graph has a minimum point and the parabola opens upward.
When a < 0, the graph has a maximum point and the parabola opens downward.
2. Find the coordinates of the vertex point, V(h, k).
3. Find the x- and y-intercepts.
4. Sketch the graph of the parabola.

Example 7 Graph the functions.

a. y = x2 – 3x – 10 b. y = –2x2 – 8x c. y = x2 + 4x + 5
d. y = –3x2 + 12 e. y = x2 – 2ñ2x + 2

Solution a. a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. y

3
b 3 2
h=  = ,
2a 2 -2 5 x

3 2 3 49
k = f (h) = ( )  3   10 =  ;
2 2 4 f(x)=x2 – 3x – 10

3 49
V( , – ) is the vertex point. -10
2 4 49
-
4 V
x = 0 ; y = –10, (0, –10) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; x2 – 3x – 10 = 0 ; x = –2, x = 5 ;
(–2, 0) and (5, 0) are the x-intercepts.

92 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

b. a = –2 < 0, so the parabola opens downward. y
V
8 8
h=  = 2,
2  (–2)
f(x)=–2x2 – 8x
k = f (h) = 2(–2)  8 (–2) = 8 ;
2
V(–2, 8)

x = 0 ; y = 0, (0, 0) is the y-intercept.

y = 0 ; –2x2 – 8x = 0 ;
x = 0, x = –4 ; (–4, 0) and (0, 0) are the x-intercepts. -4 -2 x

c. a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. y

4
h=  = 2, f(x)=x2+4x+5
2 1 5

k = f (h) = (–2)2 + 4 (–2) 2 + 5 = 1 ; V(–2, 1)

x = 0 ; y = 5, (0, 5) is the y-intercept. 1

V
2
y = 0 ; x + 4x + 5 = 0 ; -2 x

 = 42 – 4  1  5 = –4 < 0 ; the parabola does not cut the x-axis.

d. a = –3 < 0, so the parabola opens downward. y

0 V 12
h=  = 0,
2(  3)

k = f (h) = 3(0)2 +12 = 12 ; V(0, 12)

f(x)=–3x2+12
x = 0 ; y = 12, (0, 12) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; –3x2 + 12 = 0 ;
x = 2 ; (–2, 0) and (2, 0) are the x-intercepts.

-2 2 x

e. a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. y

2 2 f(x)=x2 – 2ñ2x+2
h=  = 2
2 1
2
k = f (h) = ( 2 )2  2 2  2 + 2 = 0 ; V( 2, 0)
V
x = 0 ; y = 2, (0, 2) is the y-intercept. ñ2 x
2
y = 0 ; x – 2ñ2 + 2 = 0 ;
x1 = x2 = ñ2 ; the parabola is tangent to the x-axis at the point (ñ2, 0).

Quadratic Functions 93
Example 8 Sketch the graph of the function y = –x2 – 2x + 8 for |x|  3. Find the range of the function.

Solution a = –1 < 0, so the parabola opens downward. y

2 9
h=  = 1, 8
2  (–1)
k = f (h) = (–1)2  2 (–1) + 8 = 9 ; V(–1, 9) 5

x = 0 ; y = 8, (0, 8) is the y-intercept.

y = 0 ; –x2 – 2x + 8 = 0 ; -4 3
-3 -1 2 x
x1 = –4, x2 = 2 ; (–4, 0) and (2, 0) are the x-intercepts.
|x|  3 ; –3  x  3
x = –3 ; y = –9 + 6 + 8 = 5, so (–3, 5) is on the parabola.
x = 3 ; y = –9 – 6 + 8 = –7, so (3, –7) is on the parabola. -7
So the range of the function is [–7, 9].

Example 9 Find the values of p for which px2 + 4x + p is greater than zero for all real values of x.

Solution px2 + 4x + p > 0 for all real numbers x. y = px2+ 4x+p

This is possible only if p > 0 and  < 0.
p>0 (1)
2 2
4 – 4p < 0 (2)
x
(1) p > 0
(2) 42 – 4p2 < 0 ; 42 – 4p2 = 0 ; p = 2
p –¥ –2 0 2 ¥

(1) – – + +

(2) – + + –

system

So p  (2, ).

Check Yourself 4
Sketch the graph of each function.

1. y = x2 – 5x + 4 2. y = –x2 + 4x – 3 3. y = 4x2 – 20x + 25 4. y = 3x2 – 2x

94 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Answers
1. y 2. y 3. y 4. y

4 25
1 3 x

2/3 x
-3
1 4 x 5/2 x

4. Shifting Graphs
Let y = f(x) be a function.
Vertical Shifting
k > 0 shift the graph of y = f(x) k units upward. (see Figure 1)
y = f (x ) + k 
k < 0 shift the graph of y = f(x) |k| units downward. (see Figure 1)

Horizontal Shifting
 h > 0 shift the graph of y = f(x) h units to the left. (see Figure 2)
y = f (x+ h) 
 h < 0 shift the graph of y = f(x) |h| units to the right. (see Figure 2)

Reflection
y = –f(x) Reflect the graph of y = f(x) in the x-axis. (see Figure 3)
Horizontal and Vertical Shifting
y = f(x + h) + k Shift the graph of y = f(x) |k| units upward or downward and |h| units
to the left or to the right.
k>0 h>0
y x2+k y y

x2 (x+h)2 x2 (x – h)2 x2

k x2 – k

0 x -h 0 h x 0 x

-k
–x2

Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Example 10 Sketch the graph of the each function using the shifting method.

a. y = x2 + 3 b. y = x2 – 3 c. y = (x – 3)2 d. y = (x + 3)2
e. y = –(x – 4)2 f. y = (x + 2)2 – 3 g. y = –(x – 2)2 + 1

Quadratic Functions 95
Solution a. y b. y c. y d. y
x2+3

x2 x2 x2 (x – 3)2 (x+3)2 x2

3 x2 – 3

0 x 0 x 0 3 x -3 0 x

-3

e. y f. y g. y

x2 (x+2)2 x2
x2

(x+2)2 – 3 1
4
0 x -2 0 x 0 2 x

-3
–(x – 4)2
–x2 –(x – 2)2+1
y

Check Yourself 5
Sketch the graph of the each function by shifting.

1. y = x2 + 4 2. y = –(x + 1)2 3. y = (x – 2)2 – 2 4. y = –(x + 2)2 + 1

Answers
1. y 2. y 3. y 4. y
x2+4 x2 (x–2)2
-1 1
x2 -1 x
4 (x–2)2–2 -2 x
4 -3
2 –(x+2)2+1
–(x+1)2 –x2 2 -4
x x
-2
–(x+2)2 –x2

5. Parabolas with Absolute Value (Optional)

Example 11 Sketch the graph of each function.

a. y = |x2 – 3x + 2| b. y = –x2 + 2|x| + 3
c. y = x|x + 2| d. y = |2x2 – 12x + 16| + 2

96 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Solution a. First graph the function y = x2 – 3x + 2. y

Then, take above the part of the graph which is below 2

the x axis, symmetric with respect to x-axis. f(x)=|x2 – 3x+2|

a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. 1

3 3 1/4
h=  = ,
2 1 2 1 3/2
2 x
-1/4
2
 3 3 1
k = f (h) =    3  + 2 =  ;
2 2 4

3 1
V  ,   is the vertex point.
2 4

x = 0 ; y = 2, (0, 2) is the y-intercept

y = 0 ; x2 – 3x + 2 = 0 ;
x = 1, x = 2 ; (1, 0) and (2, 0) are the x-intercepts.

b. y = –x2 + 2|x| + 3
Case 1
____________________________________________________________________
If x  0, |x| = x ; y = –x2 + 2x + 3
a = –1 < 0, so the parabola opens downward.

2
h=  = 1, k = f (1) = 12 + 2 1+ 3 = 4 ; V(1, 4) is the vertex point.
2  (–1)
x = 0 ; y = 3, (0, 3) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; –x2 + 2x + 3 = 0 ;
x = –1, x = 3 ; (–1, 0) and (3, 0) are the x-intercepts.
Case 2
____________________________________________________________________
If x < 0, |x| = –x ; y = –x2 – 2x + 3 y
4 f(x)=–x2+2|x|+3
a = –1 < 0, so the parabola opens downward.
3
2
h=  = 1,
2  (–1)

k = f (–1) = (–1) 2  2 (–1) + 3 = 4 ; -3 -1 1 3 x

V(–1, 4) is the vertex point.

x = 0 ; y = 3, (0, 3) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; –x2 – 2x + 3 = 0 ; x = –3, x = 1 ; (–3, 0) and (1, 0) are the x-intercepts.

Quadratic Functions 97
c. y = x|x + 2|
Case 1
________________________________________________________________________
If x + 2  0, x  –2, |x + 2| = x + 2 ; y = x2 + 2x
a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward.

2
h=  = 1, k = f (–1) = (–1) 2 + 2 (–1) = 1 ; V(–1, –1)is the vertex point.
2 1
x = 0 ; y = 0, (0, 0) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; x2 + 2x = 0 ; x = –2, x = 0 ; (–2, 0) and (0, 0) are the x-intercepts.

Case 2
________________________________________________________________________
If x + 2 < 0 ; x < –2, |x + 2| = –(x + 2) ; y
2
y = –x – 2x
2 f(x)=x|x+2|
a = 1 > 0, so the parabola opens upward.
1
2
h=  = 1, -1
2  (–1) -3 -2 x
-1
k = f (–1)  (–1) 2  2 (–1)  1 ;

V(–1, 1) is the vertex point.

x = 0 ; y = 0, (0, 0) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; –x2 – 2x = 0 ; x = –2, x = 0 ; (–2, 0) and (0, 0) are the x-intercepts.

d. y = |2x2 – 12x + 16| + 2 y

2 f(x)=|2x2 – 12x+16|+2
First graph the function y = |2x – 12x + 16|. 18
Then shift this graph 2 units up. 16

a = 2 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. y=|2x2 – 12x+16|

12
h=  = 3,
22
k = f (h) = 2(3)2  12  3 +16 = 2 ;
V(3, –2)is the vertex point.

x = 0 ; y = 16, (0, 16) is the y-intercept. 4

y = 0 ; 2x2 – 12x + 16 = 0 ; 2

x = 2, x = 4 ; 2 3 4 x
(2, 0) and (4, 0) are the x-intercepts. -2

98 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Check Yourself 6
Sketch the graph of each function.
1. y = |x2 – 6x + 5| 2. y = –x|x| + 4
Answers
1. y 2. y

4 4

2
x
1 3 5 x

C. EQUATION OF A PARABOLA
We have learned how to construct a parabola if we are given its equation. But if we are given
the graph of a parabola, how can we write its equation?
There are three different approaches to finding the equation of a parabola. The approach we
use depends on the information we know.

