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College Algebra
Tutorial 20: 
Equations that are Quadratic in Form

Learning Objectives
 
After completing this tutorial, you should be able to:
1. Solve equations that are quadratic in form.

 
 
 

Introduction
 
In this tutorial I will be stepping you through how to solve equations that are
quadratic in form.  These types of equations ultimately lead us to a quadratic
equation.  So you know what that means.  As mentioned in previous tutorials, a
lot of times in math you use previous knowledge to help work the new
concepts.  The main thing you need to know from your past that will help you
work the types of problems in this tutorial is how to solve quadratic equations. 
If you need a review on solving quadratic equations, feel free to go to Tutorial
17:  Quadratic Equations.  Solving equations is a big part of algebra.  It is
very important to be able to solve all different kinds of equations because
equations can be used to solve all kinds of problems, and you want to make
sure you are prepared for any type of problem that comes your way.  I think
that you are ready to move forward.

 
 
 

Tutorial
 
Quadratic in Form

An equation is quadratic in form

when it can be written in this
standard form

where the same expression is inside

both (  )'s.

 
In other words, if you have a times the square of the expression following b plus
b times that same expression not squared plus c equal to 0, you have an equation
that is quadratic in form.
If we substitute what is in the (   ) with a variable like t, then the original
equation will become a quadratic equation.

 
Solving  Equations that are 
Quadratic in Form

 
Step 1:  Write in Standard Form,  , if needed. 
 
If it is not in standard form, move any term(s) to the appropriate
side by using the addition/subtraction property of equality. 
Also, make sure that the squared term is written first left to
right, the expression not squared is second and the constant is
third and it is set equal to 0.

Step 2: Substitute a variable in for the expression that follows b in

the second term.
 

In other words, substitute your variable for what is in the (   )

when it is in standard form,  .
I’m going to use t for my substitution, but really you can use
any variable as long as it is not the variable that is used in the
original equation.
 Step 3: Solve the quadratic equation created in step 2.
 

If you need a review on solving quadratic equations, feel free to

go to Tutorial 17:  Quadratic Equations.
You can use any method you want to solve the quadratic
equation: factoring, completing the square or quadratic formula.

Step 4: Find the value of the variable from the original equation. 
 

Keep in mind that you are finding a solution to the original

equation and that the variable you substituted in for in step 2 is
not your original variable. 
Use the substitution that was used to set up step 2 and then solve
for the original variable.

Step 5:  Check your solutions.

 

In some cases you will be working with rational exponents and

square roots in your problems.  Those types of equations can
cause extraneous solutions.  Recall that an extraneous solution is
one that is a solution to an equation after doing something like
raising both sides of an equation by an even power, but is not a
solution to the original problem.
Even though not all of the quadratic in form equations can cause
extraneous solutions, it is better to be safe than sorry and just
check them all.

 
 

Example 1: Solve the equation that is quadratic in

form:  .

 
Step 1:  Write in Standard Form,  , if needed. 

 
This equation is already in standard form.

 
 Step 2: Substitute a variable in for the expression that follows b in
the second term.

 
Below, I have the original equation rewritten in a way to show you that
it is quadratic in form.  Note how when you square y squared you get y
to the fourth, which is what you have in the first term.

 
*Rewriting original equation to show it is
quadratic in form
*Note that (y squared) squared = y to the
fourth
*When in stand. form, let t = the expression
following b.

 
Next we need to substitute t in for y squared in the original
equation. 

 
*Original equation
 
 
*Substitute t in for y squared

 
Note how we ended up with a quadratic equation when we did our
substitution.  From here we need to solve the quadratic equation that we
have created.

 
Step 3: Solve the quadratic equation created in step 2.

 
You can use any method you want to solve the quadratic equation:
factoring, completing the square or quadratic formula.
I'm going to factor it to solve it.

 
 *Factor the trinomial
 

*Use Zero-Product Principle

*Set 1st factor = 0 and solve
 
 
 
 
 

*Set 2nd factor = 0 and solve

 
Step 4: Find the value of the variable from the original equation.

 
In step 2 we used the substitution of t = y squared.

 
Let's find the value(s) of y when t = -4:

*Plug in - 4 for t
*Use square root method to solve for y

*First solution
 
 
 
 

*Second solution

 
Let's find the value(s) of y when t = 1:

 
 *Plug in 1 for t
*Use square root method to solve for y

*First solution
 
 
 
 

*Second solution

 
Step 5:  Check your solutions.

 
Let's double check to see if y = 2i is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in 2i for y
*i squared simplifies to be -1
*i to the fourth simplifies to be 1
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, y = 2i  is a solution.

 
Let's double check to see if y = -2i is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in -2i for y

*i squared simplifies to be -1
*i to the fourth simplifies to be 1
*True statement
 
Since we got a true statement, y = -2i  is a solution.

 
 
Let's double check to see if y = 1 is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in 1 for y
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, y = 1  is a solution.

