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How to Explain How to Find a Quadratic Equation If You Are Only Given the Solutions

Showing a student how to solve a quadratic equation does not mean that the student will realize how to go in the other direction -- going from solutions to quadratics. It is definitely an exercise worth doing, because it demonstrates how this algorithm is not just a linear, step-by-step recipe for doing something -- it is also a way to show the relationship between the quadratic and its solutions. These kind of exercises are a good way to start the student on the road to mathematical maturity.

Things You'll Need

  • Graphing calculator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Show the student some graphs of quadratics. It soon becomes obvious that the graph of a quadratic is a parabola and there are three ways that a parabola can interact with the X axis: not at all; touches in one place only; crosses the X axis in two places. If the parabola touches the X axis at one point only, the two real roots are equal and the quadratic is a perfect square. If the parabola crosses the X axis at two points, there are two real roots and two factors that are different.

    • 2

      Explain that when you are given the solutions you are given the points where the parabola interacts with the X axis. This makes sense because the solutions are where Y = 0 and all of these points are on the X axis. The relationship between the quadratic, the factors and the roots is this: The solutions of the quadratic are the same as the solutions to all of the factors. This means that if the parabola crosses the X axis at point p, this is not only a solution of the quadratic but a solution of one of the factors of the quadratic. A logical choice for this factor is X - p, because the solution of X - p = 0 is X = p.

    • 3

      Show the student that when you are given the solutions p and q, the factors are X - p and X - q and the quadratic is the product (X - p)(X - q). You should point out that if the solution 3/4, the corresponding factor could be X - 3/4, but it is more likely to be 4X - 3.

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