1. If we know the vertex point of the parabola, V(h, k) then we use the formula y = a(x – h)2 + k
to write the equation of the parabola. We need to know another point on the parabola to
write the equation.

2. If we know the x-intercepts of the parabola then we use the formula y = a(x – x1)(x – x2)
to write the equation of the parabola. We need to know another point on the parabola to write
the equation.

3. If we know any three points on the parabola, then we use the formula y = ax2 + bx + c
to write the equation of the parabola.

Example 12 Write the equation of each parabola.

a. y b. y c. y

4 y=g(x)
2 y=f(x)

3 y=h(x)
2 x 2

-3 1 x 3 4 x

Quadratic Functions 99
Solution a. The vertex point of the parabola is V(2, 2), so y = a(x – 2)2 + 2.

Also, the parabola passes through the origin (0, 0), so this point satisfies the equation of
the parabola.

1
0 = a(0  2)2 + 2 ; 0 = 4 a+ 2 ; a= 
2
1
y =  (x  2)2 + 2
2
1
y =  x2 + 2 x
2
This is the equation of the parabola.

b. Let y = ax2 + bx + c.
Since the points (0, 3), (–3, 3) and (1, 4) are on the graph of the parabola, these points
satisfy the equation of the parabola.

 b  b2  4ac
(0, 3), 3 = c
2a
(–3, 3), 3 = 9 a  3 b+ 3 ; 9a 3b = 0

(1, 4), 4 = a+ b+ 3 ; a+ b = 1

9a  3b = 0 (1)

 a+ b = 1 (2)

1 3
From (1) and (2), a= , b= .
4 4
1 2 3
So the equation is y = x + x+3 .
4 4

c. Let y = a(x – 3)(x – 4)

(0, 2) is on the parabola.

1
2 = a(0  3)(0  4) ; a=
6
1
y = (x  3)( x  4)
6
1 2 7
So the equation is y = x  x+2 .
6 6

100 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Example 13 x1 and x2 are the roots of the parabola below. Find the value of x1 + x2.
y

3 y=g(x)

-6 x1 x2 2 x

-2

Solution y g(2) = g(–6) = 3

B 3 y=g(x) AB = BC, so the x-coordinate of the vertex point is

A C
6 + 2
h= = 2.
2
-6 x1 x2 2 x b x + x2
h = ; 1 = 2 ; x1 + x2 = 4.
-2 2a 2

Example 14 A parabolic concrete bridge support needs

to pass through the points (–50, 0),
(0, 30), and (50, 0). Write the equation of
the parabola formed by the bridge.

Solution Let y = ax2 + bx + c. Since the points (–50, 0), (0, 30), and (50, 0) are on the graph of the
parabola, these points satisfy the equation of the parabola.
(0, 30), c = 30
(–50, 0), 0 = 2500a – 50b + 30 ; 250a – 5b = –3 (1)
(50, 0), 0 = 2500a + 50b + 30 ; 250a + 5b = –3 (2)
From (1) and (2),
–3
a= , b = 0.
250
3 2
So the equation is y = – x +30 .
250

Quadratic Functions 101

Example 15 The shape of the famous “Gateway to the West” arch, which is
the spirit of the City of St. Lois can be modeled by a parabola.
1 2 21
The equation for the parabola is y = – x + x.
150 5
a. Sketch the graph of the arch's equation on a coordinate axis.
b. What is the distance from one side of the arch to the other?

1
Solution a. a = – < 0, so the parabola opens downward. y
150 V
661.5
21
h= – 5 = 315,
1
2 ( – )
150
1 21 630
k = f (315) = – 315 2 +  315 315 x
150 5
= 661 .5 V(315, 661.5)
x = 0 ; y = 0 (0, 0) is the y-intercept.
1 2 21
y=0 ; – x + x=0 ;
150 5
x = 0, x = 630 ; (0, 0) and (630, 0) are the x-intercepts.
b. From the x-intercepts, we can see that the distance along the bridge is 630 m.

Example 16 A farmer has 120 m of fencing. He wants to put

a fence around three sides of a rectangular plot of
land, with the side of a barn forming the fourth
side. Find the maximum area the farmer can
enclose. What dimensions give this area?

Solution Let x represent the width of the plot. Then, since

there are 120 m of fencing,
x + x + length = 120 ; length = 120 – 2x.
The area of the plot is A = (120 – 2x)  x = 120x – 2x2.
We can see that a < 0, so the graph of the function of the area has its maximum value at the
vertex point.
To make the area as large as possible, let us therefore find the vertex of the graph of the function
A = –2x2 + 120x.
–b 120
The x-coordinate of the vertex is =– = 30. This is the width of the plot at its maximum
2a –4
area. Now we have the solution: A = –2  302 + 120  30 = 1800 m2 and the dimensions of
the plot are 30 m by (120 – 2  30)m, i.e. 30 m by 60 m.

102 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Example 17 Find the maximum vertical distance d between the parabola and the line in the figure.

The distance between the vertex point of the parabola y

Solution f(x)=–2x2+4x+3
and the midpoint of the AB line segment in the figure 5

will be the maximum distance. 4

f(x)=x – 2
b –4 3
So h = – = =1
2 a –4 2 d
B
k = f (1) = 5 , V (1, 5). 1

Let us find the coordinates of point A and point B. -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x

2 -1
–2 x + 4x+ 3 = x – 2
-2
2 x2 – 3x – 5 = 0
A -3
5
(2 x – 5)(x+1) = 0 ; x = , x = –1 -4
2
5 1
A(–1, –3) and B( , )
2 2 A M B
5 1 (–1, –3) ( 5 , 1)
–1+ –3 +
M( 2, 2 ) = ( 3 , –5 ) 2 2
2 2 4 4
3 –5 1 625 626 626
So d = ( – 1)2 +( – 5) 2 = + = = .
4 4 16 16 16 4

Check Yourself 7
Write the equation of each parabola.

1. y 2. y 3. y
3 4
3
x
2

-3 -2 x
-1 3 x
-4
-1

Answers
1 2 2 1 2 3 1 2
1. y = x – x–1 2. y = – x + x–3 3. y = – x – x+ 2
3 3 4 4 4

The things of this world cannot be made known without a knowledge of mathematics.

Quadratic Functions 103

P ARABOLIC R EFLECTORS
Parabolic curves are used in the design of lighting systems, telescopes, and radar antennas, mainly because of the
reflective property you can see in the figures below.

axis axis

Figure a . A reflecting telescope: Figure b . A parabolic flashlight:

light rays parallel to the a light source at the focus
axis are concentrated at sends out beams of light
the focus. parallel to the axis.

Figure a shows the application of the reflective property of a parabola to create a reflecting telescope. The eyepiece
of the telescope is placed at the focus F of a parabolic mirror. Light enters the telescope in rays that are parallel to
the axis of the parabola. We know from physics that when light is reflected, the angle of incidence equals the angle
of reflection. Hence, the parallel rays of light strike the parabolic mirror so that they all reflect through the focus,
which means that all the parallel rays are concentrated at the eyepiece. This maximizes the light-gathering ability of
the mirror.
Flashlights and automobile headlights (see Figure b) simply reverse this process. A light source is placed at the focus
of a parabolic mirror. The light rays strike the mirror with an angle of incidence equal to the angle of reflection, and
each ray is reflected along a path parallel to the axis. As a result, the light emits a light beam of parallel rays.

Radar utilizes both of these properties. First, a pulse is transmitted from the
focus to a parabolic surface. As with a reflecting telescope, parallel pulses are
transmitted in this way. The reflected pulses then strike the parabolic surface and
are sent back to be received at the focus.
EXERCISES 3 .1
A. Graphing y = ax2 6. The equation of the axis of symmetry of the
1. Graph each set of functions in the same plane. parabola y = 2x2 + (m + 1)x – 4 is 4x – 3 = 0.
Find the minimum value of the function.
a. y = 2x2, y – 4x2 = 0, 2x2 = 3y
b. y = –3x2, y + 4x2 = 0, –3x2 = 2y
c. y = 3x2, 3y = x2, 2y + x2 = 0, y + 2x2 = 0
4
7. – is the minimum value of the function
3
2. Determine whether each point lies on the graph y = 3x2 + 2x – n. Find the value of n.
of the function 4y + 5x2 = 0.

 45  4 
a.  3, –  b.  , 1 c. (–2, –5) d. (4, 10)
 4  5  8. The vertex point of the parabola
y = –3x2 – 2(2k + 5)x + 4 is on the y-axis.
3. If the parabola y = px2 passes through the following Find k.
points, find p.

