How to Solve Quadratic Equations

Quadratic equations are a key GCSE maths topic.

A quadratic equation has the form:

ax² + bx + c = 0

There are several ways to solve them.

Method 1: Factorising

Example:

x² + 5x + 6 = 0

Factorise:

(x + 2)(x + 3) = 0

So:

x = −2 or x = −3

The quadratic formula is:

x = (-b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a

This method works for all quadratic equations.

This method is useful for rewriting expressions and solving equations.

It is also useful when sketching quadratic graphs where you need the minimum or maximum point of the graph

Practising different types of quadratic equations will improve confidence with this important topic.