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Chapter 2:Quadratic Expressions and Equations

2.1 Quadratic Expressions

A quadratic expression is an expression in the form ax2 + bx + c, where a, b and c

are constants, a≠0 and x is an unknown.

2.1.1 Identifying quadratic expressions.

A quadratic expression is an expression satisfies the following conditions:
1. there is only one unknown
2. the highest power of the unknown is 2

Complete the table below

Expressions Highest power of unknown Number of unknowns Is it a quadratic
expression?
2x - 6
m2 + 4m
x2 + y2 - 3x + 5
7x4 – 3x2 - 2x + 3
5x2 - 4x + 7
16 - t2

Ex 1: Determine whether the expressions given below are quadratic expressions. Give your
reasons.
Expressions Is it a quadratic Reasons
expression?
a) 2x- x2
b) p3 - 3
c) x2 + 9x3
d) m2- 5m
e) 4 – 2k + k2
1
f) - 5x
x2

2.1.2 Quadratic Expressions as a product of any two linear expressions

Ex 2:Multiply
a) x( x -1) b)( 2y + 6)2 c) (2x-1)(x+ 5)

2.1.3 Forming quadratic expressions from situations

Situations in daily where we can form quadratic expressions

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Ex : A square has an area of x2 cm2 if the length of its side is x cm.
A car moves at a constant speed of (5x-1) km h-1 for (x + 2) hours has traveled a distance of
(5x -1) (x + 2) km.

Based on the examples given, form a quadratic expression for the profit of a calculator which costs
RM(10x + 3), if the percentage profit is x %.

Answer:

Situations Quadratic Expressions

a) Saroja buys ( x + 4) books which cost RM (x- 3) each.
Find the cost of the books.
b) Find the area of a right-angled triangle with base x cm
and height(x + 7)cm.
c)Salleh is ( x - 2) years old at present. His father is x
times older than him. Find the sum of their present ages.
d) A piece of wire is used to make x circular rings, each
of radius (x + 3) cm. Find the length of wire used.

Ex 3: Form quadratic expressions from the situations below.

a) The length and the width of a rectangle is 3x cm and ( 5x-1) cm respectively. Form an
expression for the area of the rectangle.

b) The price of a ferry’s ticket to Pulau Gaya is RM ( p + 4). Form an expression for the total
expenses for P passengers.

c) 3p cm

2p cm

(2p + 3 ) cm
The diagram above shows a trapezium. Form an expression for its area.

2.2 Factorisation of Quadratic Expressions

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Factorisation of a quadratic expression is the process of obtaining
the two linear factors of the quadratic expression.

2.2.1 Factorising quadratic expressions of the form ax2 + c or ax2 + bx

a) b = 0, the expression ax2 + c is obtained.We can factorise ax2 + c by finding common factor of
constants a and c.
b) c = 0, the expression ax2 + bx is obtained. ax2 + bx is factorised by finding the common factor of
terms ax2 and bx.

Ex 4: Factorise completely each of the following expressions.

a)x2 + 5x b) 5x2 – 10x c)4p2-20

d) 36 + 4k2 e)14r – 6r2 f)4y2 – y

2.2.2 Factorising quadratic expressions of the form px2 - q

Ex 5: Factorise completely
a) x2 - 16 b) 64- r2 c) 3 – 48p2 d)4p2 -1

2.2.3 Factorizing quadratic expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c

I When a = 1, the quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c can be written as a product of two linear
factors, (x + p) and ( x + q)
( x + p) ( x + q) = x2 + qx + px + pq

= x2 + ( p+ q) x + pq

= x2 + bx + c

Therefore, to factorise ax2 + bx + c :

1. list all the possible values of p and q such that pq = c.
2. select the values of p and q such that p + q = b

Ex 6:
a) Factorise x2 + 9x + 14 b) Factorise x 2 - 2x - 15

II When a ≠ 1, the quadratic ax2 + bx + c can be written as a product of two linear factors ( mx + p)
and ( nx + q)

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( mx + p) ( nx + q) =

By comparison, a = mn, b = mq + np and c = pq.