 4 4 
a. (–3, 3) b.  2,  c. (3, –7) d.  , –2 
 5 5  9. Find the x- and and y-intercepts of each function.

a. y = –x2 + 4x b. y = (x – 3)2
2
4. Graph the function y =  x if x  4. c. y = 8(x + 7)2 + 4 d. y = x2 – 8
2
e. y = 2x2 + 5x + 3 f. y = –x2 – 4x – 5
2 2
g. y = 16x2 + 24x + 9 h. y = – x –4
B. Graphing y = ax + bx + c 2
3
5. Find the coordinates of the vertex point of each
function. Write the equation of the axis of symmetry
and determine the maximum or minimum value 10. The function y = –x2 + (m – 2)x + m – 3 is given.
of the function. Find the values of m for which the parabola

3 2 a. does not cut the x-axis.

a. y = x b. y = –3x2
4 b. is tangent to the x-axis.
c. y = 3x2 + 2 d. y = –x2 – 1
c. cuts the x axis at two distinct points.
e. y = –2x2 + 5x f. y = 0, 7x2 + 0,8x
g. y = 3x2 – 4x + 3 h. y = –x2 + x + 1
i. y = 3(x + 1)(x – 4) j. y = –2(x + 4)2 11. The parabola y = mx2 – (m + 1)x + 2m – 1 passes
2 2
k. y = –(x + 3) – 5 l. y = (x – 1) + 3 through the point A(2, 9). Find the value of m.

Quadratic Functions 105

12. Sketch the graph of each function. 22. Sketch the graph of each function by shifting.

a. y = 3x2 – 9 b. y = 2x2 + 5 a. y = x2 + 4 b. y = x2 – 2
c. y = –3(x + 4)2 d. y = 2(x + 7)2 c. y = –x2 – 2 d. y = –(x + 5)2
e. y = x2 – 2x – 3 f. y = –x2 – 4x e. y = (x – 4)2 f. y = –(x – 3)2
g. y = x2 – 4x + 1 h. y = x2 – 5 g. y = –(x + 1)2 – 2 h. y = (x – 2)2 + 3
i. y = (x – 3)2 + 4 j. y = (x + 3)(4 – x)

23. Sketch the graph of each function.

13. Sketch the graph of the function
y = x2 – 2x – 8 if –1 < x < 5. a. y = |x2 – 4x + 3| b. y = –2x2 + 4|x| + 1
c. y = x|x – 2| d. y = |x2 – 6x + 8| – 1
14. Sketch the graph of the function
y = –2x2 + 4x + 1 if |x – 1| < 2.
C. Equation of a Parabola
15. Find the minimum and the maximum values of 24. Write the equation of each parabola.
the function y = x + 4x + 7 if x  [–4, 1].
2
a. y b. y
3
2
16. Find the minimum or the maximum value of the 1
function if m + n = 16. 5
1 x 6 x

17. Find the minimum or the maximum value of the

function y = m2 + n if m – 2 = n. c. y d. y
3 4
3
18. The parabola y = 2ax + bx – 3b passes through
2

the points (1, –3) and (2, –5). Find the values of
-3 x -1 x
a and b.

19. Write the equation of the parabola which is e. y f. y

symmetric to y = 3(x + 1)2 with respect to the 3 5 3
line x = 2. x

-3
-3 3 x
20. Given f(x) = –3(x – 1)2 + 2, show that f(x)  f(1).

21. f(x) = x2 + 3mx + 4m and f(x)  0 are given.

Find m. -8

106 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

25. Write the equation of the parabola through each 30. The figure shows the graph y
set of points. 
of the function
a. A(–1, 0), B(0, 4), C(1, 2) y = mx2 – 7mx + 5.
b. A(0, –4), B(2, 0), C(4, –4) If |AB| = 3, find m.
A B x

26. Write the equation of the parabola through each

vertex point V and point A.

a. V(0, –4), A(3, 5) b. V(2, 0), A(4, 4) 31. Find the area of the y
 y=–2x2+6x
 1 15  trapezoid OABC in
c. V(–1, –4), A(2, 5) d. V   ,   , A(0, –4) C
5 B
 2 4  the figure. 2

A
O x

27. In the figure, y

3  |OB| = |AO|.
y=–x2 – 4x – c
Find c.
A B
O x

32. Find the area of the y


square OABC in the figure.

24
28. In the figure, y B
 C
V
|OB| = 5  |AO| and k
O A 2 x
V is the vertex point
2
of the parabola.
A B
Find k.
O 2 x

33. Find the area y


of the
29. The figure shows the y rectangle D C
 y=x2 – 6x+5
graph of the function ABCD in
y = ax2 + bx + c. the figure.
-5 1 x O A B x
Find the value of
a + b + c.

Quadratic Functions 107

Mixed Problems 39. The figure shows the y
 y=–x2+bx+1
graph of the function 5

34. x1 and x2 are the x-intercepts of the function y = –x2 + bx + 1.

c
 Find the value of
y = mx2 – 4x – 2m – 2. If x1  x1 < 0, find the
a + b + c + d.
possible values of m.
a 2 d x

35. The perimeter of a rectangle is 32 cm. Find its


maximum possible area.

40. In the figure, y


36. The function y = 5x – 3x + k is tangent to the
2
the area of the y=k(x2+5x+4)

line y = 2. Find k. triangle ABC is
C
6 cm2.
Find k. A B O x

37. 3 is the minimum value of the function


y = mx2 – 2mx + 2m + 1. Find m.

38. The figure shows the y


6
41. In the figure, the y
graph of the function 
maximum value of the C
y = –x2 + bx + c.
49
Find the coordinates function is . A B
4
-2 O 5 x
of the point A. 2
Find the area of the
A B x triangle ABC.

108 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

A. RELATIVE POSITION OF A PARABOLA AND
A LINE IN A PLANE
Consider the quadratic function y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c and the linear function
y = g(x) = mx + n. In order to determine whether they have an intersection or not, let us
consider the common points of the two functions.
The equation f(x) = g(x) gives us f(x) – g(x) = 0 in standard form. Let us examine the
discriminant of this equation and its effects on the common points.
1. If  > 0, the line intersects the parabola at two distinct points.
2. If  = 0, the line is tangent to the parabola.
3. If  < 0, the line does not intersect the parabola.

A B

C
D>0 D=0 D<0

Example 18 The functions f(x) = x2 – mx + 3 and g(x) = x – 6 are given. Find the values of m for which
a. the line does not intersect the parabola.
b. the line is tangent to the parabola.
c. the line intersects the parabola at two distinct points.
Solution f(x) = g(x)
x2 – mx + 3 = x – 6
Writing this in standard form gives us x2 – (m + 1)x + 9 = 0.
 = (–(m + 1))2 – 4  1  9 = m2 + 2m – 35
m2 + 2m – 35 = 0 ; m1 = –7, m2 = 5
Let us consider the sign of .
m –¥ –7 5 ¥

D + – +

a. If m  (–7, 5), then the line does not intersect the parabola.
b. If m = –7 or m = 5, then the line is tangent to the parabola.
c. If m  (–, –7)  (5, ), then the line intersects the parabola at two distinct points.

Quadratic Functions 109

Example 19 V(2, –4) is the vertex of the parabola given in the y
g(x)=2x
figure. Find the coordinates of the point A.
A
f(x)

O B x
V

Solution V(2, –4) is on the parabola. Therefore, point B is B(4, 0) because of the symmetry of a parabola.
Therefore, the x-intercepts of the parabola are 0 and 4.
So f(x) = a(x – 0)(x – 4).
(2, –4) is on the parabola, and so f(2) = –4.
–4 = a(2 – 0)(2 – 4) ; a=1
2
This gives f(x) = x – 4x.
To find the common solutions, we can now use the equation f(x) = g(x).
x2 – 4x = 2x
In standard form, x2 – 6x = 0 ; x = 0 or x = 6.
So, 0 and 6 are the x-coordinates of the points O and A respectively.
g(x) = 2x. If x = 6, g(x) = 12.
Therefore, point A is (6, 12).

Example 20 The parabola f(x) = (m – 1)x2 – (3m – 1)x + 4m – 1 is tangent to the line y = 3. Find m.

Solution If the parabola is tangent to the line y = 3, then the m–1>0

ordinate of the vertex point of the parabola, k, is 3.
4ac  b 2
k= ;
4a
y=3
4  (m  1)  (4 m  1)  (3 m  1) 2
3= , m 1
4(m  1)

16 m2  20 m+ 4  9m 2 + 6 m  1 m–1<0
3=
4m  4
12 m  12 = 7 m2  14 m+ 3

7 m2  26 m+ 15 = 0

5
So, m = 3 or m = .
7

110 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Note y
y=mx+n
The slope of the line which is tangent to the
parabola y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c at the point
P(x0, f(x0)) is 2ax0 + b. f(x0) P

O x0 x

f(x)=ax2+bx+c

Check Yourself 8
Find the intersection point(s) of the functions y = x2 + 3x – 3 and y = 2x – 1.
Answer
(–2, –5), (1, 1)

B. RELATIVE POSITION OF TWO PARABOLAS IN A PLANE

We have seen how to determine the relative position of a line and a parabola in the same
plane. Let us now look at the relative position of two parabolas. Consider the quadratic
functions f(x) = ax2 + bx + c and g(x) = Ax2 + Bx + C. In order to determine whether they
have an intersection or not, let us consider the common points of two functions.
In the equation f(x) = g(x), ax2 + bx + c = Ax2 + Bx + C
(a – A)x2 + (b – B)x + (c – C) = 0.
This is an equation in standard quadratic form.
1. If a – A  0, then we examine the discriminant.
a. If  > 0, the parabolas intersect each other at two distinct points.
b. If  = 0, the parabolas are tangent to each other.
c. If  < 0, the parabolas do not intersect each other.
2. If a – A = 0 and b – B  0, the parabolas intersect each other at one point.
3. If a – A = 0, b – B = 0, and c – C = 0, the parabolas are coincident.

Example 21 The parabolas f(x) = 3x2 + 3x + m + 1 and g(x) = 2x2 – x + 2m are tangent to the each
other. Find the coordinates of the point of tangency.

Solution Let us write the equation f(x) = g(x).

3x2 + 3x + m + 1 = 2x2 – x + 2m
In standard form, x2 + 4x + 1 – m = 0.
Since the parabolas are tangent to each other,  = 0.

