Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Quadratic Equations
We may use Cookies OK
An example of a Quadratic Equation:
5x2 + 3x + 3 = 0
The function makes nice curves like this one:
Name
The name Quadratic comes from "quad" meaning square, because the variable gets
squared (like x2).
Standard Form
The Standard Form of a Quadratic Equation looks like this:
ax2 + bx + c = 0
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 1/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
ax2 + bx + c = 0
For example:
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 2/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
y
We can Factor the Quadratic (find what to multiply to make the Quadratic Equation)
- b +
- b2
- 4 ac
x=
2a
Just plug in the values of a, b and c, and do the calculations.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 3/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
-0.9 1.7 x
Discriminant
Do you see b2 − 4ac in the formula above? It is called the Discriminant, because it
can "discriminate" between the possible types of answer:
Complex solutions? Let's talk about them after we see how to use the formula.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 4/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
Just put the values of a, b and c into the Quadratic Formula, and do the calculations.
Coefficients are: a = 5, b = 6, c = 1
y
Answer: x = −0.2 or x = −1
-1 -0.2 x
= 5×(0.04) + 6×(−0.2) + 1
= 0.2 − 1.2 + 1
=0
Check -1: 5×(−1)2 + 6×(−1) + 1
= 5×(1) + 6×(−1) + 1
= 5 − 6 + 1
=0
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 5/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
Try singing it a few times and it will get stuck in your head!
at the party he talked to a square boy but not to the 4 awesome chicks.
Complex Solutions?
When the Discriminant (the value b2 − 4ac) is negative we get a pair of Complex
solutions ... what does that mean?
= −16
−2 ± √(−16)
Use the Quadratic Formula: x=
10
√(−16)
= 4i
−2 ± 4i
So: x=
10
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 6/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
The graph does not cross the x-axis. That is why we ended up with
complex numbers.
= −9
−(−4) ± √(−9)
Use the Quadratic Formula: x=
2
√(−9) = 3i
4 ± 3i
So: x=
2
y Answer: x = 2 ± 1.5i
x
The graph does not cross the x-axis. That is why we ended up with
complex numbers.
y
BUT an upside-down mirror image of our equation does cross the x-axis
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 7/8
03/10/2021, 14:34 Quadratic Equations
Summary
Quadratic Equation in Standard Form: ax2 + bx + c = 0
Quadratic Equations can be factored
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/quadratic-equation.html 8/8