physicscatalyst.com logo





How to solve quadratic equations by factoring




Table of Content

How to Solve Quadratic equations


How to Solve Quadratic equations
  • There are three ways to solve the quadratic equations.
    (a) Factorization method
    (b) Square method
    (c) Quadratic Formula
  • We would be studying detail about each method with some solve examples
  • In this page we will see How to solve quadratic equations by factoring

Factoring quadratics equations


In this method of Solving quadratic equations by factoring, we factorize the Quadratic equation by splitting the middle term b

In $ax^2+bx+c=0$

Step 1: Arrange the equation so that coefficient a is positive. If a is negative,multiply each term by -1 to make it positive
Step 2: Find out the product of the coefficient a and c i.e ac.
Step 3: if ac is positive then Find the factor of the product ac such that it adds to form the coefficient b. If b is negative,you can place factors with negative sign and if b is positive, place the factors with positive sign
Step 4: if ac is negative,then Find the factor of the product ac such that it subtract to form the coefficient b. If b is positive, then the larger factor is positive. If b is negative, then the larger factor is negative.
Table below explain the step 3 and 4
Step 5:We can write the equation in split form and factorize the equation.
Step 6: Roots of the equation can be find equating the factors to zero


Solving quadratic equations by factoring Examples

Example -1
$6x^2-x-2=0$
Solution
Step 1 First we need to multiple the coefficient a and c.In this case =6X-2=-12
Step 2 Now the product is negative,so Splitting the middle term so that multiplication is -12 and difference is the coefficient b. Here in this case factor 3, 4 are present,so we can take 3 and -4
$6x^2 +3x-4x-2=0$
$3x( 2x+1) -2(2x+1)=0$
$(3x-2) (2x+1)=0$
step 3 Roots of the equation can be find equating the factors to zero
$3x-2=0$ => $x=\frac {3}{2}$
$2x+1=0$ => $x=\frac {-1}{2}$

Example -2
$x^2 + 7x + 6=0$
Solution
Step 1 First we need to multiple the coefficient a and c.In this case =1X6=6
Step 2 Now the product is positive,so Splitting the middle term so that multiplication is 6 and addition is the coefficient b. Here in this case factor 1, 6 are present,so we can take 1 and 6
$x^2 +6x+x-2=0$
$x( x+1) +6(x+1)=0$
$(x+1) (x+6)=0$
step 3 Roots of the equation can be find equating the factors to zero
$x+1=0$ => $x=-1$
$x+6=0$ => $x=-6$

Practice Questions
  • $x^{2} - 13 x + 40 = 0$
  • $x^{2} + 2 x - 48 = 0$
  • $x^{2} - 8 x + 7 = 0$
  • $x^{2} - 1 = 0$
  • $x^{2} + 3 x - 54 = 0$
  • $x^{2} - 15 x + 56 = 0$
  • $x^{2} + 2 x - 3 = 0$
  • $x^{2} - 7 x + 6 = 0$
  • $x^{2} - 2 x - 63 = 0$
  • $x^{2} + x - 42 = 0$

Answer

  • $x = 5, x = 8$
  • $x = -8, x = 6$
  • $x = 1, x = 7$
  • $x = -1, x = 1$
  • $x = -9, x = 6$
  • $x = 7, x = 8$
  • $x = -3, x = 1$
  • $x = 1, x = 6$
  • $x = -7, x = 9$
  • $x = -7, x = 6$


Check out Quadratic equation Quiz
Check out Quadratic Formula Calculator

Books Recommended

  1. Arihant I-Succeed CBSE Sample Paper Class 10th (2024-2025)
  2. Oswaal CBSE Question Bank Class 10 Mathematics (Standard) (2024-2025)
  3. PW CBSE Question Bank Class 10 Mathematics with Concept Bank (2024-2025)
  4. Bharati Bhawan Secondary School Mathematics CBSE for Class 10th - (2024-25) Examination..By R.S Aggarwal.



Go back to Class 10 Main Page using below links

Class 10 Maths Class 10 Science



Latest Updates
Sound Class 8 Science Quiz

Limits Class 11 MCQ

Circles in Conic Sections Class 11 MCQ

Plant Kingdom free NEET mock tests

The Living World free NEET mock tests