Quadratic Functions 111

 = 16 – 4 + 4m = 0 ; m = –3 y
2 2
x + 4x + 1 – (–3) = 0 ; x + 4x + 4 = 0
f(x)
(x + 2)2 = 0 ; x = –2 A 4
g(x)
–2 is therefore the abscissa of the point of tangency.
f(–2) = 12 – 6 – 3 + 1 = 4
-2 2 x
So A(–2, 4) is the point of tangency.
-2

-6

Example 22 The function f(x) = mx2 + 2mx + m – 1 is given. If m is a variable parameter, find the
coordinates of the fixed point that all parabolas of the function f(x) pass through.

Solution Let us look at some values for m.

m = 1 ; y1 = x2 + 2x
m = 2 ; y2 = 2x2 + 4x + 1
At the fixed point, y1 = y2.
x2 + 2x = 2x2 + 4x + 1
x2 + 2x + 1 = 0
(x + 1)2 = 0 ; x = –1 is the x-coordinate of the fixed point.
x = –1 ; y1 = 1 – 2 = –1
So the fixed point is (–1, –1).

Check Yourself 9
Find the intersection points of the functions y = x2 + 2x – 5 and y = 2x2 – x – 3.
Answer
(1, –2), (2, 3)

C. GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF INEQUALITIES IN

TWO VARIABLES
We can solve linear and quadratic inequalities in two variables using a graph. To solve such
inequalities, we examine the regions which are separated by a line and a parabola in the
The graph of an inequality graph.
in two variables is the
set of all points whose
coordinates satisfy the
inequality.

112 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

1. Linear Inequalities
Definition linear inequality in two variables
An inequality in one of the forms
ax + b > y, ax + b < y
ax + b  y, ax + b  y
for the real numbers a and b, a  0, is called a linear inequality in two variables.

y y = ax + b
A line divides the plane into three regions: the
line itself and the two half-planes on either side y > ax + b
of the line. The graphs of linear inequalities in b
b
two variables are therefore regions in the real –
a
number plane and may include a boundary line. x
The boundary line for the inequality is the graph
of the equation y = ax + b.
y < ax + b
To graph a linear inequality in two variables,
follow the steps.
The boundary for
the graph is found by 1. Graph the linear equation y = ax + b. This
replacing the inequality line becomes the boundary line for the graph. Draw the boundary line using a dashed line
symbol with an equality
sign and graphing the if the inequality symbol is < or >, or a solid line if the inequality symbol is  or .
resulting equation.
2. Choose a test point which is not on the boundary line and substitute it into the inequality.
3. Shade the region which includes the test point if the resulting inequality is true, and
shade the region which does not contain the test point if the resulting inequality is false.

Example 23 Graph the inequalities.

a. 2x – 3x + 6 < 0 b. 2y + 3x + 4  0
Solution a. 2x – 3y + 6 < 0 y
2
2 x+ 6 < 3y ; y > x+ 2
3
2
y= x+ 2 is the boundary line and we draw the 2
3 y> x+2
3 2
line dashed since the inequality symbol is >.

The x- and y-intercepts are (–3, 0) and (0, 2).

2
Test the point (0, 0) in y > x+ 2: -3 x
3
2
0>  0 + 2 ; 0 > 2 (false).
3
So we shade the region which does not contain the test point.

Quadratic Functions 113

b. 2y + 3x + 4  0 y
3
2 y  3x  4 ; y   x2
2 4
–
3
3
y =  x  2 is the boundary line and the line is x
2
solid since the inequality symbol is . The x- and 3
y £– x – 2 -2
 4  2
y-intercepts are   , 0  and (0, –2).
 3 
3
Test the point (0, 0) in y   x  2.
2
3
0 0  2 ; 0  2 (false).
2
So we shade the region which does not contain the test point.

Check Yourself 10
Graph the inequalities.
1. x – 2y < 6 2. x + y – 1  0
Answers
1. y 2.
y

1
6 x
1 x
-3

2. Quadratic Inequalities
Definition quadratic inequality in two variables
An inequality in one of the forms
ax2 + bx + c > y, ax2 + bx + c < y,
ax2 + bx + c  y, ax2 + bx + c  y,
for the real numbers a, b and c, a  0 is called a quadratic inequality in two variables.

A parabola divides a plane into three regions:

1. The parabola itself.
2. The interior region of the parabola.
3. The exterior region of the parabola.

114 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

y y
a>0 a<0
y > ax2+bx+c
y=ax2+bx+c y > ax2+bx+c

x x
y < ax2+bx+c
y < ax2+bx+c y=ax2+bx+c

To graph a quadratic inequality in two variables, follow the steps.

1. Graph the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c. The parabola is the boundary of the graph. Draw
the parabola as a dashed line if the inequality symbol is < or >, and as a solid line if the
inequality symbol is  or .
2. Choose a test point which is not on the boundary and substitute it into the inequality.
3. Shade the region which includes the test point if the resulting inequality is true and shade
the region which does not contain the test point if the resulting inequality is false.

Example 24 Sketch the graph of each inequality.

a. y  (2x + 1)(x – 3) b. y < –(x + 2)2 – 1
c. –x2 + 4x + 5  0 d. x2 + 6x + 9 > 0

Solution a. y  (2x + 1)(x – 3)

Graph the parabola y = (2x + 1)(x – 3), y = 2x2 – 5x – 3.
a = 2 > 0, so the parabola opens upward. y
b 5
h=  = ,
2a 4
2
5 5 49 –1 3 x
k = f (h) = 2    5   3 =  ; 2
4 4 8
-3
 5 49 
V , –  is the vertex point. y £ (2x+1)(x – 3)
4 8 
x = 0 ; y = –3, (0, –3) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; 2x2 – 5x – 3 = 0 ;
1  1 
x=  , x = 3;   , 0  and (3, 0) are the x-intercepts.
2  2 
The parabola will be solid since the inequality symbol is .
Test the point (0, 0) in y  (2x + 1)(x – 3):
0  (2  0 + 1)(0 – 3) ; 0  –3 (false).
So we shade the exterior region which does not contain the test point.

Quadratic Functions 115

b. y < –(x + 2)2 – 1
Graph the parabola y = –(x + 2)2 – 1, y = –x2 – 4x – 5.
a = –1 < 0, so the parabola opens downward. y
4
h=  = 2, k = f (h) = (–2)2  4 (–2) 5 = 1, so -2
2  (–1) x
-1
V(–2, –1) is the vertex point.

–1
x = 0 ; y = –5, so (0, –5) is the y-intercept.

2) 2
(x+
y = 0 ; –x2 – 4x – 5 = 0 ; -5

y<–
 = (–4)2 – 4(–1)(–5) = –4 ;  < 0.
So the parabola is below the x-axis.
The parabola line will be dashed since the inequality symbol is <.
Test the point (0, 0) in y < –(x + 2)2 – 1. 0  – (0 + 2)2 – 1 ; 0  –5 (false).
So we shade the interior region which does not contain the test point.

c. –x2 + 4x + 5  0
Graph the parabola y = –x2 + 4x + 5.
a = –1 < 0, so the parabola opens downward.
4
h=  = 2, k = f (h) = (2)2 + 4 (2)+5 = 9, so
2  (–1)
V(2, 9) is the vertex point. y
x = 0 ; y = 5, so (0, 5) is the y-intercept.
y = 0 ; –x2 + 4x + 5 = 0 ; 5

x = –1, x = 5, so (–1, 0) and (5, 0) are the x-intercepts.

-1 5
So the part of the parabola below the x-axis is the solution. x

x  (–, –1]  [5, ).

d. x2 + 6x + 9 > 0
Graph the parabola y = x2 + 6x + 9.
y = (x + 3)2 y
h = –3, k = 0, so
V(–3, 0) is the vertex point. 9

(0, 9) is the y-intercept.

x  (–, –3)  (–3, ).

-3 x
Check Yourself 11
Sketch the graph of each inequality.
1. y  x2 + 4x – 5 2. –x2 + 3x + 4 < 0

116 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Answers
1. y 2. y
7
4
-1 4
-5 -2 1
3 x
x
2
-5

-9

D. GRAPHICAL SOLUTION OF SYSTEMS OF INEQUALITIES

A system of inequalities in two variables is made up of two or more inequalities. A solution of
the system is an ordered pair that satisfies all of the inequalities. The solution set is the
set of all ordered pairs that satisfy all of the inequalities. To solve a system of inequalities, we
first solve the inequalities individually. The solution to the system is the region where all of
the inequalities overlap on a graph.

Example 25 Sketch the graphs of the inequality systems.

 x+ y+ 1  0  xy > 0  x+ 2y  2 < 0
a.  b.  c. 
2 x  y+ 2 > 0  y  (x  2)(x  3)  y  x2 + 4  0

x < 1
  y > 2 x(x+ 2)
d.  y < 3 e. 
  y  2 x2 + 8
 y < (x+ 1)(3  x)

 y   x  1
Solution a. 
 y < 2 x+ 2
y = –x – 1 y = 2x + 2
The x-intercept is (–1, 0). The x-intercept is (–1, 0).
The y-intercept is (0, –1). The y-intercept is (0, 2).

The line is solid. The line is dashed.

Test (0, 0) in y  –x – 1: Test (0, 0) in y < 2x + 2:
0  –1 (true). 0 < 2 (true).

Quadratic Functions 117

Shade the regions which include the test points:
y
y = 2x+2

-1
x
-1

y=–x – 1

The overlapping region is the solution of the system.

 1
 y <  2 x+ 1
b. 
 2
y  x  4

1
y = – x+ 1 y = x2 – 4
2
The x-intercept is (2, 0). The x-intercept is (–2, 0) and (2, 0).
The y-intercept is (0, 1) The y-intercept is (0, –4).
The parabola opens upward.
V(–4, 0) is the vertex point.

The line is dashed. The line is solid.

1
Test (0, 0) in y < – x+ 1: Test (0, 0) in y  x2 – 4:
2
0 < 1 (true). 0  –4 (true).
Shade the regions which include the test points:
y

y=x2 – 4
9/4
A 1
-2 2
5 B x
– 1
2 y= – x+1
2

-4

The overlapping region is the solution of the system.

