Solving Quadratic Equations

Help Questions

Math › Solving Quadratic Equations

Questions 1 - 10

Which of the following is the same after completing the square?

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

$(x-\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{1}{2}$

$(x+\frac{1}{3})^2 =\frac{7}{2}$

$(x-\frac{1}{3})^2 =\frac{7}{2}$

Explanation

Divide by three on both sides.

$\frac{3x^2+x-6 }{3}=\frac{0}{3}$

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x-2 = 0$

Add two on both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x-2 +2= 0+2$

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x = 2$

To complete the square, we will need to divide the one-third coefficient by two, which is similar to multiplying by one half, square the quantity, and add the two values on both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x+ (\frac{1}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{2})^2 = 2+ (\frac{1}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{2})^2$

Simplify both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x+ \frac{1}{36} = 2+ \frac{1}{36}$

Factor the left side, and combine the terms on the right.

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 = \frac{72}{36}+ \frac{1}{36}$

The answer is: $(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

Solve by completing the square:

$\small x^2-8x+9=0$

$\small x=4\pm\sqrt7$

$\small x=9\pm2\sqrt2$

$\small x=-9\pm2\sqrt2$

$\small x=-4\pm\sqrt7$

Explanation

To complete the square, the equation must be in the form:

$\small \small ax^2+2ab+b^2=c$

$\small x^2-8x+9=0$

$\small a=1$

$\small 2ab=-8$

$\small b=-4$

$\small b^2=16$

$\small x^2-8x+9+7=0+7$

$\small x^2-8x+16=7$

$\small (x-4)^2=7$

$\small \small x-4=\pm\sqrt7$

$\small x=4\pm\sqrt7$

Evaluate the roots for:

$\frac{1}{2}\pm\frac{i\sqrt3}{2}$

$\frac{1}{4}\pm\frac{i\sqrt3}{4}$

$\frac{1}{4}\pm\frac{i\sqrt6}{4}$

$\frac{1}{3}\pm\frac{i\sqrt6}{3}$

$\frac{1}{4}\pm\frac{3i\sqrt3}{2}$

Explanation

Write the quadratic formula.

$x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

The coefficients of the variables can be determined by the given equation in standard form: .

Substitute the terms into the equation.

$x=\frac{-(-2)\pm\sqrt{(-2)^2-4(2)(2)}}{2(2)} = \frac{2\pm\sqrt{4-16}}{4}$

Simplify the terms.

$\frac{2\pm\sqrt{4-16}}{4} = \frac{2\pm\sqrt{-12}}{4} = \frac{2\pm 2i\sqrt{3}}{4}$

The answer is: $\frac{1}{2}\pm\frac{i\sqrt3}{2}$

Solve for the roots:

$\frac{1\pm\sqrt{5}}{4}$

$\frac{-1\pm\sqrt{5}}{4}$

$\frac{-1\pm i\sqrt{5}}{4}$

$\frac{-1\pm\sqrt{5}}{2}$

$\frac{1\pm\sqrt{5}}{16}$

Explanation

Write the quadratic formula.

$x= \frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

The given equation is in standard form of:

The coefficients correspond to the values that go inside the quadratic equation.

Substitute the values into the equation.

$x= \frac{-(-4)\pm\sqrt{(-4)^2-4(8)(-2)}}{2(8)}$

Simplify this equation.

$x= \frac{4\pm\sqrt{16+64}}{16} = \frac{4\pm\sqrt{80}}{16}$

The radical can be rewritten as:

$\sqrt{80} = \sqrt{16}\cdot \sqrt 5 = 4\sqrt5$

Substitute and simplify the fraction.

$x=\frac{4\pm4\sqrt{5}}{16}=\frac{1\pm\sqrt{5}}{4}$

The answer is: $\frac{1\pm\sqrt{5}}{4}$

Find the zeros of ?

$x=-1, -\frac{1}{2}$

$x=1, -\frac{1}{2}$

$x=1, -\frac{3}{4}$

$x=-1, -\frac{3}{4}$

$x=1, \frac{3}{4}$

Explanation

This specific function cannot be factored, so use the quadratic equation:

$\frac{-b\pm \sqrt{b^2 -4ac}}{2a}$

Our function is in the form where,

Therefore the quadratic equation becomes,

$\frac{-3\pm \sqrt{3^2 -4(2)(1)}}{2(2)}$

$\frac{-3\pm \sqrt{9 -8}}{4}$

$\frac{-3\pm \sqrt{1}}{4}$

$\frac{-3+1}{4}$ OR $\frac{-3-1}{4}$

$\frac{-2}{4}$ OR $\frac{-4}{4}$

$x=-\frac{1}{2}$ OR

Which of the following is the same after completing the square?

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

$(x-\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{1}{2}$

$(x+\frac{1}{3})^2 =\frac{7}{2}$

$(x-\frac{1}{3})^2 =\frac{7}{2}$

Explanation

Divide by three on both sides.

$\frac{3x^2+x-6 }{3}=\frac{0}{3}$

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x-2 = 0$

Add two on both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x-2 +2= 0+2$

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x = 2$

To complete the square, we will need to divide the one-third coefficient by two, which is similar to multiplying by one half, square the quantity, and add the two values on both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x+ (\frac{1}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{2})^2 = 2+ (\frac{1}{3}\cdot \frac{1}{2})^2$

Simplify both sides.

$x^2+\frac{1}{3}x+ \frac{1}{36} = 2+ \frac{1}{36}$

Factor the left side, and combine the terms on the right.

$(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 = \frac{72}{36}+ \frac{1}{36}$

The answer is: $(x+\frac{1}{6})^2 =\frac{73}{36}$

Solve for by completing the square.

$x=0.24\text{ and }x=-8.24$

$x=0.39\text{ and }x=-4.39$

$x=1.24\text{ and }x=-10.24$

$x=0.97\text{ and }x=-8.97$

Explanation

Start by adding to both sides so that the terms with the are together on the left side of the equation.

Now, look at the coefficient of the -term. To complete the square, divide this coefficient by , then square the result. Add this term to both sides of the equation.

Rewrite the left side of the equation in the squared form.

Take the square root of both sides.

$x+4=\pm \sqrt{18}$

Now solve for .

$x=-4+\sqrt{18}=0.24$

$x=-4-\sqrt{18}=-8.24$

Round to two places after the decimal.

Solve by completing the square:

$\small x^2-8x+9=0$

$\small x=4\pm\sqrt7$

$\small x=9\pm2\sqrt2$

$\small x=-9\pm2\sqrt2$

$\small x=-4\pm\sqrt7$

Explanation

To complete the square, the equation must be in the form:

$\small \small ax^2+2ab+b^2=c$

$\small x^2-8x+9=0$

$\small a=1$

$\small 2ab=-8$

$\small b=-4$

$\small b^2=16$

$\small x^2-8x+9+7=0+7$

$\small x^2-8x+16=7$

$\small (x-4)^2=7$

$\small \small x-4=\pm\sqrt7$

$\small x=4\pm\sqrt7$

What is/are the solution(s) to the quadratic equation

Hint: Complete the square

Explanation

When using the complete the square method we will divide the coefficient by two and then square it. This will become our term which we will add to both sides.