1. Chapter 4 Quadratic Functions and Various Nonlinear Topics Section 4.1

2. Section 4.1 Solving Quadratic Equations
Definition of Quadratic Equation
Methods of Solving Quadratic Equations:
Factoring
Square Root Method
Quadratic Formula and the Discriminant
Graphical Method
Modeling with Quadratic Equations:
Projectiles and Gravity Models
Other Models

3. where a, b, and c are real numbers, a  0. a: leading coefficient
Definition of Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation in x is a second-degree equation that has the standard form
ax2 + bx + c = 0
where a, b, and c are real numbers, a  0. 
 a: leading coefficient
b: coefficient of the first-degree term
c: constant term

4. Zero Product Property:
Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
Zero Product Property:
If a and b are real numbers, and ab = 0, then either a = 0,
or b = 0, or both a and b are zero.
Factoring Method:
1. Write the equation in standard form. (Make sure one
side of the equation is 0.)
2. Factor the nonzero side of the equation.
3. Apply the zero-product property. (Set each factor = 0.)
4. Solve for the variable.
5. Verify your answers in the original equation.

5. Solve the quadratic equation x2 – 9x = –14 by factoring.
1. Write the equation in standard form.
x2 – 9x + 14 = 0
2. Factor the nonzero side of the equation.
(x – 7)(x – 2) = 0
3. Apply the zero-product property.
x – 7 = 0 or x – 2 = 0
4. Solve for the variable.
x = 7 or x = 2
5. Verify your answers in the original equation.

6. Solve 1/7(245x2 + 7x) = 12 by factoring. 1/7(245x2 + 7x) = 12
5x + 3 = or 7x – 4 = 0
x = –3/5 or x = 4/7
Checking:

7. Following a major earthquake in a densely populated city,
rescue helicopters released pallets of food, water, and needed supplies. One helicopter dropped supplies from a height of 256 feet. The height, h (in feet), of the first pallet after t seconds is modeled by h = –16t , where t ≥ 0. Solve the quadratic equation to determine when the first pallet reached the ground.
The height of the pallet at ground level is 0 feet. Therefore, we
can find the time it reached the ground by letting h = 0 and
solving for t.
–16t = 0
–16(t2 – 16) = 0
t2 – 16 = (Divide both sides by –16)
(t – 4)(t + 4) = 0
t = or t = –4
Since time t ≥ 0 seconds, we discard t = –4. The first pallet reached the ground at t = 4 seconds.

8. Solving by the Square Root Method
Square Root Method: Useful method when b = 0 in
ax2 + bx + c = 0 (that is, no presence of the first-degree term, bx, in the standard form).
Square Root Property:
If x2 = k, then x = or x = for k constant.
Solutions of quadratic equations of the form x2 = k are given by: x =
(continued on the next slide)

9. 1. Isolate the squared variable term.
Solving by the Square Root Method
1. Isolate the squared variable term.
2. Apply the square root property to undo the square. Remember to insert “” on the numeric side of the equation, since we want both the positive and negative square roots.
3. Simplify the radical expression.
4. Verify your answers in the original equation.

10. Solve 3x2 = 54 by the square root method.
1. Isolate the squared variable term:
2. Apply the square root property to undo the square.
3. Simplify the radical expression.
4. Solve for the variable.
5. Verify your answers in the original equation.

11. Solve by the square root method: 2(3m – 6)2 – 29 = 43
3m – 6 = or 3m – 6 = -6
m = 4 or m = 0
Checking:

12. An Application of Quadratic Equations:
Compound Interest
Account in which the interest is compounded annually.
The interest is paid on the amount of money invested, and any interest earned from past years.
Basic formula for compound interest: A = P(1 + r)n
A = amount of money in the account
P = principal (amount initially invested)
n = number of years
r = interest rate (expressed as a decimal value)

13. Blake wants to invest $6,000 in an account that pays interest compounded annually.
At the end of 2 years, how much money will Blake have
in his account if the interest rate is 1.75%? Round your answer to 2 decimal places.
Let A = P(1 + r)n. We are looking for the value of A.
A = amount of money in the account
P = 6,000
n = 2
r =
A = 6000( )2 = 6000(1.0275)2 =
At the end of 2 years, Blake will have $6,

14. (Contd.)
Blake wants to invest $6,000 in an account that pays interest compounded annually.
b. If Blake wants $6,500 in this account after 2 years, what would the interest rate need to be? Approximate your answer to 2 decimal places.
6000(1 + r)2 = 6500
(1 + r)2 =
1 + r = 1.0408
r =  – 1
r = – or r =
The negative value makes no sense in the context of this problem, thus Blake would need an interest rate of  4.08%.

15. The solutions of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0,
Quadratic Formula
The solutions of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0,
a  0, are given by
where a is the coefficient of x2, b is the coefficient of x, and c is the constant term of the quadratic equation.