118 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

 y  2 x(x+ 2)
c. 
 y  2 x2 + 8
y = 2x2 + 4x y = –2x2 + 8
The x-intercepts are (0, 0) and (–2, 0). The x-intercept are (–2, 0) and (2, 0).
The y-intercept is (0, 0). The y-intercept is (0, 8).
The parabola opens upward. The parabola opens downward.
V(–1, –2) is the vertex point. V(0, 8) is the vertex point.

The parabola is dashed. The parabola is solid.

Test (0, 1) in y > 2x(x + 2): Test (0, 1) in y  –2x2 + 8:
1 > 0 (true). 1  8 (true).
Shade the regions which include the test points:
y
8
y=2x2+4x
6 B

-2 2
A 1 x
y=–2x2+8

The overlapping region is the solution of the system.

 xy > 0
d. 
 y < (x  2)(x  3)
xy > 0 is true if x and y are both positive or negative.
So we can shade the first and the third quadrants as solutions.
The x-axis and y-axis will be dashed since the inequality symbol is >.
y = (x – 2)(x – 3) ; y = x2 – 5x + 6
The x-intercepts are (2, 0) and (3, 0).
The y-intercept is (0, 6).
The parabola opens upward.

5 1
V  ,   is the vertex point.
2 4

Quadratic Functions 119

The parabola is solid.
Test (0, 1) in y < (x – 2)(x – 3): 1 < 6 (true).
Shade the exterior region of the parabola:
y
y=x2 – 5x+6
6

2 3 x

The overlapping region is the solution of the system.

x < 1

e.  y < 3

 y < (x+ 1)(3  x)

Graph the line x = 1. The line is dashed. Shade the part on the left of the line.
Graph the line y = 3. The line is dashed. Shade the part below the line.
y = –x2 + 2x + 3
The x-intercepts are (–1, 0) and (3, 0).
The y-intercept is (0, –3).
The parabola opens downward. V(1, 4) is the vertex point.
The parabola is dashed.
Test (0, 1) in y < (x + 1)(3 – x): 0 < 3 (true).
Shade the interior region of the parabola.
y
x=1

4
3 y=3

-1 3
1 x
y=–x2+2x+3

The overlapping region is the solution of the system.

120 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

Check Yourself 12

 x  y < 0
Sketch the graph of the system of inequalities  .
 y > (x+ 2)(x  4)

Answer
y
y=(x+2)(x – 4)

-2 4 x

-8

A mathematician, like a painter or a poet, is a maker of patterns. If his patterns

are more permanent than theirs, it is because they are made with ideas.

Quadratic Functions 121

EXERCISES 3 .2
A. Relative Position of a Parabola and a 5. The line y + 4b – bx = 1 is tangent to the parabola
Line in a Plane y = x2 – (b + 2)x + 10. Find b.

1. The line f(x) = 2x + 3 and the parabola

g(x) = –x2 + mx + 4 are given. Find the values of
m for which the line 6. In the figure, line d y d
a. does not intersect the parabola. passes through the
b. is tangent to the parabola. vertex point of the 4
parabola. Find the
c. intersects the parabola at two distinct points.
equation of the
parabola. -3 -2
2. Find the coordinates y x
of the point A in the
y=–x2+4
figure.
A
O x
-2

7. In the figure, y
y=f(x)
d 1  d2 .
d2
Find f(2).
3. In the figure, d
y
|AC| = |BC|. -4 1 x
B
Find the equation
of the line d. C d1
1
O x
A
y=x2+2x – 3

8. The parabola y = (m + 1)x2 – (3m + 1)x + m – 1

4. Find the sum of the x-coordinates of the points A is tangent to the line y = –2. Find m.
and B in the figure.
y

2
9. The slope of the line which is tangent to the
x 
function f(x) = ax2+bx+c at the point (x0, f(x0))
-3 O 1 x
B y= –n is 2ax0 + b. Find the equation of the line which is
2
A tangent to the parabola y = 3x2 + 6x + 4 at the
point x = 1.

122 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

B. Relative Position of Two Parabolas in 15. Express each shaded region as an inequality.
a Plane
a. y
10. In the figure, the y
f(x) 2
parabolas of the
2
functions f(x) 3
1 A
and g(x) are x
1 3 x
tangent to the
each other at the
point A. Find the
b. y
coordinates of
the point A. -7 g(x)

1 x
11. The parabolas y = 3x2 + 4x + m and -2
2
y = 2x + 5x + n intersect each other at two
distinct points. Find the sum of the x-coordinates
of the intersection points. c. y

12. The function f(x) = mx2 + 2mx + m – 1 is given.

If m is a variable parameter, find the coordinates
of the fixed point that all parabolas of the function 3 x
f(x) pass through. -2

C. Graphical Solution of Inequalities in d. y

Two Variables
13. Show all the points which satisfy each inequality 3
in the analytic plane.
-3 3 x
a. 2x + 3y + 4 < 0 b. x – y – 4  0
c. 3x + y – 5  0 d. y < 3x + 4
e. y
14. Sketch the graphs of the solutions of the inequalities
4
in the analytic plane.

a. y > –(3 – x)2 + 4 b. y  (x + 2)(3x – 4)

2
c. y > x + x + 1 d. y < –x2 + 8 -3 -1 x
e. (x + 3)(2x – 5) > 0 f. –4x + 20x – 25  0
2

Quadratic Functions 123

D.Graphical Solution of Systems of 17. Express each shaded region as a system of
Inequalities inequalities.

16. Sketch the graph of the solution of each inequality a. y

system in the analytic plane.
2
 x+ 2 y+ 3 < 0
a.  -2 2
x
3x – y+ 1  0

 y – x+ 1 > 0
b.  b. y
 y < –(x+ 1)2 + 1
4
 y+ x – 4x+ 3  0
2

c. 
 y – x2 + 4 > 0 -2 3
x
 y < – x+ 2

d.  y < x+ 2 c. y

 y > x2 – 4 6

3
2

2 3 x

d. y

-1 1 2 3 x

124 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY
 A quadratic function is described by the standard equation f(x) = ax2 + bx + c.

 The graph of a quadratic function is called a parabola. The lowest or highest point of the parabola
b
is called its vertex V(h, k), where h =  and k = f(h).
2a
 The axis of symmetry is the line that passes through the vertex of a parabola with equation
b
x= h=  .
2a
 When a > 0, the parabola opens upward, resulting in a vertex that is a minimum.
When a < 0, the parabola opens downward, resulting in a vertex that is a maximum.
 As the absolute value of a increases, the parabola becomes narrower.
When a = 0, the graph changes into a line since the x2 term is eliminated.
 In the equation y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, the value c is the y-intercept of the graph. In other words,
the graph passes through the point (0, c).

1. If  > 0, the parabola cuts the x-axis at two distinct points, (x1, 0), (x2, 0).

2. If  = 0, the parabola is tangent to the x-axis at the point (x1, 0), (x1 = x2).

3. If  < 0, the parabola does not cut the x-axis.

D<0
a<0
D=0
D>0

x
D>0
D=0
a>0
D<0

 To sketch the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c, follow the steps.

1. Check a.

2. Find the coordinates of the vertex point, V(h, k).

3. Find the x- and y-intercepts.

4. Graph the parabola.

 Let y = f(x) be a function.

Vertical shifting:

 k > 0 shift graph of y = f ( x) up k units.

y = f (x)+ k 
 k < 0 shift graph of y = f ( x) down k units.

Quadratic Functions 125

Horizontal shifting:

 h > 0 shift the graph of y = f ( x) left h units.

y = f (x+ h ) 
 h < 0 shift the graph of y = f ( x) right h units.

Reflection:
y = –f(x) Reflect the graph of y = f(x) in the x axis.

Horizontal and vertical shifting:

y = f(x + h) + k. Shift the graph of y = f(x) up or down |k| units and left or right |h| units.
 There are three different approaches to writing the equation of a parabola.
1. If we know the vertex point of the parabola, V(h, k), then we use the formula y = a(x – h)2 to write
the equation of the parabola. We need to know another point on the parabola to write the equation.
2. If we know the x-intercepts of the parabola, then we use the formula y = a(x – x1)(x – x2) to write
the equation of the parabola. We need to know another point on the parabola to write the equation.
3. If we know any three points on the parabola, then we use the formula y = ax2 + bx + c to write
the equation of the parabola.
 Let y = f(x) = ax2 + bx + c and y = g(x) = mx + n be two functions.
In the standard form of the equation f(x) = g(x), there are three possible cases for the discriminant, .
1. If  > 0, the line intersects the parabola at two distinct points.
2. If  = 0, the line is tangent to the parabola.
3. If  < 0, the line does not intersect the parabola.

A B

C
D>0 D=0 D<0

 Let f(x) = ax2 + bx + c and g(x) = Ax2 + Bx + C be two functions.

In the equation f(x) = g(x), ax2 + bx + c = Ax2 + Bx + C
(a – A)x2 + (b – B)x + (c – C) = 0.
1. If a – A  0, then we examine the discriminant, .
a. If  > 0, the parabolas intersect each other at two distinct points.
b. If  = 0, the parabolas are tangent to each other.
c. If  < 0, the parabolas do not intersect each other.
2. If a – A = 0 and b – B  0, the parabolas intersect each other at one point.
3. If a – A = 0, b – B = 0 and c – C = 0, the parabolas are coincident.

 An inequality in one of the forms

ax + b > y, ax + b < y
ax + b  y, ax + b  y
for real numbers a and b, a  0, is called a linear inequality in two variables.

126 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

 To graph a linear inequality in two variables, follow the steps.
1. Graph the linear equation y = ax + b. This line becomes the boundary line for the graph. Draw
the boundary line using a dashed line if the inequality symbol is < or >, or a solid line if the
inequality symbol is  or .
2. Choose a test point which is not on the boundary line and substitute it into the inequality.
3. Shade the region which includes the test point if the resulting inequality is true, and shade the
region which does not contain the test point if the resulting inequality is false.
 An inequality in one of the forms
ax2 + bx + c > y, ax2 + bx + c < y,
ax2 + bx + c  y, ax2 + bx + c  y,
for real numbers a, b and c, a  0 is called a quadratic inequality in two variables.
 To graph a quadratic inequality in two variables, follow the steps.
1. Graph the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c. The parabola is the boundary of the graph. Draw the parabola
as a dashed line if the inequality symbol is < or > and as a solid line if the inequality symbol is
 or .
2. Choose a test point which is not on the boundary and substitute it into the inequality.
3. Shade the region which includes the test point if the resulting inequality is true, and shade the
region which does not contain the test point if the resulting inequality is false.
 A system of inequalities in two variables is made up of two or more inequalities. A solution of the
system is an ordered pair that satisfies all of the inequalities. The solution set is the set of all ordered
pairs that satisfy all of the inequalities. To solve a system of inequalities, we first solve the inequalities
individually. The solution to the system is the region where all of the inequalities overlap on a graph.

Concept Check
 How many times can a quadratic function cross the x-axis?
 The coefficient of the x2-term can be positive or negative. What difference does it make?
 Which of the parabolas y = –2x2 – x – 5 and y = 4x2 – 2x + 2 is wider?
 What is the effect of increasing the magnitude of the coefficient of x2?
 Which of the parabolas y = 2x2 + x – 5 and y = –4x2 + 2x + 2 opens upward?
 For what values of a will a parabola's vertex be a maximum? For what values of a will the vertex be
a minimum?
 What point on the parabola y = ax2 + bx + c does the axis of symmetry always pass through?
 In some examples, the x-term is zero and in others it is non-zero. What difference does it make?
 If you write a quadratic function in the form y = (x + m)2 + n, what is the significance on the graph
of the values of m and n?
 If you write a quadratic function in the form y = (x + b)(x + g), what is the significance on the
graph of the values of b and g?
 When graphing an inequality in two variables, how do you find the equation of the boundary?
 What is the significance of a dashed line in the graph of an inequality?
 When graphing an inequality in two variables, how do you know which side of the boundary to
shade?

Quadratic Functions 127

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 3A
1. Which one of the following points is the vertex of 5. The parabola y = x2 – mx + m – 1 is tangent to
the parabola y = 2x2 – 4x + 3? the x-axis. Find the value of m.

A) (–1, 9) B) (–2, 19) C) (1, 1) A) 4 B) 2 C) –2 D) –1 E) 0

D) (–4, 1) E) (2, 3)

2. What is the minimum value of the expression

x2 + 8x for any real number x? 6. The parabolas y = x2 + 2x – 5 and y = 2x2 – x – 3
intersect each other at two distinct points. What
A) –16,25 B) –16 C) –15 D) –8 E) –7 is the abscissa of one of these points?

A) 1 B) 3 C) –3 D) 5 E) –5

3. Which one of the y

following functions
represents the graph
(-2,1) (2,1)
in the figure?
0 x 7. A particle on the parabola y = x2 – 2x – 8 is
-1 moved from a point P with ordinate 7 to another
point Q with ordinate –9. What is the horizontal
A) x2 = 2y + 2 B) x2 = 4y + 4 distance covered by this particle?

1 2 A) 5 B) 4 C) 3 D) 2 E) 1
C) y = x +1 D) y = 2x2 – 1
2
E) x2 = 4y – 1

4. The points (1, y1) and (–1, y2) are on the parabola 8. The parabola y = x2 – 6x + 1 is given. The axis of
y = ax2 + bx + c and y1 – y2 = –6. Find b. symmetry of the parabola cuts the x-axis at one
point. What is the abscissa of this point?
a+ c
A) 3 B) 0 C) –3 D) òac E)
2 A) 6 B) 5 C) 4 D) 3 E) 2

128 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

9. x2 – 5x + 6 < 0 and p = x2 + 5x + 6 is given. 13. Which system of y y = x2 – 3x
Which one of the following expressions is true? inequalities expresses y=x+1

the shaded region in

A) p > 30 B) 20 < p < 30
the figure?
C) 0 < p < 20 D) p < 0
0 x
E) p is any real number

 x2 – 3x > y  x2 – 3x < y
A)  B) 
 x+ 1  0  x+ 1  y
10. Which one of the y
following statements y = ax2+bx+c  x2 – 3x > y  x2 – 3x < y
C)  D) 
is false about the  x+ 1  y  x+ 1  y
parabola given in the
 x2 – 3x < y+ 1
figure? -1 0 3 x E) 
 x+ 1 > 0

A) a is positive.
B) b is less than zero.
C) The abscissa of the vertex point is positive. 14. The sum of two numbers is 5. What is the greatest
D) There are two distinct real roots. possible value of the product of these numbers?

E) The minimum value of the function is positive. 25 25

A) 5 B) –5 C) 25 D) E)
2 4

11. For which value of x does the function

15. The figure shows the graph of y
f(x) = (3 – x)(2x – 1) have its maximum value? 2
y = f(x)
the parabola f(x) = x – 5x + 4.
7 What is the area of the triangle
A) 0 B) C) 2 D) 3 E) 6
4 AOC? A
C
0 x

12. The figure shows the 5 7

y
y = x2 – x – 6 A) 1 B) 2 C) D) E) 3
graph of the function 2 3
y = x2 – x – 6. What is
the value of a + b + c?
a 0 b x 16. The point V(1, 2) is the vertex of the parabola
c
y = x2 + bx + c. What is the product of b and c?

A) –7 B) –6 C) –5 D) 3 E) 6 A) –6 B) –3 C) –2 D) –3 E) 6

Quadratic Functions 129

CHAPTER REVIEW TEST 3B
1. The parabola y = 2x2 + bx – 2 passes through the 5. The vertex point of the parabola y = x2 – 8x + c is
point K(1, –1). What is the value of b? tangent to the x-axis. What is the value of c?

A) –3 B) –2 C) –1 D) 0 E) 1 A) –16 B) –4 C) 4 D) 8 E) 16

6. The parabolas y = ax2+bx+c and y = ax2 – bx+c

2. s(t) = 1600t – 1600t2 is the displacement function
are given. The coefficients a, b, and c are real
of a particle starting to move from the origin in the
numbers. Which one of the following statements
analytic plane, in terms of time t. What is the
is true about the intersection of these parabolas?
maximum height that this particle can reach?
A) There are two intersections. One intersection
A) 800 B) 640 C) 400 D) 320 E) 160
is on the x-axis and the other is on the y-axis.
B) The intersection point is not on the axes.
C) The parabolas only intersect at the origin.
D) The parabolas only intersect on the y-axis.

3. The figure shows E) The parabolas only intersect on the x-axis.

y
g(x)
the graph of the
3
function g(x).
What is the
-6 x1 0 x2 2 x
product of the
-2
values of x1 and x2? 7. The minimum value of the function
y = x2 + px + q is zero. What is the value of q?
24 1 10
A)  B) –4 C)  D) –3 E)  p2 p2 p p
5 3 3 A) B)  C) D)  E) p
4 4 2 2

4. The parabolas y = x2 + 2x – 5 and y = x – 1 8. The parabola y = ax2 – ax – 1 does not cut the
intersect each other at two distinct points. What x-axis. How many possible integer values of a are
is the sum of the x-coordinates of these points? there?

A) –1 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 12 A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 6

130 Quadratics: Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

9. y 13. What is the minimum value of the function
f(x) = 4 – x2 on the closed interval [–1, 3]?
K L
0 x A) –6 B) –5 C) –4 D) 2 E) 3

f(x) = –x2 + 5x – 3m – 1
14. What is the area y

The figure shows the graph of the parabola of the rectangle D C

y=3
f(x) = –x2 + 5x – 3m – 1. |OL| = 4  |OK| is ABCD in the
given. What is the value of m? figure? y=1
A B y=2x2
0 x
A) 1 B) –1 C) –2 D) 2 E) 3
1 2
10. f(x) = x2 – 6x + 9 and g(x) = |f(x)| are given. A) B) C) ñ2 D) 2 E) 2ñ2
2 2
Which one of the following is the solution of the
inequality g(x) > f(x)?

A) 3 < x < 5 B)  C) 3 < x < 9 15. Which system of y

D) x > 9 E) x < 5 inequalities expresses 4

the shaded region in
11. Which one of the y the figure?
following functions -2 -1 0 1 2 x
represents the graph 3 -1

in the figure?

A) y = |x2 – 4x – 3|  y  x2 – 1  y  x2 – 1
1
2
B) y = x + 4|x| + 3 A)  B) 
 y  –x2 + 4  y  –x2 + 4
C) y = x2 – 4|x| + 3 0 1 2 3 x
2
D) y = |x – 4x + 3| -1  y  x2 – 1  y  x2 – 1
C)  D) 
E) y = |x2 + 4x – 3|  y  –x2 + 4  y  –x2 + 4

 y  x2 – 1
12. The figure shows the y E) 
parabola y = f(x). y = f(x)  y  x2 + 4
What is f(1)?
-2 0 3 x
16. The parabola y = x2 + 4x – 2 is given. What is the
distance from the point A(1, –2) to the vertex of
-4 the parabola?

