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Quadratic Equations

Mike McGarry
Lesson by Mike McGarry
Magoosh Expert
Quiz
Algebra
Summary
The essence of solving quadratic equations for the ACT exam involves understanding their structure, employing specific strategies distinct from those used for linear equations, and applying the Zero Product Property to find solutions.
  • Quadratic equations are of the form ax squared + bx + c = 0 and typically have two solutions.
  • The strategy for solving quadratic equations involves setting the equation to zero, factoring it into a product of linear binomials, and then applying the Zero Product Property.
  • The Zero Product Property is crucial for solving quadratic equations, stating that if a product equals zero, then at least one of the multiplicands must be zero.
  • Most quadratic equations encountered in the test can be solved by factoring, which is different from the strategy used for linear equations.
  • Some quadratics may have one solution or no solution, highlighting the importance of factoring and setting equations to zero before applying the Zero Product Property.
Chapters
00:00
Understanding Quadratic Equations
00:57
Solving Quadratics by Factoring
01:39
Applying the Zero Product Property