EQUATIONS

Linear Equations
Example Solve for x: 5x + 3 = x + 2
Solution When you move a term of the equation from
5x x = 2 3 one side to the other, switch the sign!

6x = 1
1 1
= =
6 6

Example Solve for x: 6 + 4x = 6x 10

Solution
4x 6x = 10 6
2x = 16
16
= =8
2

Example Solve for x: x + 3(2x + 5) = 20

Solution
x + 6x + 15 = 20
7x = 20 15
7x = 35
35
= = 5
7
Example Solve for x: 4(x + 2) (2x + 1) = x + 5
Solution
4x + 8 2x 1 = x + 5
4x 2x x = 5 8 + 1
x=2

Example Solve for x: 3(2x + 5) = 10x + 7 + 2(x 8)

Solution
6x + 15 = 10x + 7 + 2x 16
6x 10x 2x = 7 16 15
6x = 24
24
= =4
6

Example Solve for x: 3x 4(3x 2) = 2x

Solution
3x 12x + 8 = 2x
3x 12x 2x = 8
11x = 8
8 8
= = .
11 11
Example Solve for x: 6 + 8(8 2x) = 14 8(4x 2)
Solution
6 + 64 16x = 14 32x + 16
32x 16x = 14 + 16 6 64
16x = 40
40 5
= = = 2.5.
16 2
2 + 3 4 3
Example Solve for x: 10 =
5 2

Solution
2(2 + 3) 100 = 5(4 3x)
4 + 6 100 = 20 15x
4 + 15x = 20 6 + 100
19x = 114
114
= =6
19
Example Solve for x: 3(2x + 1) + 2(3x + 1) = 17
Solution
3(2x + 1) + 2(3x + 1) = 17
6x + 3 + 6x + 2 = 17
12x = 17 5
12x = 12
x=1
Example Solve for x: (x 5)2 = 4 + (x + 5)2
Solution
x2 10x + 25 = 4 + x2 + 10x + 25
20x = 4
4 1
= =
20 5
Quadratic Equations

An equation of the second degree is called a quadratic equation.

The general form of the quadratic equation in one variable is
ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a, b, and c are real numbers and a 0.
In order to solve a quadratic equation, express it in its general
form and attempt first to factor the quadratic polynomial. Then
set each linear factor equal to zero. This procedure produces two
roots, which in some cases are equal.

If the quadratic member of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is not

factorable, we apply the quadratic formula:

2 4
=
2

The quantity under the radical sign, D = b2 4ac, is called the

discriminant of the quadratic equation; it determines the nature of the
roots of the equation. If D = b2 4ac is a positive quantity, the two roots
are real. If D is a negative quantity, the roots are imaginary. If D = 0, the
roots are real and equal. If D is a perfect square, the roots are real and
rational.
The roots, x1 and x2, of the general quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0
are related to the coefficients of the equation as follows:

x1 + x2 = , x1 x2 =
2
Example Solve for x: 5x2 = 36 + x2
Solution
5x2 x2 = 36
4x2 = 36
x2 = 9
x = 3

Example Solve for x: 3x2 5 = 0

Solution
3x2 = 5
5
x2 =
3
15
x2 =
9

15
x=
3
Example Solve for x: 10x2 = 5x
Solution
10x2 5x = 0
5x (2x 1) = 0
x = 0 or 2x 1 = 0
x = 0.5
The equation has two roots: 0 and 0.5.

Example Solve for x: 3x2 12 = x(1 + 2x)

Solution
3x2 12 = x + 2x2
x2 x 12 = 0
(x 4)(x + 3)= 0
x 4 = 0 or x + 3 = 0
x = 4 or x = 3
Example Solve for x: 2x2 x = 21
Solution
2x2 x 21= 0 (7)(6) = 42
(7) + (6) = 1
2x2 7x + 6x 21= 0
x(2x 7) + 3(2x 7) = 0
(2x 7)(x + 3) = 0
2x 7 = 0 or x + 3 = 0
x = 3.5 or x = 3
The equation has two roots: 3 and 3.5.

Example Solve for x: 3x2 x 4 = 0

Solution (4) (3) = 12
(4) + (3) = 1
3x2 4x + 3x 4 = 0
x(3x 4) + 1(3x 4) = 0
(3x 4)(x + 1) = 0
3x 4 = 0 or x + 1= 0
4
x = or x = 1
3
Example Find, in radical form, the roots of x2 6x + 7 = 0.
Solution
2 4 6 (6)2 4(1)(7) 6 36 28)
x= = =
2 2(1) 2

6 8 6 22
= = = 32.
2 2

Example Solve for x: 2x2 4x 3 = 0.

