A quadratic polynomial is a polynomial of degree 2. It is of the form $ax^2+bx+c$ where a,b,c are constants and $a\ne0$. this is so because if a = 0 then the polynomial does not a have a degree 2 but 1 and it becomes a linear polynomial.
A quadratic equation is of the form $ax^2+bx+c=0$ where $a,b,c$ are constants and $a\ne0$.
Solution of quadratic equation
Completing the square
Completing the square method for solvling quadratic method is to convert the quadratic equation of the form $ax^2+bx+c=0$ to the form $(x+m)^2=c$ and then solve the same.
Following steps are taken to solve the quadratic equation.
1) Take the constant to the RHS.
So we get
$ax^2+bx=-c$
2) Divide both sides of the equation by a to make the coefficient of $x^2$ 1.
We get $x^2+\frac{b}{a}x = \frac{-c}{a}$
To make the LHS a perfect square we need to add $(\frac{b}{2a})^2$ to the LHS and hence we need to add the same on the RHS .
We get $x^2+\frac{b}{a}x + (\frac{b}{2a})^2 = \frac{-c}{a} + (\frac{b}{2a})^2 $
Or $(x+\frac{b}{a})^2 = \frac{-c}{a} + (\frac{b}{2a})^2 $
Then taking the square root on both sides we can solve the same.
Let us take a couple of examples to illustrate the same.
Example 1
Solve $x^2+6x+8=0$
Take 8 to the RHS that is $x^2+6x= - 8$
As coefficient of $x^2$ is 1 we do not have anything to do in this step
To complete the square add $(\frac{6}{2})^2$ or 9 on both sides to get $x^2+6x+9 = 9-8 =1$
Or $(x+3)^2 = 1$
Or $(x+3) = \pm 1$
Or $x = -3 \pm 1$ giving 2 solutions x = -4 or -2
Example 2
Take 8 to the RHS that is $x^2+6x= - 8$
As coefficient of $x^2$ is 1 we do not have anything to do in this step
To complete the square add $(\frac{6}{2})^2$ or 9 on both sides to get $x^2+6x+9 = 9-8 =1$
Or $(x+3)^2 = 1$
Or $(x+3) = \pm 1$
Or $x = -3 \pm 1$ giving 2 solutions x = -4 or -2
Example 2
Solve $x^2+3x-4=0$
Take -4 to the RHS that is $x^2+3x= 4$
As coefficient of $x^2$ is 1 we do not have anything to do in this step
To complete the square add $(\frac{3}{2})^2$ or $\frac{9}{4}$ on both sides to get $x^2+3x+\frac{9}{4} = 4 + \frac{9}{4}$
Or $(x+\frac{3}{2})^2 = \frac{25}{4}$
Or $(x+\frac{3}{2}) = \pm \frac{5}{2}$
Or $x = \frac{-3}{2} \pm \frac{5}{2}$ giving 2 solutions x = -4 or 1
The other methods are
1) By facrorisation
2) Quadratic Formula
We shall be discussing the methods subseqently