A) –4 B) –2 C) –3 D) 1 E) 2 A) 5 B) 5ñ2 C) 6 D) 6ñ2 E) 2

Quadratic Functions 131

EXERCISES 1 .1
5 3 8 1 5
1. a. 0 b. 0 c. 0 d. 0 2. a. 0,  b. 0, c. 0, d. 0, 3. a. 0, –2 4. 0,  5. –1, 2 6. a. 4 b. no real solution
2 7 3 9 2

5 4
c.  d. 5 e.  2 5 f.  7. a. –1,5 b. no real solution c. (–1 – ñ5), (–1 + ñ5) d. –2, 4 8. ñ3 9. a. 0, 1
3 5 5

1 5 3 2 3 1 2 5b
b. 0, c. 7 d. 5 e. –1, 2 f. –1, –2 g. 1 h.  , i. , j.  , 10. a. –a, –1 b. no real solution c.  ,1
3 3 2 5 2 4 3 2a

11. a. (2 + ñ5), (2 – ñ5), b. (ñ7 – 2), (–ñ7 – 2) c. (3  ò22) d. no real solution e. no real solution f. no real solution

1 3
g. 3  2ñ2 h. –1  7 12. a. 2  ñ2 b. 1, c. x   d. 5  13 e. no real root f. 1  2 7 g. no real root
6 2 2 6 3
4 7 2 1 8
h. x   i. , 4 j.  , 1 k. , 1 l. –1, 23 13. a. 1  33 b. 3  73 c. 1, 5 d. , 5 14. a. two real roots
5 4 3 26 8 4 5

9
b. two real roots c. one double root d. one double root e. no real solution f. no real solution 15. a. a 
40
9 9 7 7 7 1
b. a  c. a  16. a. m   b. m   c. m   17. – , 1 18. 8 cm, 10 cm
40 40 2 2 2 4
19. 12 cm, 20 cm 20. 4, 6, 8, 10 21. 256 cm2, 441 cm2 22. 7, 49

EXERCISES 1 .2
11 6 72 40 10 5 4 5 18 8 24 2 21 17
1. a. ,  b.  ,  c. ,  d. ,  e.  , f. (3ñ2 – 2), 0 2. 3.  4. a. b. 53 c. 
10 5 49 21 3 3 3 6 7 7 7 5 4 9
153 5 2
d. 5. m1 = –5, m2 = 4, x2   6. n1 = –4, n2 = 2, x2   7. 0 8. m = 2n 9. k = 3
256 4 3
14 7 5
10. ,4 11. 5 12.  , 13. –6, 2 14. 1 15. k > 6 16. 6, 7 17. a  b 18. 0
3 3 3

1 5
19. 7 20. c = 2, 1, 21. –13 22.  1 , 1  13 23. 4 + 2ñ3 cm
2 2 2

132 QUADRATICS, Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXERCISES 1 .3
1. a. x2 – 1 = 0 b. 4x2 – 8x + 3 = 0 c. x2 – 4x = 0 d. x2 – 4x + 2 = 0 e. x2 – 2ñ3x + 1 = 0 f. p2q2x2 – (p2+q2)x+1=0
2. x2 + 2x + 5 = 0 3. x2 – 8x – 12 = 0 4. x2 + x + 27 = 0 5. a. x2 – 4 = 0 b. x2 + 8x + 7 = 0
c. 4x2 – 25 = 0 d. x2 – 2x + 1 = 0 e. x2 + 2mx – 8m2 + 27m – 18 = 0 f. mx2 – 2mx – 8m – 9 = 0 6. 5
4
7. –7, –6, –5 or 5, 6, 7 8. 9 9. 15 hours, 10 hours 10. 3 hours, 2 hours 11. 6 hours 12.
13. 18(ñ2 + 1)
7
14. from A to B 60 km/h, from B to A 80 km/h 15. 160 km/h 16. 16 km/h 17. 7 women 18. 80 km/h
19. 24 hours, 48 hours 20. 20 km/h 21. height = 6 m, base = 12 m 22. 40 kg 25%, 20 kg 40%
23. 60 hours, 84 hours 24. 4 hours, 8 hours 25. 6 m, 8 m

EXERCISES 1 .4
1 3 5
1. a. 2, 3 b. ñ3 c. ò10, 2ñ3 d. –5 ñ7 e. –5 f. 79 g. 4 h. 2 ñ3 i. 2 ñ2 2. a. b. (1 ò10), –1, 3
2 2
1 6  42 7
c. –2, –1, 0, 1 d. 1, 2 e. –6, 1 3. a. 0,  , 1, 5 b. –10, (–4  ñ2), 2 c. 2 d. 5 e. f.  5, , 1 g. no solution
4 3 3

11 – 21
h. 1, 2, 4 i. 0 j. –3 ò15 4. a. 2 b. c. –7 d. 1, 2 e. 12 f. 3 g. –1, 2 h. 0 i. –1, 7 j. no solution
2
8 7
5. a. 7, 8 b. 2 c. 0 d. 0, 2 e. 0 f. no solution g. – , 1 h. 2 6. a. –1 b. , 3 c. 2 d. –1, 5 e. –1, 3 f. no solution
3 3
1 2 1 3 3
g. 3 – ñ7, 2 h. 2 i. no solution 7. a. 0 b.  c. –2, 0 d. 2 e. – , , 2 f. x  (– , ] 8. a. 1 b. 0, 3 c.
2 3 2 2 4
d. –1, 4

EXERCISES 1 .5
5 7
1. a. (–6, –18), (18, 6) b. ( , – ) c. (–3, 6), (10, –7) d. (10, 15), (15, 10) e. (4, –1), (–4, 1) f. (3, 3), (–3, –3)
2 2
g. (–3, –4) h. (0, –5), (1, –4)
3
2. a. (–4, –4), (–6, –2) b. (0, 0), ( , 3) c. (0, 0) d. (1, 0) e. (2, 4), (4, 2), (ò22 – 4, –ò22 – 4), (–ò22 – 4, ò22 – 4)
2
7 7 7 7
f. (0, –2), (2, 0) g. (0, ñ2), (0, –ñ2) h. (2, 1), (–2, –1), ( ,– )(– , )
2 2 2 2

Answers to Exercises 133

EXERCISES 2 .1
1 3
1. a. (–2, ) b. (–, 6] c. (–, –7) d. [4, ) e. [2, 4) f. (–1, 0] g. (–5, ) h. [0.5, ]
2 2

2. a. x –¥ -1/4 b. x –¥ -5/3 c. x –¥ 14/3

x 7
4x + 1 – + –3x – 5 + – - +
2 3
+ –

1 –1/2 0
d. x –¥ 6/ñ3 3. a. x > – ; b. x  0;
2 x x
ñ3x – 6 – +

c. x > 2; 2
d. x  3; 3
e. x > 2 ; 2/3
x x 3 x

–3
6 6/(a+3) –3 a4+4
f. x  ; g. x > 4 ;
a+ 3 x a +4 x

EXERCISES 2 .2
1. a. x –¥ 1 4 b. x –¥ -2 3/2 c. x

x2 – 5x+4 + – + 2x2+x –6 + – + 2x2 – 3x+4 + + + + + +

d. x –¥ 1/4 e. x f. x –¥ –ñ3/6

–16x2+8x – 1 – – –4x2+10x – 25 – – – – 12x2+4ñ3x+1 + +

4 7 4 4
2. a. (4, 5) b. (0, ) c. (– , – ]  [0, ) d. e. x = – f. ( , 1) g. (–, –4)  (2, ) 3. a. (0, 2) b. 0, 2
7 6 3 5
c. (–, 0)  (2, ) 4. (–, –2ñ3 – 1)  (2ñ3 – 1, ) 5. (3 – 2ñ2, 3 + 2ñ2) 6. {–6, –5, –4, –3, –2, –1, 0 1, 2}

1 3 2 2 5
7. a. (0, ), x  1 b. (– , – )  ( , 2) c. x  –2, (– , –1)  ( , 3) d. (– , )  (1, )
3 2 3 3 2
1 3 7
e. (–4, –3)  (–2, – 1)  ( , 3) f. (–1, 5) g. (– , )  ( , ) h. (–8, –1) i. – {2} j. (–, –7]  (–1, 0)  (0, 1]  (3, )
2 2 3

– 6 6 4 1 11
k. (– , ]  [–1, 0)  [1, ] l. (– , 1)  ( , 2) m. (–, 2) – {–4, –2} n. [0, ] o. (– , 1)  ( , )
2 2 3 3 5
1 3
p. (–, –2)  (–2, –1)  (–1, 0) q. [– , 0]  [1, ) 8. a. (0, 1) b. (0, 1) c.  d. [ , 2) 9. a. – {7, –7}
2 2
b. (0, 16)  (16, ) c. (–, –2)  [2, ) d. [2, 3]  [–1, 1] 10. a. (0, ñ3 – 1)  (–4, –3)  (–ñ3 – 1, –2)  (1, 2)
11. x  0, (–2, 1)

134 QUADRATICS, Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

EXERCISES 2 .3
3
1. a. (–2, ) b. (1, 3) c. (–6, –5) d. (–1, 1) e. (1, 2) f. [1, 2) g. (2, 4) h. (0, 1) 2. a. (0, 1) b. (–1, 1)  (3, 5)
2
13 3 5
c. (–8, – )  (0, 5) 3. a. (– , 1]  [ ,  ) b. (– , – )  (3, ) c. (–, –5)  (–1, ) d. (–, –4)  (0, )
2 2 3
3 2 2 13 5 3
e. [ , 2) f. [ , ] g. (–, 3) 4. a. (3, ) b. [ , 4) c. [4, ) d. (–3, 1) e. [3, ) f. (9, ) 5. a. [3, ) b. [–2, – ]
2 7 3 5 10 2

13 – 5 417 – 5 –1 13 + 3 – 11 – 1 11+1
c. [2, 3] d. [–15, ) e. [3, ) 6. a. [ , ] b. [–1, 3] c. [– 6, ) ( , 6]
2 64 2 2 2 2
5
7. [1, 5)  (10, ) 8. a. (2, ) b. (1, ) c. (– , – ) d. (–, –2)  (2, ) 9. (–5, –1)
2

EXERCISES 3 .1
y y y
1. a. b. -1 0 1 c.
4 3 y=3x2
x
y – 4x2=0
3 2y=–3x2
-
2
2 y=2x2 y=–3x2
-3 1
3 3y=x2
2
3 2x2=3y -4 y+4x2=0 -1 1 x
1
- 2y+x2=0
-1 0 1 x 2

