What model calculator do you use for A level Maths?

Do you mean quadratic formula? I think he knows that already.

Thanks guys. I know you can use a calculator to work out a quadratic equation using the quadratic formula but, is there a way of using a calculator to help factorise a quadratic equation? (Sorry if I sound like such a newbie, I'm a mature student and have only been learning A-level Maths since October but before this I hadn't studied Maths since I was at school 7 years ago!!)

Nope but here's an easy trick

Let's say you get x = -1, x = 5/3

All you have to do is rearrange to get 0 on one side, for each one

First one would be easy
(x+1) = 0

Second one:

x = 5/3
3x = 5
(3x - 5) = 0

Then multiply the two together to get your factorised quadratic

(x+1)(3x-5)=0

If you put in a quadratic equation $x^2 + bx + c = 0$ into your calculator and it tells you that the roots/solutions are $\alpha$ and $\beta$, then your quadratic is factorised as $(x-\alpha)(x-\beta)$. If this sounds foreign to you, then let's try an example.

We have $x^2 -7x + 10 = 0$, plug this into your calculator. Your calculator will show you that the roots are $x=5$ or $x=2$. This means that the quadratic factorises as $(x-5)(x-2)$.

It will give you x = -4/3, x = 2

Not factorise

Oh I see. How do you use a calculator to give you those 2 values of x though?

It seems like you haven't seen these two posts, so just quoting them for you!

Ah yeah oops. I didn't see that person's comment that you quoted last.
This is going to sound stupid but I'm not sure I actually know how to correctly type a quadratic equation into my calculator

If possible, can someone send me a video?

Thanks Student403.

Everyone I've come to the conclusion that my calculator doesn't give me the "equation" function to work out quadratics like the video above think I may have to invest in a better calculator!!

No problem

I think you should, yeah. For the exams, a model similar to that would be ideal, especially with handy quadratic solvers if you're just getting back in to maths. What model is your current one?