2 4 4 (4)2 4(2)(3)
x= =
2 2(2)

4 16+ 24 4 40 4 210 2 10
= = = =
4 4 4 2
Example Solve the system of equations:
x2 3y2 = 13
x + 3y = 1
Solution
From the second equation: x = 1 3y.
Substitute into the first equation:
(1 3)2 3y2 = 13

1 6 + 9 2 3y2 = 13
6 2 6 12 = 0

6 2 6 12 = 0
2 2 = 0
(y 2)(y + 1) = 0
y 2 = 0 or y + 1 = 0
y = 2 or y = 1
If y = 2 then x = 1 3(2) = 5.
If y = 1 then x = 1 3(1) = 4.
The system has two solutions: (5, 2) and (4, 1).

Example Solve the system of equations: 3x2 xy = 3 and 6x y = 10

Solution From the second equation: y = 6x 10
Substitute into the first equation:
3x2 x(6x 10) = 3
3x2 6x2 + 10x = 3
3x2 + 10x 3 = 0
3x2 10x + 3 = 0 (1)( 9) = 9
(1) + (9) = 10
3x2 x 9x + 3 = 0
x(3x 1) 3(3x 1) = 0
(3x 1)(x 3) = 0
3x 1 = 0 or x 3 = 0
1
x= or x = 3
3

1 1
If x = then y = 6( ) 10 = 8.
3 3

If x = 3 then y = 6(3) 10 = 8.
1
The system has two solutions: ( , 8) and (3, 8).
3
Example For what value of a in the equation ax2 6x + 9 = 0 are the
roots of the equation equal?

Solution Set the discriminant equal to zero:

D = 2 4 = (6)2 4a (9) = 36 36a = 0 36a = 36, a = 1.

Example For what value of c are the roots of the equation x2 + 6x + c =

0 equal?
Solution Set the discriminant equal to zero:
D = 2 4 = (6)2 4(1) c = 36 4c = 0 36 = 4c, c = 9.
Irrational Equations
An equation containing the variable under a radical sign is called a
radical equation. In a radical equation both members may be squared, or
raised to any power, to eliminate radicals. This procedure may introduce
extraneous roots; all roots obtained by this method must be checked in
the original equation.

Example Solve for x: 12 + 4 + 2 = 6

Solution

12 + 4 = 6 2

12 + 4 = 4
12 + 4 = 16
12 = 12
x=1
Example Solve for x: 3 + 4 =

Solution Notice that 3 + 4 0, therefore, 0.

Square both sides:

3 + 4 = 2
2 3 4 = 0
(x 4)(x + 1) = 0
x 4 = 0 or x + 1= 0
x = 4 > 0 (extraneous root) or x = 1< 0.

Check: x = 4, 3 + 4 = ,

3(4) + 4 = 4

16 = 4
4 = 4 true
Example Solve for x: + 6 =

Solution Notice that + 6 0, therefore, 0 and 0.

Square both sides:
x + 6 = x2
x2 x 6 = 0
(x 3)(x + 2) = 0
x 3 = 0 or x + 2 = 0
x = 3 > 0 (extraneous root) or x = 2 < 0

Check: x = 2, + 6 = ,

(2) + 6 = (2)

4 = 2
2 = 2 true
Example Solve for x: 2 = 14 x

Solution Notice that 2 0, therefore, 14 0 and 14.

Square both sides:

2 = (14 )2
2 = 196 28x + x2
0 = 198 29x + x2
x2 29x + 198 = 0
(x 11)(x 18) = 0
x = 11 < 14, x = 18 > 14 (extraneous root)

Check: x = 11, 2 = 14 ,

11 2 = 14 11

9 = 3
3 = 3 true
Polynomial Equations
Example If 2 is one root of the equation x3 4x2 + 14x 20 = 0, find the
other two roots.
Solution Use synthetic division.
1 4 14 20 | 2
2 4 20
1 2 10
The resulting equation is x2 2x + 10 = 0. Solve it by the quadratic
formula.

2 (2)2 4(1)(10) 2 4 40 2 36 2 6
x= = = = = 1 3.
2(1) 2 2 2

Example Find a so that 5 is a root of the equation x4 4x3 + ax 10 = 0.

Solution Substitute x = 5 into the equation.
54 4 53 + 5a 10 = 0
625 500 + 5a 10 = 0
5a = 115
a = 23.
Example If two roots of the equation x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0 (with a, b,
and c integers) are 1 and 2 3i, find the value of a.
Solution Another root must be 2 + 3i.
Solution Another root must be 2 + 3i.
Since the sum of the roots equals , we get:
1 + (2 3i) + (2 + 3i) = ,
5 = , = 5.

The Remainder Theorem:

When a polynomial f(x) is divided by x a , the remainder is f(a)

Example Find the remainder when x16 + 5 is divided by x + 1.

If f(x) = x16 + 5, then the remainder is equal to
f(1) = (1)16 + 5 = 1 + 5 = 6