Therefore, to factorise ax2 + bx + c:
1. list all the possible values of m and n such that mn= a
2. list all the possible values of p and q such that pq = c
3. select the values of m, n, p and q such that mq + np = b

Ex 7:
a) Factorise 2x2 + 7x + 3 b) Factorise 3x2 - 7x + 4

c) Factorise 6x2 - x - 2 d) Factorise 4x2 – 11x + 6

2.2.4 Factorising quadratic expressions containing coefficients with common factors

To factorise,
1. take out common factor
2 . factorise

Ex 8: Factorise
a) 3x2 + 12x + 9 b) 5t2 + 20t - 60

c) 3x2 - 18x + 24 d) 12x2 - 6x - 18

2.3 Quadratic Equations

A quadratic equation in one unknown is an equality that involves a quadratic expression.

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2.3.1 Identifying quadratic equations with one unknown:

In quadratic equation with one unknown:
 There is only one unknown
 The highest power of the unknown is 2
 There is an equal sign, “ = ”

Ex 9: Which of the following are quadratic equations in one unknown?Give reasons

Quadratic equations Quadratic equations Reasons

in one unknown
a) 2x2 + 5x + 3 =0

b) 3 x2 – 6 xy + 3y2 = 0

c) x(x + 1) = 0

d) x2 + 3x – 4 = 0

e) x – 8 =0

f) x3 + x2 + 2x = 0

2.3.2 Writing quadratic equations in the general form

General form is ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b and c are constants, a ≠ 0 and x is an unknown.

Ex 10:Write the following quadratic equations in the general form.

a) x (x-3) = 0

b) x2- 6 = 7x

4 t
c) =
2t 2 t2

m2
d) =5–m
3

2.3.4 Forming quadratic equations

Ex 11: ABCD is a rectangle such that AB = (3x + 4) cm and BC = ( x -1) cm. Given that the area of
the rectangle is 12 cm2, write an equation in x to represent the area of the rectangle.

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Ex 12: Ahmad is twice as old as Ismail. The product of their age is 50. Write a quadratic equation
to represent the product of their ages.

2.4 Roots of Quadratic Equations

2.4.1 Determining a root of a specific quadratic equation
Ex 13: Determine whether the given value is a root of each of the following quadratic equations.
a) x2 - 3x – 4 = 0; x = 4 b) x2 + 2x – 7= 0; x = -1

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c) 3x2 + x – 4 = 0; x = 2 d) 3x2 + 2x – 1 = 0; x =
3

2.4.2 Solutions for quadratic equations

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I Trial and improvement method
To determine the solutions for ax2 + bx + c = 0:
1. list the factors of c
2. select values of x which are factors of c
3. check whether the values satisfy the equation

Ex 14: Determine the solutions for x2 - 3x + 2 = 0

The factors of 2 are 1 and 2 . Hence, we shall try all the possible values of x which are -1,1,-2 and
2.
x x2 - 3x + 2 Solution or not a solution
-1
-2
1
2

Hence, the solution of the equation x2 - 3x + 2 = 0 are _____________________________

Ex 15: Determine the solution of x2 + x - 6 = 0 using trial and error method

x x2 + x - 6 Solution or not a solution

-1
6
-2
3
-3
2

II Factorisation
When a quadratic equation can be factorised to the form ( mx + p)(nx + q)= 0, the mx + p = 0 or
p q
nx + q =0. The solutions are x = - and x = - .
m n

Ex 16: Solve each of the following quadratic equations.

a) 3x2 + 5x = 0 b) x2 = 36 + 5x

x 2  40
c) =x d) 2x2 - 7x + 3 = 0
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2.4.3 Solving problems

Ex 17: Solve the following problems.

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a) I think of a number, square it and add 8 b) Find the value of x if the area of the triangle
to the result.I should have the same below is 4 cm2.
answer if I had multiplied the original
answer by 6.
Write an equation in x and solve it.

x
( x + 5 )cm

c) The difference of a number and its d) Evaluate p if the area of the rectangle below
square is 20. Find this number which is a is 21 cm2.
positive integer.
(p - 4) cm

p cm

Quadratic Expressions

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