Factorization of Quadratic Equations

Back to: MATHEMATICS JSS3

 

Welcome to Class !!

We are eager to have you join us !!

In today’s Mathematics class, We will be learning about how to Factorize Quadratic Equations. We hope you enjoy the class!

 

 

You can also factorise quadratic expressions. Remember that factorizing an expression simplifies it in some way. Factorizing is the reverse of expanding brackets.

 

Factorizing quadratic expressions

Multiply these brackets to remind yourself how to factorise.

( x + 2 ) ( x + 5 ) = x² + 7x + 10

( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) = x² + 5x + 6

( x – 3 ) ( x – 5 ) = x ² – 8x + 15

( x + 6 ) ( x – 5 ) = x² + x – 30

( x – 6 ) ( x + 5 ) = x² – x – 30

Factorising

To factorise an expression such x² + 5x + 6, you need to look for two numbers that add up to make 5 and multiply to give 6.

The factor pairs of 6 are:

1 and 6

2 and 3

2 and 3 add up to 5. So: (x +2) (x+3) = x² + 5x + 6

Factorising expressions gets trickier with negative numbers.

 

Example

Factorise the expression: c²– 3c – 10

Write down the expression: c²– 3c – 10

Remember that to factorise an expression we need to look for common factor pairs. In this example we are looking for two numbers that:

multiply to give -10

add to give -3

Think of all the factor pairs of -10:

1 and -10

-1 and 10

2 and -5

-2 and 5

Which of these factor pairs can be added to get -3?

Only 2 + (-5) = -3

So the answer is:

c² – 3c – 10 = (c + 2)(c – 5)

 

Factorising the difference of two squares

Some quadratic expressions have only a term in x² and a number such as x² – 25.

These quadratic expressions have no x term.

Using our method to factorise quadratics means we look for two numbers that multiply to make -25 and add to make 0.

The only factor pair that will work are 5 and -5. So:

(x + 5)(x – 5) = x² – 25

Not all quadratic expressions without an x term can be factorized.

Examples

Factorise:

x² – 4 = (x + 2)(x – 2)

x² – 81 = (x + 9)(x – 9)

x² – 9 = (x + 3)(x – 3)

 

 

Solving quadratic equations by factorizing

To solve a quadratic equation, the first step is to write it in the form: ax² + bx + c = 0. Then factorise the equation as you have revised in the previous section.

If we have two numbers, A and B, and we know that A × B = 0, then it must follow that either A = 0, or B = 0 (or both). When we multiply any number by 0, we get 0.

Example

Solve the equation: x² – 9x + 20 = 0

Solution

First, factorise the quadratic equation x²– 9x + 20 = 0

Find two numbers which add up to 9 and multiply to give 20. These numbers are 4 and 5.

(x – 4) (x – 5) = 0

Now find the value x so that when these brackets are multiplied together the answer is 0.

This means either (x – 4) = 0 or (x – 5) = 0

So x = 4 or x = 5.

You can check these answers by substituting 4 and 5 in to the equation:

x²– 9x + 20

Substituting 4 gives:

4² – 9 × 4 + 20 = 16 – 36 + 20 = 0

Substituting 5 gives:

5² – 9 × 5 + 20 = 25 – 45 + 20 = 0

Remember these 3 simple steps and you will be able to solve quadratic equations.

 

 

Completing the square

This is another way to solve a quadratic equation if the equation will not factorise.

It is often convenient to write an algebraic expression as a square plus another term. The other term is found by dividing the coefficient of x by 2, and squaring it.

Any quadratic equation can be rearranged so that it can be solved in this way.

Have a look at this example.

Example

Rewrite x² + 6x as a square plus another term.

The coeffient of x is 6. Dividing 6 by 2 and squaring it gives 9.

x² + 6x = (x² + 6x + 9) – 9

= (x + 3)² – 9

 

Example

We have seen in the previous example that x² + 6x = (x + 3)² – 9

So work out x² + 6x – 2

x² + 6x – 2 = ( x² + 6x + 9 ) – 9 – 2 = (x + 3)² – 11

 

 

Example

Solve x² + 6x – 2 = 0

From the previous examples, we know that x² + 6x – 2 = 0 can be written as (x + 3)² – 11 = 0

So, to solve the equation, take the square root of both sides. So (x + 3)² = 11

x + 3 = + √11

or x + 3 = – √11

x = – 3 + √11

or x = – 3 –  √11

x = – 3 + 3.317 or x = – 3 – 3.317 (√11 is 3.317)

x = 0.317 (3 s.f) or x = – 6.317 (3 s.f)

 

Example

Rewrite 2x² + 20x + 3

Rewrite to get x² on its own.

2( x² + 10x ) + 3

The coefficient of x is 10. Divide 10 by 2, and square to get 25.

= 2 ( ( x + 5)² – 25) + 3

= 2 (x + 5)² – 50 + 3

= 2 (x + 5)² – 47

Now use the previous example to solve 2x² + 20x + 3 = 0

From the previous example, we know that 2x² + 20x + 3 can be rewritten as:

2 (x + 5)² – 47

Therefore, we can rewrite the equation as:

2(x + 5 )² – 47 = 0

2(x + 5 )² = 47

(x + 5 )² = 23.5 (dividing both sides by 2)

Take the square root of both sides.

x + 5 = √23.5

or x + 5 = – √23.5

x = – 5 + √23.5

or x = – 5 – √23.5

x = – 5 + √23.5

or x = – 5 – √23.5

x = – 0.152 (3 s.f) or x = – 9.85 (3 s.f)

 

EVALUATION

Factorise the following

1. 1. x² + 4x – 5
   2. x² + 6x – 7
   3. (a + 4)²
   4. (3x + y)²
   5. 49m² – n² 

 

 

We have come to the end of this class. We do hope you enjoyed the class?

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

We have come to the end of this term and hence JSS3. It’s been a remarkable journey and we are glad that you have made it this far. For making it this far, we commend you for being resilient, you have taken charge of your education and future.

We wish you success in your Junior WAEC exams and we hope to see you in SS1.

 

School Owner? Looking for ready-made content and tools to save time and grow easily? Book a free demo session now

Get more class notes, videos, homework help, exam practice on Android [DOWNLOAD]

Get more class notes, videos, homework help, exam practice on iPhone [DOWNLOAD]