How many different ways can you solve a quadratic equation? List them.

1) Quadratic Formula is like the swiss army knife when it comes to this. Never fails, but not convenient sometimes.

2) Consider the polynomial:

x^2 + Ax + B = 0

Note that the leading coefficient is 1. Then you find two terms, say x1 and x2, whose product is B and sum is A.

Then: x^2 + Ax + B = (x-x1) (x-x2)

Sometimes, you just need a good hunting knife.

3) Consider the polynomial Ax^2 - k^2, such that A and k are real numbers.

(A^2) (x^2) - k^2 =

(Ax+k) (Ax-k)

4) Splitting the middle term.

5) Rational Root Theorem and Synthetic Division

6) Graph and approximate solutions.