Form 4 Chapter 2: Quadratic Equations

Tutorial Questions:

1. In your own words, describe a quadratic algebraic expression.

2. Explain why x^2 + 2/x 3 = 0 is not a quadratic equation.

3. Is x^3 x^2 = 0 a quadratic equation?

4. By substitution, determine whether x = 1, x = 2 and/or x = -2 are roots of x^2 + x
- 2 = 0

5. By inspection, determine whether x = 2, x = -2, x = 3 and/or x = -3 are roots of
the equation (x 2)(x + 3) = 0

6. By inspection, state the roots of the equation (x p)(x q) = 0

7. The table below gives the values of the dependent variable y of a quadratic
equation: y = x^2 2x 15 in terms of the independent variable x.
x 6 4 2 0 -2 -4
y 9 -7 -15 -15 -7 9

a. By inspection, identify the locations of the roots of the quadratic equation
as between which pair(s) of x values?
b. By trial and improvement method, find the roots of the quadratic equation.

8. Find the roots of the following quadratic equations by factorization:
a. x^2 + x -12 = 0
b. 12x^2 = 6 x
c. x(2x 5) = 12

9. You can make any quadratic expression in the form of x^2 + bx into a perfect
square in what is known as completing the square. Show me how do you complete
x^2 + bx into a perfect square.

10. For the quadratic equation x^2 + 6x 1 = 0:
a. State whether you can easily factorise it into the form: (x p)(x q) = 0;
b. Find its roots by completing the square method instead of factorization.

11. Solve the quadratic equation 2x^2 + 4x -3 = 0 by completing the square.

12. Find the roots of the quadratic equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0, where a is not equal
to 0, by completing the square.

13. Use the quadratic roots formula you derive in Q12 above to find the solutions of
the equation 10x^2 + 3x = 16. Give your answers correct to 4 significant numbers.

14. Q12 shows that you can find the roots of a quadratic equation by the derived
quadratic root formula.
a. What is b^2 4ac known as?
b. If b^2 4ac > 0, what can say about the roots of the quadratic equation?
c. If b^2 4ac = 0, what can say about the roots of the quadratic equation?
d. If b^2 4ac < 0, what can say about the roots of the quadratic equation?

15. For the quadratic equation (k +1)x^2 4x + 9 = 0, find:
a. The value of k - if the equation has 2 equal roots
b. The range of k - if the equation has 2 different roots
c. The range of k if the equation has no real roots

16. For the quadratic equation x^2 4mx + n^2 = 0, derive the algebraic relations
between m and n when the equation has:
a. 2 equal roots
b. 2 different roots
c. no real roots

17. Q6 above shows that the quadratic equation (x p)(x q) = 0 has the roots p
and q.
a. Expand (x p)(x q) = 0
b. Show from Q17a that if the roots of a quadratic equation are known, the
quadratic equation can be formed from the given roots as:
x^2 (sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0

18. Form a quadratic equation with the roots 2 and -3.

19. Given that a and b are the roots of the quadratic equation:
a. 2x^2 + 2x 5 + 0, form a quadratic equation with the roots (a 2) and (b
2)
b. 2x^2 + 3x 9 = 0, form a quadratic equation with the roots
i. a/2 and b/2
ii. 3a and 3b

20. If one of the roots of the equation 2x^2 + px +9 = 0 is twice the other root, find
the possible values of p.