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Quadratic expressions

Quadratic expressions for A Level Physical Education AQA Foundation: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • AQA
  • Physical Education
  • Foundation
  • Spec A17 · A14 · A20
  • 6 min read
  • 9 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
3 min read

What is quadratic expressions?

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Transcript

A short spoken summary of quadratic expressions and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of quadratic expressions before you read the notes.
Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
5 rows

The quadratic expressions reference table

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Term
Meaning
Example
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

Learning

5 boxes
4 steps

How to work with quadratic expressions

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for quadratic expressions in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
3 rules

Key facts: Quadratic expressions

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing quadratic expressions laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.

  • Rule 1

    How quadratic expressions behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 2

    How quadratic expressions behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
4 steps

How to work with quadratic expressions

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for quadratic expressions in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.
Answer: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
2 rules

Key facts: Quadratic expressions

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing quadratic expressions laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.

  • Rule 1

    How quadratic expressions behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

  • Rule 2

    How quadratic expressions behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
4 steps

How to work with quadratic expressions

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
Worth knowing: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for quadratic expressions in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
Answer: ≈160\approx 160

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Examples

2 boxes
2 marks · worked

Worked example: quadratic expressions

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing quadratic expressions laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
1 marks · worked

Practice question 9: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.

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Common questions

How many marks is quadratic expressions usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the A Level Physical Education AQA Foundation paper?
Yes — it sits in the Transformations strand.