Quadratic Formula

In what follows, the quadratic formula is derived. Suppose that one has a
quadratic equation
ax2 + bx + c, (1)
where a, b, c are constants and x is a variable. Then one can solve for x as
follows:

• divide the equation by a

b c
x2 + x + = 0, (2)
a a

• re-write the equation as

2
b2

b c
x+ − 2
+ = 0, (3)
2a 4a a

• solve for x
2
b2

b c
x+ = 2− , (4)
2a 4a a
r
b b2 4ac
x+ =± − 2, (5)
2a 4a2 4a
b 1p 2
x=− ± b − 4ac. (6)
2a 2a