Proving the Quadratic Formula

• Completing the square for a generalized quadratic equation gives us a very powerful formula for solving all quadratic
equations.
• Quadratic formula:

Begin with a generalized equation, one that is solving for x

and using letters rather than specific numbers in each position.

Step one in completing the square is to divide the entire

equation by any coefficient of x2 other than 1, in this case, a.

Next step is to move the constant, in this case c/a to the right
side of the equation.

Now for the biggie. Divide the coefficient of x by 2:

(b/a) ÷ 2 = b/2a.

Then square the number: .

Next add that squared number to both sides of the equation.

Write the left side as the square of a binomial.

Take the square root of both sides.

Finally, move the constant on the left side to the right side
and you have your two final answers. Remember also to
rationalize the denominator.

You rarely have to develop the quadratic formula in this

fashion. However, you will use it frequently.

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Using the Quadratic Formula

• Using the quadratic formula allows solutions for equations that cannot be factored or solved by easier methods.
• Quadratic equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0
•
Quadratic formula: .

• "a" is the coefficient of the squared term (quadratic term) in the equation.
• "b" is the coefficient of the unsquared term (linear term) in the equation.
• "c" is the constant in the equation.

As a practice, try to factor first. It is a shorter and easier

process. Generally, use the quadratic formula when nothing
else works.

Using the formula involves simply substituting in the values

for a, b, and c that you find in the equation.

Then, do the arithmetic.

Expect two answers. Frequently, the two answers include an

imaginary element.

In this example, both a and c are radicals. Identify a, b, and

c.

Substitute those values into the formula.

Do the arithmetic to find your two answers.

Note here you must rationalize the denominator because of

the .

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Predicting Types of Solution from the Discriminant

• The discriminant is the quantity under the radical in the quadratic formula.
• The discriminant for the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, is b2 – 4ac.
• The discriminant is important because we can analyze it to determine in advance the number and nature of the solutions of
the quadratic equation in question.
• If the discriminant = 0, there is only one real solution to the equation.
• If the discriminant is positive, there are two real solutions.
• If the discriminant is negative, there are two complex solutions.
• Evaluating the discriminant is very useful, BUT it does NOT give you the answers, just information about the answers.

Doing this analysis is a simple matter:

1. Substitute your a, b, and c values

into the discriminant.
2. Do the arithmetic to see if the quantity
is 0, > 0, or < 0.
3. Evaluate the number and type of solutions
your equation has.

The quantity is positive so there will be two solutions, both

of them real numbers.

Here’s a second example.

It works the same way:

1. Substitute in your a, b, c values.

2. Do the arithmetic.
3. Evaluate.

This third example is slightly different.

Substitute in your values.

When you do the arithmetic, you get 0.

Your conclusion: there is only one solution.

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Using the Discriminant to Graph Parabolas

• Quadratic equation: ax 2 + bx + c = 0.
• Quadratic formula:

• Discriminant: b 2 – 4ac. Checking the value of the discriminant tells about the solutions:
• b 2 – 4ac > 0 indicates there are two real solutions.
• b 2 – 4ac = 0 indicates there is only one solution.
• b 2 – 4ac < 0 indicates there are no real solutions.

Analyzing the discriminant gives you an idea where to graph

the curve of a quadratic function.

Matching the graph with the elements of its function, this

parabola has:

· a value of a that is less than 0, because it turns down,

· a discriminant greater than 0 because it crosses the

x-axis twice and must have two real-number solutions.

This is a positive parabola with one real solution:

its a > 0 , and its discriminant = 0.

This is a positive parabola with two real solutions:

its a > 0, and its discriminant > 0.

This is a negative parabola with one real solution:

its a < 0, because it turns down, and its discriminant = 0.

This is a negative parabola with no real solutions:

it’s a < 0, and its discriminant < 0.

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