1 1 7 25 -2 y+2x2=0
2. a. yes b. no c. yes d. no 3. a. b. c. – d. –
3 5 9 8
y
4. a. 5. a. V(0, 0), x = 0, ymin = 0 b. V(0, 0), x = 0, ymax = 0
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-
1 x c. V(0, 2), x = 0, ymin = 2 d. V(0, –1), x = 0, ymax = –1
2
-2 5 25 5 25 6 6 6 6
e. V( , ), x = , ymax = f. V( , ), x = , ymin =
4 8 4 8 7 5 7 5
9
- 2 5 2 5 1 5 1 5
2 g. V( , ), x = , ymin = h. V( , ), x = , ymax =
3 3 3 3 2 4 2 4
-8 3 75 3 75
i. V( , – ), x = , ymin = – j. V(–4, 0), x = –4, ymax = 0
2 4 2 4
41 5
k. V(–3, –5), x = –3, ymax = –5 l. V(1, 3), x = 1, ymin = 3 6. – 7. 1 8. – 9. a. (0, 0), (4, 0)
8 2
3 3
b. (3, 0), (0, 9) c. (0, 396) d. (–2ñ2, 0), (2ñ2, 0), (0, –8) e. (– , 0), (–1, 0), (0, 3) f. (0, –5) g. (– , 0), (0, 9)
2 4

Answers to Exercises 135

h. (0, –4) 10. a. m  (–2ñ2, 2ñ2) b. m = 2ñ2 c. m  (–, –2ñ2)  (2ñ2, ) 11. 3
y y y y y y
12. a. b. 7 c. -4 d. e. 1 f.
4
-ñ3 ñ3 x x 98 -1 3 x
5 -4
-2 x
-3
-1 1 x -48 -4
-9 -7 x

y
y y y y
g. h. i. j. 13. 7 f(A)= [–9, 7)
13 12
1

2 – ñ2 2+ñ2 x -ñ5 ñ5 x -1 1
-3 4 -2 4 5 x
-5
3 x -3 4 x -5

-8
-9

y
9 1
14. 3 15. a. ymax = 12, ymin = 3 16. ymax = 64 17. ymin = – 18. a = – , b =1
4 2
16
-1 3 19. y = 3(x – 5)2 20. –3(x – 1)2 + 2  2; –3(x – 1)2  0; 3(x – 1)2  0 21. m  [0, ]
1 x 9

-5
y y y y
22. a. y=x2+4 b. y=x2 c. d.
-5
y=x2 y=x2 – 2 x
-2 x
4
-ñ2 ñ2 x
y=–x2
x -2 -25
y=–x2 – 2
y=–(x+5)2 y=–x2

y y y y
e. y=x2 f. g. h. y=(x – 2)2+3
-1
16 3
y=(x – 4)2 x
x y=(x – 2)2
-1 7
y=x2
-2 y=–x2
-9
4 x 4
y=–x2 y=–(x+1)2
y=–(x – 3)2
y=–(x+1)2 – 2 x
2

136 QUADRATICS, Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

y y y y
23. a. b. 3
c. d.
1 7
3
1
1 1 2 x
-1 1 x
1 2 3 x -1

2 3 4
x
-1

1 1
24. a. y = –(x – 1)2 + 3 b. y = x(x – 5) c. y = (x + 3)2 d. y = (x + 1)2 + 3 e. y = –x2 + 4x – 3
6 3
1
f. y = – (x – 3)(x + 3) 25. a. y = –3x2 + x + 4 b. y = –x2 + 4x – 4 26. a. y = x2 – 4 b. y = (x – 2)2
3
18 1 25 9
c. y = (x + 1)2 – 4 d. y = –x2 – x – 4 27. –12 28. 29. 0 30. 31. 32. square units
5 2 4 4
49
33. 10 square units 34. m  (–, –1)  (0, ) 35. 64 square units 36. 37. 2 38. (–3, 0) 39. 9 40. 1
20
41. 35 square units

EXERCISES 3 .2
11 2
1. a.  b.  c. m  2. (8, 0) 3. y = 2x + 1 4. – 5. –2 or 4 6. y = ( x + 3)2 – 2 7. 3
4 3

3
8. 1 or – 9. y = 12x + 1 10. (2, 1) 11. 1 12. (–1, –1)
5

y y y
13. a. b. y c. d.
-2 5
x 4
4 4 x
-
3
4
-
3
-4 x
5 x
3

Answers to Exercises 137

y y y y
14. a. b. c. d. 8
4 1
3/4

-2 4 x 1 x
3 -
2
3 x
-2ñ2 2ñ2
-8 x

-5

y y
e. f. 5 15. a. 3y + 2x – 6 < 0 b. y – 2x + 2  0
2
x 8 2 8 1
-3 5 x c. y > x – x d. y > – x2 + 3
2 9 3 3
4
e. ( x + 3)( x +1) > 0
-15
-25 3

y y y
y – x2+4=0
16. a. 3x – y+1=0 b. c.
y – x+1=0
5 1 1
- -
-3 7 3 1 2 3
x -2
-1 1 x -2 x
-8/7
-3/2 -1
y=-(x+1)2+1 -3

x+2y+3=0 -4

y+x2 – 4x+3=0

y  2
d. 17. a.  y < x + 2 b.  y < – ( x + 2)( x – 3)
  3
 
y=x+2  y < – x + 2 
2 3y + 4x – 12  

-2 2
x  1
c.  y  ( x – 3)2 + 3 d.  y < –2( x +1)( x – 3)
 3 
y=x2 – 4 y=–x+2  
 1  y +6 x – 6  0
-4  y > ( x – 2)
2

 2 
y > 6x – 6

138 QUADRATICS, Equations, Inequalities, and Functions

TEST 1A TEST 1B TEST 2A TEST 2B TEST 3A TEST 3B

1. C 1. B 1. E 1. D 1. C 1. C

2. E 2. D 2. B 2. B 2. B 2. C

3. C 3. E 3. E 3. A 3. A 3. A

4. B 4. A 4. A 4. C 4. C 4. A

5. E 5. D 5. C 5. E 5. B 5. E

6. D 6. B 6. D 6. B 6. A 6. D

7. C 7. A 7. A 7. E 7. B 7. A

8. C 8. C 8. D 8. C 8. D 8. B

9. B 9. A 9. E 9. C 9. B 9. A

10. B 10. E 10. B 10. D 10. E 10. B

11. D 11. B 11. D 11. A 11. B 11. D

12. A 12. D 12. D 12. B 12. C 12. A

13. E 13. B 13. C 13. E 13. D 13. B

14. C 14. A 14. B 14. C 14. E 14. E

15. B 15. B 15. A 15. D 15. B 15. D

16. D 16. B 16. B 16. D 16. A 16. A

Answers to Exercises 139

absolute value: the distance between a number and zero on factor: a is a factor of b if it divides b exactly, with no remainder.
the number line.
factoring: the process of rewriting an algebraic expression as
altitude of a triangle: a perpendicular line drawn from any a product of two or more factors.
vertex of a triangle to the opposite side or to an extension of
the side. formula: an algebraic equation that explains how two or
more variables are related.
area: the number of unit squares that fit inside a figure.
a
fraction: a number of the form (or a decimal) that shows
b
base of a triangle: a side of a triangle with a perpendicular
the relationship of a part to a whole.
altitude drawn to it.
function: a rule that associates one and only one output
value with each input value.
coefficient: the numerical factor of a term.
common factor: a number that is a factor of two or more
numbers. hypotenuse: the side opposite the right angle in a right
consecutive: following one after another without interruption. triangle.
constant: a symbol that presents a static quantity. The value
of a constant never changes.
coordinates: a number or set of numbers that identify the
location of a point on a line, in a plane, or in a space. independent variable: a variable, usually x, whose value can
coordinate plane: a plane on which the locations of points are change freely in a function f(x).
given by x-and y-coordinates that represent horizontal and inequality: an algebraic expression which shows that a
vertical distances along the x-axis and y-axis lines, respectively. quantity is greater than or less than another quantity.

denominator: the number below the bar in a fraction. line: a line consists of infinitely many points in a plane,
dependent variable: a variable, usually y, that depends on an extending infinitely in opposite directions.
input value of an independent variable, usually x. The set of
linear equation: an equation in the form ax + by + c = 0.
all possible values of the dependent variable forms the range
The graph of a linear equation is a straight line.
of the function.
distance: the positive difference of the values of two points
on a number line.
domain: a list of the x-values that are possible in a specific
function f(x). The domain of a function excludes values that
numerator: the number above the bar in a fraction.
result in imaginary numbers or division by zero, and values
that make no sense in the problem. nonlinear equation: an equation that has at least one
variable raised to a power greater than one.

equation: a mathematical statement that establishes the ordered pair: a pair of numbers that represents a point in the
equality of two expressions. rectangular coordinate system.
triangle: a polygon with three sides.

parabola: the curved graph of a quadratic equation of the

form y = ax2 + bx + c.
variable: not having a fixed numerical value.
parameter: a parameter is a variable that can be varied or
changed in an expression. vertex of a parabola: the highest or the lowest point of a
parabola.
perfect square: a number that is the square of another
number.
perimeter: the distance around a closed figure.
x-iintercept: the point where a graph crosses the x-axis.
point: a location on a line, in a plane, or in space. A point has
no length, width, or depth.
polynomial: an algebraic expression that consists of one or
more terms. y-iintercept: the point where a graph crosses the y-axis.
Pythagorean Theorem: the theorem stating that for a right
triangle, the sum of the squares of the sides equals the
square of the hypotenuse.

quadratic equation: a second degree polynomial equation in

a single variable x, which we can write as ax2 + bx + c = 0
with a  0.

range: the set of y-values that can be produced by a specific

function y = f(x).
ratio: a fraction that compares quantities by division.
right triangle: a triangle that contains one right angle.

simplified form: an algebraic expression in simplified form is

in its most basic form.
substitute: to put or use (a number or an expression) in place
of another in a formula or equation.
system of equations: a group of linear or nonlinear
equations that use the same variables.

term: any number or variable that is added or subtracted.

tangent line: a line that touches a curve or a circle at
exactly one point and lies in the same plane as the curve or
circle.
theorem: a statement that can be proved through deductive
reasoning by using undefined terms, definitions, postulates,
axioms, or assumptions.