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Quadratic equations are second-degree algebraic expressions and are of the form ax + bx + c = 0. The word "Quadratic" is

derived from the word "Quad" which means square. In other words, a quadratic equation is an “equation of degree 2.” There are
many scenarios where a quadratic equation is used. Did you know that when a rocket is launched, its path is described by a
quadratic equation? Further, a quadratic equation has numerous applications in physics, engineering, astronomy.

The quadratic equations are second-degree equations in x that have two answers for x. These two answers for x are also called the
roots of the quadratic equations and are designated as (α, β). We shall learn more about the roots of a quadratic equation in the
below content.

What is Quadratic Equation?

A quadratic equation is an algebraic expression of the second degree in x. The quadratic equation in its standard

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form is ax + bx + c = 0, where a, b are the coefficients, x is the variable, and c is the constant term. The first condition for an

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equation to be a quadratic equation is the coefficient of x is a non-zero term(a ≠0). For writing a quadratic equation in standard

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form, the x term is written first, followed by the x term, and finally, the constant term is written. The numeric values of a, b, c are

generally not written as fractions or decimals but are written as integral values.

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Further in real math problems the quadratic equations are presented in different forms: (x - 1)(x + 2) = 0, -x = -3x + 1, 5x(x + 3) =

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12x, x = x(x + x - 3). All of these equations need to be transformed into standard form of the quadratic equation before

performing further operations.

Quadratic Equation Formula

Quadratic Formula is the simplest way to find the roots of a quadratic equation. There are certain quadratic equations that
cannot be easily factorized, and here we can conveniently use this quadratic formula to find the roots in the quickest possible way.

The roots of the quadratic equation further help to find the sum of the roots and the product of the roots of the quadratic equation.

The two roots in the quadratic formula are presented as a single expression. The positive sign and the negative sign can be

alternatively used to obtain the two distinct roots of the equation.

Quadratic Formula = [-b ± √(b² - 4ac)]/2a

Important Formulas for Solving Quadratic Equations

The following list of important formulas is helpful to solve quadratic equations.

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● The quadratic equation in its standard form is ax + bx + c = 0
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● The discriminant of the quadratic equation is D = b - 4ac
● For D > 0 the roots are real and distinct.
● For D = 0 the roots are real and equal.
● For D < 0 the roots do not exist, or the roots are imaginary.
● The formula to find the roots of the quadratic equation is x =
● −
● b
● ±
● √
● b
● 2

● −
● 4
● a
● c
● 2
● a

● −b±b2−4ac2a
● .
● The sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is α + β = -b/a = - Coefficient of x/
2
Coefficient of x .
● The product of the Root of the quadratic equation is αβ = c/a = Constant term/
2
Coefficient of x
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● The quadratic equation having roots α, β, is x - (α + β)x + αβ = 0.
● The condition for the quadratic equations
● a
● 1

● x
● 2

● +
● b
● 1

● x
● +
● c
● 1

● =
● 0
● a1x2+b1x+c1=0
● , and
● a
● 2

● x
● 2

● +
● b
● 2

● x
● +
● c
● 2

● =
● 0
● a2x2+b2x+c2=0
● having the same roots is
● (
● a
● 1

● b
● 2

● −
● a
● 2

● b
● 1

● )
● (
● b
● 1

● c
● 2

● −
● b
● 2

● c
● 1

● )
● (a1b2−a2b1)(b1c2−b2c1)
● =
● (
● a
● 2

● c
 ● 1

● −
● a
● 1

● c
● 2

● )
● 2

● (a2c1−a1c2)2
● .
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● For positive values of a (a > 0), the quadratic expression f(x) = ax + bx + c has a
minimum value at x = -b/2a.
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● For negative value of a (a < 0), the quadratic expression f(x) = ax + bx + c has a
maximum value at x = -b/2a.
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● For a > 0, the range of the quadratic equation ax + bx + c = 0 is [b - 4ac/4a, ∞)
2 2
● For a < 0, the range of the quadratic equation ax + bx + c = 0 is : (∞, -(b - 4ac)/4a]

Quadratic Formula Proof

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Consider an arbitrary quadratic equation: ax + bx + c = 0, a ≠ 0

To determine the roots of this equation, we proceed as follows:

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ax + bx = -c ⇒ x + bx/a = -c/a

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Now, we express the left hand side as a perfect square, by introducing a new term (b/2a) on both sides:

2 2 2
x + bx/a + (b/2a) = -c/a + (b/2a)

The left hand side is now a perfect square:

2 2 2 2 2 2
(x + b/2a) = -c/a + b /4a ⇒ (x + b/2a) = (b - 4ac)/4a

This is good for us, because now we can take square roots to obtain:

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x + b/2a = ±√(b - 4ac)/2a

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x = (-b ± √(b - 4ac))/2a
Thus, by completing the squares, we were able to isolate x and obtain the two roots of the equation.

Roots of a Quadratic Equation

The roots of a quadratic equation are the two values of x, which are obtained by solving the quadratic equation. The roots of a
quadratic equation are referred to by the symbols alpha (α), and beta (β). These roots of the quadratic equation are also called the
zeros of the equation. Here we shall learn more about how to find the nature of roots of a quadratic equation without actually finding
the roots of the equation. And also check out the formulas to find the sum and the product of the roots of the equation.

Nature of Roots of the Quadratic Equation

The nature of roots of a quadratic equation can be found without actually finding the roots (α, β) of the equation. This is possible by
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taking the discriminant value, which is part of the formula to solve the quadratic equation. The value b - 4ac is called the

discriminant of a quadratic equation, and is designated as 'D'. Based on the discriminant value the nature of the roots of the
quadratic equation can be predicted.

Discriminant: D = b2 - 4ac

● D > 0, the roots are real and distinct

● D = 0, the roots are real and equal.
● D < 0, the roots do not exist or the roots are imaginary.