 
 
Let's double check to see if y = -1 is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in -1 for y
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, y = -1  is a solution.

 
 
There are four solutions to this equation: y = 2i, y = -2i, y = 1, and
y = -1.

 
 
 

Example 2: Solve the equation that is quadratic in form:  .

 
Step 1:  Write in Standard Form,  , if needed. 

*Inverse of add. 3 is sub. 3

*Equation in standard form

 
Step 2: Substitute a variable in for the expression that follows b in
the second term.

 
Below, I have the original equation rewritten in a way to show you that
it is quadratic in form.  Note how when you square x to the 1/3 power
you get x to the 2/3 power, which is what you have in the first term.

 
*Rewriting original equation to show it is
quadratic in form
*Note that (x to the 1/3 power) squared = x to
the 2/3 power
*When in stand. form, let t = the expression
following b.

 
Next we need to substitute t in for x to the 1/3 power in the original
equation. 

*Original equation
 
 
*Substitute t in for x to the 1/3 power

 
Note how we ended up with a quadratic equation when we did our
substitution.  From here we need to solve the quadratic equation that we
have created.
 
Step 3: Solve the quadratic equation created in step 2.

 
You can use any method you want to solve the quadratic equation:
factoring, completing the square or quadratic formula.
I'm going to factor it to solve it.

*Factor the trinomial

 

*Use Zero-Product Principle

*Set 1st factor = 0 and solve
 
 
 
 
 

*Set 2nd factor = 0 and solve

 
Step 4: Find the value of the variable from the original equation.

 
In step 2 we used the substitution of t = x to the 1/3 power.

 
Let's find the value(s) of x when t = 3:

*Plug in 3 for t
*Solve the rational exponent equation
*Inverse of taking it to the 1/3 power is 
raising it to the 3rd power
 
Let's find the value(s) of x when t = -1:

*Plug in -1 for t
*Solve the rational exponent equation
*Inverse of taking it to the 1/3 power is 
raising it to the 3rd power

 
Step 5:  Check your solutions.

 
Let's double check to see if x = 27 is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in 27 for x
 
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, x = 27  is a solution.

 
Let's double check to see if x = -1 is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in -1 for x
 
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, x = -1  is a solution.
 
 
There are two solutions to this equation: x = 27 and x = -1.

 
 
 

Example 3: Solve the equation that is quadratic in

form:  .

 
Step 1:  Write in Standard Form,  , if needed. 

 
This equation is already in standard form.

 
Step 2: Substitute a variable in for the expression that follows b in
the second term.

 
Note how the original equation has the exact same expression in the
two (  )'s and that the first (  ) is squared and the 2nd (  ) is to the one
power.  This equation is quadratic in form.

*When in stand. form, let t = the

expression following b.

 
Next we need to substitute t in for x squared plus 3x in the original
equation. 

 
*Original equation
 
*Substitute t in for x squared plus
3x
 
Note how we ended up with a quadratic equation when we did our
substitution.  From here we need to solve the quadratic equation that we
have created.

 
Step 3: Solve the quadratic equation created in step 2.

 
You can use any method you want to solve the quadratic equation:
factoring, completing the square or quadratic formula.
I'm going to factor it to solve it.

*Factor the trinomial

 
*Use Zero-Product Principle
*Set 1st factor = 0 and solve
*2nd factor is the same as the 1st
 

 
Step 4: Find the value of the variable from the original equation.

 
In step 2 we used the substitution of t = x squared plus 3x.

 
Let's find the value(s) of x when t = 4:

 
 *Plug in 4 for t
*Solve the quadratic eq. for x
*Factor the trinomial
 

*Use Zero-Product Principle

*Set 1st factor = 0 and solve

*First solution
 
 
 

*Set 2nd factor = 0 and solve

 

*Second solution

 
Step 5:  Check your solutions.

 
Let's double check to see if x = -4 is a solution to the original
equation.

*Plugging in -4 for x
 
 
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, x = -4  is a solution.

 
Let's double check to see if x = 1 is a solution to the original
equation.

 
 *Plugging in 1 for x
 
 
 
*True statement

 
Since we got a true statement, x = 1  is a solution.

 
 
There are two solutions to this equation: x = -4 and x = 1.

 
 
 

Practice Problems
 
These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level.  It will allow
you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems.
Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you
need to practice it.  Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the
way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or
instrument.  In fact there is no such thing as too much practice.
To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own
and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the
answer/discussion for that  problem.  At the link you will find the answer as
well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problems 1a - 1c:

Solve each quadratic in form equation.

 
1a.  1b. 
(answer/discussion to 1a) (answer/discussion to 1b)
 
1c. 
(answer/discussion to 1c)

 
 

Need Extra Help on These Topics?

 
 
No appropriate web pages could be found to help you with the topics on this
page. 

 
Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed
in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

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All contents copyright (C) 2002, WTAMU and Kim Peppard. All rights reserved.
Last revised on July 10, 2002 by Kim Peppard.