1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown (I)

Lesson
Solving Quadratic Equations
Worksheet 1.4 by the Graphical Method
Name: ______________ Class: _____( ) Date: __________
TEACHER’S EDITION
Objectives: 1. Solve the equation ax2 bx c 0 by plotting the graph of y
ax2 bx c and reading the
x-intercepts.
2. Understand the approximate nature of the roots obtained by using the graphical method.

Key Points
Solving quadratic equations by the graphical method
The x-intercepts of the graph of y ax2 bx c are the roots of the equation ax2 bx c 0.
We can solve the quadratic equation ax2 bx c 0 by the graphical method as follows:
Step 1: Plot the graph of y ax2 bx c.
Step 2: Find the root(s) of ax2 bx c 0 by reading the x-intercept(s) of the graph in Step 1.
Note: we can only find the approximate values of the roots of a quadratic equation by the graphical method.

Let’s Check (from Classwork on p.1.30 of the textbook)

In each of the following, find the roots of the quadratic equation using the given graph.
1. y x2 2x 2. y 2x2 5x 2

2.0, 0.0 0.5, 2.0

The grid lines on the graph paper determine the

best solution that can be obtained. The scale of
the x-axis in the figures above allows us to read
the value of x correct to the nearest 0.5.

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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown (I)

Let’s Try 13 (modified from Quick Practice 1.11)

Example 13 (Level 1) (from Teaching Example 1.11)
(a) Plot the graph of y 4x2 4x – 3 from
(a) Plot the graph of y 2x2 x – 1 from x –3 to x 2 on the given graph paper.
x –3 to x 3 on the given graph paper. (b) Hence, solve the equation 4x2 4x – 3 0
(b) Hence, solve the equation 2x2 x – 1 0 graphically.
graphically.
Solution
Solution
(a) Consider y 4x2 4x – 3.
(a)
x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2
First, list some pairs of corresponding
values of x and y in the given range. y 21 5 –3 –3 5 21
Consider y 2x2 x – 1.
x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
y 14 5 0 –1 2 9 20

(b) The x-intercepts of the graph of

y 4x2 4x – 3 are –1.5 and 0.5.
Therefore, the roots of 4x2 4x – 3 0 are
–1.5 and 0.5.

Join the points by a smooth curve.

(b) The x-intercepts of the graph of

y 2x2 x – 1 are –1.0 and 0.5.
Therefore, the roots of 2x2 x – 1 0 are
–1.0 and 0.5.

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 2 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2023
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2023
 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown (I)

Let’s Try 14 (modified from Quick Practice 1.12)

Example 14 (Level 1) (from Teaching Example 1.12)
(a) Plot the graph of y –4x2 4x 1 from
(a) Plot the graph of y –x2 8x 16 from x –2 to x 3 on the given graph paper.
x –1 to x 7 on the given graph paper.
(b) Hence, solve the equation –4x2 4x 1
(b) Hence, solve the equation –x2 8x 16 0 graphically.
0 graphically.
Solution
Solution (a) Consider y –4x2 4x 1.
(a) Consider y –x 8x 16.
2

x –2 –1 0 1 2 3
x –1 0 1 2 3
–2 –2
y –25 –16 –9 –4 –1 y –9 –1 –1 –9
5 5
x 4 5 6 7
y 0 –1 –4 –9

(b) The x-intercept of the graph of

(b) The x-intercept of the graph of y –4x2 4x 1 is 0.5.
y –x2 8x 16 is 4.0. Therefore, the root of –4x2 4x 1 0 is
Therefore, the root of –x2 8x 16 0 is 0.5 (repeated).
4.0 (repeated).

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 3 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2023
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 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown (I)
(modified from
Teaching Example 1.13)
Let’s Try 15 (from Quick Practice 1.13)
Example 15 (Level 1) The figure shows the graph of
The figure shows the graph of y x2 x 5 1
from x –3 to x 2. Solve the equation y 2 x2 2x 3. Solve the equation
x2 5 x graphically. x2 – 4x 6 0 graphically.

Solution
x2  4x  6  0
1 2
x  2x  3  0
2
1 2
y x  2x  3
Solution The graph of 2 does not
x2 5 x intersect the x-axis,
x x 5
2
0 i.e. there are no x-intercepts.
The graph of y x2 x 5 does not intersect 1 2
x  2x  3  0
the x-axis, Therefore, the equation 2 has
i.e. there are no x-intercepts. no real roots,
Therefore, the equation y x2 x 5 has no i.e. the equation x2 – 4x 6 0 has no real
real roots, roots.
i.e. the equation x2 5 x has no real roots.

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 4 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2023
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2023
 1 Quadratic Equations in One Unknown (I)

Example 16 (Level 2) (from Teaching Example 1.14) Let’s Try 16 (from Quick Practice 1.14)
In the figure, the graph of y x 3x k cuts
2 In the figure, the graph of y x2 2x k cuts
the x-axis at two points A and B, and passes the x-axis at two points A and B, and cuts the
through the point C(1, –6). y-axis the point C(0, –3).

(a) Find the value of k.

(a) Find the value of k.
(b) Find the length of AB.
(b) Find the length of AB.
Solution
(a) The graph of y x2 3x k passes Solution
through C(1, –6). (a) The graph of y x2 2x k passes
By substituting x 1 and y –6 into through C(0, –3).
y x2 3x k, we have By substituting x 0 and y –3 into
y x2 2x k, we have
6  12  3(1)  k
3  02  2(0)  k
6  4  k
k  3
k  10

(b)
The length of AB
x-coordinate of B – x-coordinate of (b) The graph of y x2 2x – 3 cuts the
A x-axis at A and B.
The graph of y x2 3x – 10 cuts the The x-coordinates of A and B are the
x-axis at A and B. roots of the equation x2 2x – 3 0.
The x-coordinates of A and B are the
x2  2x  3  0
roots of the equation x2 3x – 10 0.
x 2  3 x  10  0 ( x  1)( x  3)  0
( x  5)( x  2)  0 x  1  0 or x  3  0
x  5  0 or x  2  0 x  1 or x3
The coordinates of A and B are
x  5 or x2
(–1, 0) and (3, 0) respectively.
The coordinates of A and B are AB  [3  (1)] units
(–5, 0) and (2, 0) respectively.
AB  [2  (5)] units  4 units
 7 units

HKDSE Mathematics in Action (3rd Edition) 5 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Ltd. 2023
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2023