Factoring a Quadratic Equation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 7 views

=====================================================

Introduction

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and solving them is a crucial skill for students to master. In this article, we will focus on solving quadratic equations by factoring, which is a powerful technique for finding the solutions to these equations. We will use the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ as an example to demonstrate the steps involved in factoring a quadratic equation.

What is a Quadratic Equation?

A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means that the highest power of the variable (in this case, ${x}$ ) is two. The general form of a quadratic equation is:

${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$

where ${a}$ , ${b}$ , and ${c}$ are constants, and ${a}$ cannot be zero.

The Quadratic Formula

The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations. It states that the solutions to the quadratic equation ${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$ are given by:

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

However, in this article, we will focus on solving quadratic equations by factoring, which is a more intuitive and often faster method.

Factoring a Quadratic Equation

Factoring a quadratic equation involves expressing it as a product of two binomials. The general form of a factored quadratic equation is:

${(ax + b)(cx + d) = 0}$

where ${a}$ , ${b}$ , ${c}$ , and ${d}$ are constants.

To factor a quadratic equation, we need to find two binomials whose product is equal to the original quadratic equation. We can do this by looking for two numbers whose product is equal to the constant term ( ${c}$ ) and whose sum is equal to the coefficient of the linear term ( ${b}$ ).

Solving the Quadratic Equation by Factoring

Now, let's apply the factoring technique to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ . To factor this equation, we need to find two binomials whose product is equal to the original equation.

First, we can rewrite the equation as:

${7x^2 - 44x - 35 = 0}$

Next, we need to find two numbers whose product is equal to the constant term ( ${-35}$ ) and whose sum is equal to the coefficient of the linear term ( ${-44}$ ). These numbers are ${-7}$ and ${5}$ , since ${(-7)(5) = -35}$ and ${(-7) + 5 = -2}$ .

However, we need to find two binomials whose product is equal to the original equation. We can do this by factoring the quadratic expression as follows:

${7x^2 - 44x - 35 = (7x + 5)(x - 7) = 0}$

Now, we can set each binomial equal to zero and solve for ${x}$ :

${7x + 5 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -\frac{5}{7}}$

${x - 7 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 7}$

Therefore, the solution set to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ is ${\left\{-\frac{5}{7}, 7\right\}}$ .

Conclusion

Solving quadratic equations by factoring is a powerful technique that can be used to find the solutions to these equations. By factoring a quadratic equation, we can express it as a product of two binomials, which can be set equal to zero and solved for the variable. In this article, we used the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ as an example to demonstrate the steps involved in factoring a quadratic equation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a quadratic equation?

A: A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means that the highest power of the variable (in this case, ${x}$ ) is two.

Q: What is the quadratic formula?

A: The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations. It states that the solutions to the quadratic equation ${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$ are given by:

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

Q: How do I factor a quadratic equation?

A: To factor a quadratic equation, you need to find two binomials whose product is equal to the original quadratic equation. You can do this by looking for two numbers whose product is equal to the constant term ( ${c}$ ) and whose sum is equal to the coefficient of the linear term ( ${b}$ ).

Q: What is the solution set to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ ?

A: The solution set to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ is ${\left\{-\frac{5}{7}, 7\right\}}$ .

References

[1] "Quadratic Equations" by Math Open Reference. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/quadratic.html
[2] "Factoring Quadratic Equations" by Purplemath. Retrieved from https://www.purplemath.com/modules/factquad.htm
[3] "Quadratic Formula" by Math Is Fun. Retrieved from https://www.mathisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-formula.html

=========================

Introduction

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and solving them is a crucial skill for students to master. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive Q&A section on quadratic equations, covering various topics such as factoring, the quadratic formula, and more.

Q&A

Q: What is a quadratic equation?

A: A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means that the highest power of the variable (in this case, ${x}$ ) is two. The general form of a quadratic equation is:

${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$

where ${a}$ , ${b}$ , and ${c}$ are constants, and ${a}$ cannot be zero.

Q: What is the quadratic formula?

A: The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations. It states that the solutions to the quadratic equation ${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$ are given by:

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

Q: How do I factor a quadratic equation?

Q: What is the difference between factoring and the quadratic formula?

A: Factoring and the quadratic formula are two different methods for solving quadratic equations. Factoring involves expressing the quadratic equation as a product of two binomials, while the quadratic formula involves using a formula to find the solutions to the equation.

Q: Can I use the quadratic formula to solve any quadratic equation?

A: Yes, you can use the quadratic formula to solve any quadratic equation. However, factoring is often a faster and more intuitive method for solving quadratic equations, especially for equations that can be easily factored.

Q: What is the solution set to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ ?

A: The solution set to the quadratic equation ${7x^2 = 44x + 35}$ is ${\left\{-\frac{5}{7}, 7\right\}}$ .

Q: How do I determine the number of solutions to a quadratic equation?

A: To determine the number of solutions to a quadratic equation, you can use the discriminant, which is the expression under the square root in the quadratic formula. If the discriminant is positive, the equation has two distinct solutions. If the discriminant is zero, the equation has one repeated solution. If the discriminant is negative, the equation has no real solutions.

Q: Can I use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations with complex solutions?

A: Yes, you can use the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations with complex solutions. However, the solutions will be complex numbers, which may not be what you are looking for.

Q: How do I graph a quadratic equation?

A: To graph a quadratic equation, you can use the x-intercepts and the vertex of the parabola to determine the shape and position of the graph.

Conclusion

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and solving them is a crucial skill for students to master. In this article, we provided a comprehensive Q&A section on quadratic equations, covering various topics such as factoring, the quadratic formula, and more. We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions and providing a better understanding of quadratic equations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a quadratic equation?

A: A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means that the highest power of the variable (in this case, ${x}$ ) is two.

Q: What is the quadratic formula?

A: The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for solving quadratic equations. It states that the solutions to the quadratic equation ${ax^2 + bx + c = 0}$ are given by:

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

Q: How do I factor a quadratic equation?

References

[1] "Quadratic Equations" by Math Open Reference. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/quadratic.html
[2] "Factoring Quadratic Equations" by Purplemath. Retrieved from https://www.purplemath.com/modules/factquad.htm
[3] "Quadratic Formula" by Math Is Fun. Retrieved from https://www.mathisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-formula.html