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Quadratics
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Study Guide
Summary
The Quadratic Formula
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Trinomials are not always easy to factor. In fact, some trinomials cannot be factored. Thus, we need a different way to
solve quadratic equations. Herein lies the importance of the quadratic formula:
x=
a = 1, b = 8, and c = 15.75.
x=
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Or
=-
Or
-
Thus, x = - or x = - .
=
Or
=5
Or
-
Thus, x = 5 or x = - .
= Manage Preferences
=
= =-4
Thus, x = - 4.
a = 2, b = - 4, and c = 7.
x=
Since we cannot take the square root of a negative number, there are no solutions. (The graph of this quadratic
polynomial will therefore be a parabola that never touches the x-axis.)
The Discriminant
As we have seen, there can be 0, 1, or 2 solutions to a quadratic equation, depending on whether the expression inside
the square root sign, (b2 - 4ac), is positive, negative, or zero. This expression has a special name: the discriminant.
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Problems The Quadratic Formula page 2
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