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Solving quadratic equations - EdexcelFinding roots by factorising

Solve quadratic equations by factorising, using formulae and completing the square. Each method also provides information about the corresponding quadratic graph.

Part of MathsAlgebra

Finding roots by factorising

If a quadratic equation can be factorised, the factors can be used to find the roots of the equation.

Example

\(x^2 + x - 6 = 0 \)

The equation factorises to give \((x + 3) (x - 2) = 0 \) so the solutions to the equation \(x^2 + x - 6 = 0 \) are \(x = -3\) and \( x = 2\).

The graph of \(y = x^2 + x - 6 \) crosses the x-axis at \(x = -3\) and \(x = 2\).

The graph of y = x^2 + x - 6 crosses the x-axis at x = -3 and x = 2.

Example

\(x^2 - 6x + 9 = 0\)

The equation factorises to give \((x 鈥 3)(x 鈥 3) = 0\) so there is just one solution to the equation, \( x = 3\).

The graph of \(y = x^2 - 6x + 9 \) touches the x-axis at \( x = 3\).

The graph of y = x^2 - 6x + 9  touches the x-axis at x = 3

Example

\(x^2 + 2x + 5 = 0\)

Using the quadratic formula to try to solve this equation, \(a = 1\), \(b = 2\) and \(c = 5\) which gives:

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

\(x = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{2^2 - 4 \times 1 \times 5}}{2} = \frac{-2\pm \sqrt{-16}}{2}\)

It is not possible to find the square root of a negative number, so the equation has no solutions.

The graph of \(y = x^2 + 2x + 5\) does not cross or touch the x-axis so the equation \(x^2 + 2x + 5 = 0\) has no roots.

The graph of y = x^2 + 2x + 5 doesn't cross or touch the x-axis as the equation x^2 + 2x + 5 = 0 has no roots.

Finding the y-intercept

The graph of the quadratic equation \(y = ax^2 + bx + c\) crosses the y-axis at the point \((0, c)\). The x-coordinate of any point on the y-axis has the value of 0 and substituting \(x = 0\) into the equation \(y = ax^2 + bx + c\) gives \(y = c\).

Question

Find the y-intercept of the following quadratic functions:

a) \( y = x^2 + 3x 鈥 2 \)

b) \( y = x^2 + 17\)

c) \( y = x^2 + 5x\)