How do I solve a quadratic equation?

In a quadratic equation the highest power is 2. This means that we are looking for up to 2 answers. The first thing we are going to try to do is factorise the equation. We draw two sets of brackets side by side. In each bracket, we will have x +/- some number. We need to work out what those numbers should be. (Shows example equation) In this example the number next to the x term is 5 and the number out here on its own is 6. We need to find two numbers which multiply to together to make 6 and also add together to make 5. Can you think of any? (Once answer is found or given) So now we write x+2 in the first bracket and x+3 in the second bracket. See how this whole equation is equal to 0? That means that the answers to the equation have to be something + 2 = 0 and something + 3 = 0. So what would the two answers be?(Once answer is found or given) To check that you are right replace the Xs with each answer to see if you get zero.

LW
Answered by Leszek W. Maths tutor

2770 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A 20-foot ladder is leaning against a vertical wall. The bottom of the ladder is pulled away horizontally from the wall at 3 feet per second. How fast is the top of the ladder sliding down the wall when the bottom of the ladder is 10 feet away?


A bottle contains 300ml of medicine, the dose for a child can be given by (m*a)/150 where m is the child's age in months and a is the adult dosage of 40ml. If you need 2 doses a day, how long will the medicine last until it's empty for a 2y/o child?


Factorise a^2 - 5a – 14.


How to find the roots of a Quadratic Equation by Factorising?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning