On the SAT math portion, quadratic equations are not difficult to answer correctly. This is because the quadratic formula does not need to be known. In fact, it may occasionally be less helpful when using it because of a simple strategy that can help increase the math score on the SAT.
TIP: Do the opposite to the quadratic equation. If a quadratic equation is on the test, it is simply a matter of factoring it. Likewise, for factored quadratic equations, it is just a matter of expanding it to standard form. Nearly all of the quadratic equation questions on the SAT math section can be solved in this matter - without knowing the quadratic equation.
Factored and Expanded Quadratic Equations
Quadratic equations on the SAT math section that are in standard or expanded form appear as ax3 + bx + c, where a ,b and c are all usually numbers and coefficients. Occasionally, the makers of the SAT test will try to trick students with these types of questions. The rules of the other sections apply - reading the question slowly and carefully and knowing exactly what is being asked for in the question.
Some questions will need FOIL to solve:
First
Outer
Inner
Last
First Outer Inner Last (FOIL)
To use FOIL on the SAT, a person must first multiply the first terms that appear in a pair of parentheses, then the outer terms, the inner terms and finally the last terms - FOIL. :
TIP: It is important to always double check work done by using FOIL. When the signs are gotten wrong it can throw off the whole equation giving a wrong answer and lowering the overall SAT math score. Quadratic equations will always have two distinct answers, but occasionally the question will give you limits. It will usually be easier to solve for the expression asked for in the question rather than for each separate variable.