16. Solve 2x2 – x – 6 = 0 by using the quadratic formula.
First, we identify the values for a, b, and c:
a = b = – c = –6
Now we substitute these values into the quadratic formula and solve for x:

17. Solve x2 + 3x = 7 by using the quadratic formula.
First, we rewrite the equation in standard form: x2 + 3x – 7 = 0
Using the quadratic formula with a = 1, b = 3, and c = –7, we have:
The exact solutions are given by:
Decimal approximations: x  and x  –4.5414

18. Quadratic Equations with Complex Solutions
Solve x2 – 4x + 13 = 0 by using the quadratic formula.
Using the quadratic formula with a = 1, b = –4, and c = 13, we have:
The solutions are:

19. ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0, is given by b2 – 4ac.
The Discriminant
How can we determine the nature of the solutions of a quadratic equation?
The discriminant of a quadratic equation
ax2 + bx + c = 0, a  0, is given by b2 – 4ac.
(Note: This expression is equivalent to the radicand in the quadratic formula.)
 If b2 – 4ac > 0, the equation has two distinct real
solutions.
 If b2 – 4ac = 0, the equation has one real solution.
 If b2 – 4ac < 0, the equation has no real solutions.

20. No real solutions; two complex roots
Use the discriminant, b2 – 4ac, to determine the number and type of solutions of each quadratic equation.
a. x2 + 3x + 9 = b. 5x2 = c. x2 – 18x + 81 = 0
(3)2 – 4(1)(9) = 9 – 36 = –27
No real solutions; two complex roots
b. Rewrite the equation in standard form: 5x2 + 0x – 12 = 0
(0)2 – 4(5)(–12) = 240
Two distinct real solutions
c. (–18)2 – 4(1)(81) = 324 – 324 = 0
One real solution; a double root

21. Two distinct real solutions:
Graphical Methods
The solutions of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, are the x-intercepts of the graph of the equation. If the graph has no x-intercepts, then the equation has no real solutions.
Examples:
Two distinct real solutions:
One real solution:
No real solution:

22. Observe that the x-intercepts of the graph are (–2, 0) and (3, 0).
The graph of y = x2 – x – 6 is displayed. Use the graph to solve the equation x2 – x – 6 = 0. Verify your solutions.
Observe that the x-intercepts of the graph are (–2, 0) and (3, 0).
The solutions of x2 – x – 6 = 0 are given by x = –2 and x = 3.
Checking:

23. Use your graphing calculator to find the real solutions of the quadratic equation x x – = 0.
Option 1: Let Y1 = x x – and Y2 = 0, and use the intersection method. (Standard window used here.)
The intersection points are (–2.5, 0) and (0.75, 0). At these points, the y = 0, thus these points reflect the x-intercepts.
Therefore, the solutions of x x – = 0 are x = –2.5 and x = 0.75.

24. The x-intercepts (zeros) of the graph are (–2.5, 0) and (0.75, 0).
(Contd.)
Use your graphing calculator to find the real solutions of the quadratic equation x x – = 0.
Option 2: Let Y1 = x x – and use the intercepts (zero) method. (Standard window used here.)
The x-intercepts (zeros) of the graph are (–2.5, 0) and (0.75, 0).
Therefore, the solutions of x x – = 0 are x = –2.5 and x = 0.75.

25. Height measured in feet: h = –16t2 + v0t + h0.
Projectiles and Gravity Models
As an object is launched into the air, gravity will force it down. Ignoring any other forces acting upon the launched object, we can use the following formulas to represent its height, h.
Height measured in feet: h = –16t2 + v0t + h0.
Initial velocity of v0 feet per second from an initial height of h0 feet above the ground, after t seconds.
Height measured in meters: h = –4.9t2 + v0t + h0.
Initial velocity of v0 meters per second from an initial height of h0 meters above the ground, after t seconds.

26. During a New Year's Eve celebration, fireworks were launched from a platform 7 feet high with an initial velocity
of 111 feet per second.
a. Write a quadratic equation that models the height in feet,
h, of the fireworks at t seconds.
We can use the formula h = –16t2 + v0t + h0
with v0 = 111 ft/s and h0 = 7.
h = –16t t + 7
b. Find the height of the fireworks after 2 seconds.
Evaluating the height formula for t = 2, we have:
h = –16(2) (2) + 7 = 165 feet

27. c. When did the first remnants of the fireworks reach the ground?
(Contd.)
c. When did the first remnants of the fireworks reach the ground?
We know h = –16t t Let h = 0 (ground level) and solve the quadratic equation –16t t + 7 = 0 for t.
16t2 – 111t – 7 = (Divide both sides by –1)
(16t + 1)(t – 7) = 0
16t + 1 = or t – 7 = 0
t = –1/ or t = 7
A negative time-value makes no sense in the context of this problem. The first remnants of the fireworks reached the ground at t = 7 seconds.

28. We let h =102 and solve –16t2 + 111t + 7 = 102 for t.
(Contd.)
d. At what time did the fireworks reach a height of 102 feet on their way up?
We let h =102 and solve –16t t + 7 = 102 for t.
–16t t – 95 = 0
16t2 – 111t = 0
(16t – 95)(t – 1) = 0
16t – 95 = or t – 1 = 0
t = 95/16  or t = 1
The fireworks reached a height of 102 feet on their way up after 1 second.
(Note that t = would represent the seconds on the way down.)

29. We can also use a graphical method to answer the question on part d:
(Contd.)
During a New Year's Eve celebration, fireworks were launched from a platform 7 feet high with an initial velocity
of 111 feet per second.
We can also use a graphical method to answer the question on part d:
At what time did the fireworks reach a height of 102 feet on their way up?
The fireworks reached a height of 102 feet on their way up after 1 second.

30. Using your textbook, practice the problems assigned by your instructor to review the concepts from Section 4.1.