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Solutions for quadratic equations by factorisation

1. The solution for a quadratic equation can be


determined by factoring.
2. Strategy for solving a quadratic equation by
factoring:
Step 1: Rewrite the equation in standard
form, if necessary.

Step 2: Factorise.

Step 3: Setting each factor equal to 0.

Step 4: Solve each resulting equation in
Step 3.

Step 5: Check the solutions by substituting
back into the original equation.
Example:
Determine the solutions for each of the following
quadratic equation by factorisation.
a) x
2
81 = 0
b) 5x
2
= 45x
c) x
2
+ 5x 24 = 0
d) 16x
2
= 8x 1
Solution:
a) x
2
81 = 0
x
2
9
2
= 0
(x 9)(x + 9) = 0
(x 9)= 0
x = 9
(x + 9) = 0
x = 9
Check:
x
2
81 = 0
LHS:
When x = 9,
(9)
2
81 = 81 81
= 0
LHS = RHS
Check:
x
2
81 = 0
LHS:
When x = 9,
( 9)
2
81 = 81 81
= 0
LHS = RHS
Solution :
b) 5x
2
= 45

5x
2
45 = 0
5(x
2
9) = 0
5(x
2
3
2
) = 0
5(x 3)(x + 3) = 0
x 3 = 0
x = 3
(x + 3) = 0
x = 3
Check:
5x
2
= 45
LHS:
When x = 3,
5(3)
2
= 5(9)
= 45
LHS = RHS
Check:
5x
2
= 45
LHS:
When x = 3,
5( 3)
2
= 5(9)
= 45
LHS = RHS
Solution :
c) x
2
+ 5x 24 = 0

24
1 24
2 12
3 8
x
2
+ 5x 24 = 0
(x 3)(x + 8) = 0
x 3 = 0
x = 3
x + 8 = 0
x = 8
16x
2
8x + 1 = 0
(16x 4)(16x 4) = 0
(4x 1)(4x 1) = 0
4x 1 = 0
4x = 1
x =
Solution :
d) 16x
2
= 8x 1
16
1 16
2 8
3
4 4
1
4
Exercise:
1. Solve the equation 3x
2
= 2(x 1) + 7.
15
1 15
2
3 5
3x
2
= 2(x 1) + 7
3x
2
= 2x 2 + 7
3x
2
2x + 2 7 = 0
3x
2
2x 5 = 0
(3x + 3)(3x 5) = 0
(x + 1)(3x 5) = 0

Solution:
x + 1 = 0
x = 1
3x 5 = 0
3x = 5
x =
5
3
Exercise:
2. Solve the quadratic equation
2m
2

2
5m
=
m+1
4
1 4
2m 1 = 0
2m = 1
m =
m + 2 = 0
m = 2
Solution:
2m
2
+ 5m = 2(m + 1)
2m
2
+ 5m = 2m + 2
2m
2
+ 5m 2m 2 = 0
2m
2
+ 3m 2 = 0
(2m 1)(2m + 4) = 0
(2m 1)(m + 2) = 0
1
2
2m
2

2
5m
=
m+1
Exercise:
3. Solve the quadratic equation
2
2k -5
=3k
3
10
1 10
2k + 1 = 0
2k = 1
k =
k 5 = 0
k = 5
Solution:
2
2k -5
=3k
3
2k
2
5 = 9k
2k
2
9k 5 = 0
(2k + 1)(2k 10) = 0
(2k + 1)(k 5)= 0
1
-
2
Exercise:
4. Solve the quadratic equation
6
2
) 1 ( 3

x
x x
36
1 36
2 18
3 12
4 9
3x + 4 = 0
3x = 4
x =
x 3 = 0
x = 3
Solution:
6
2
) 1 ( 3

x
x x
3x
2
3x = 2(x + 6)
3x
2
3x = 2x + 12
3x
2
3x 2x 12 = 0
3x
2
5x 12 = 0
(3x + 4)(3x 9) = 0
(3x + 4)(x 3) = 0
4
-
3
Exercise:
5. Solve the quadratic equation 4x
2
15 = 17x
60
1 60
2 30
3 20
4x 3 = 0
4x = 3
x =
x + 5 = 0
x = 5
Solution:
4x
2
15 = 17x
4x
2
+ 17x 15 = 0
(4x 3)(4x + 20) = 0
(4x 3)(x + 5) = 0
3
4
Summary

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