A quadratic equation is one that contains a single variable and in which the variable is squared. The standard form for this type of equation, which always produces a parabola when graphed, is ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b and c are constants. Finding solutions isn't as straightforward as it is for a linear equation, and part of the reason is that, because of the squared term, there are always two solutions. You can use one of three methods to solve a quadratic equation. You can factor the terms, which works best with simpler equations, or you can complete the square. The third method is to use the quadratic formula, which a generalized solution to every quadratic equation.
The Quadratic Formula
For a general quadratic equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, the solutions are given by this formula:
Note that the ± sign inside the brackets means that there are always two solutions. One of the solutions uses
and the other solution uses
Using the Quadratic Formula
Before you can make use of the quadratic formula, you have to make sure the equation is in standard form. It may not be. Some x2 terms may be on both sides of the equation, so you'll have to collect those on the right side. Do the same with all x terms and constants.
Example: Find the solutions to the equation
Expand the brackets:
Subtract 2x2 and from both sides. Add 2x to both sides
This equation is in standard form ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a = 1, b = −2 and c = 12
The quadratic formula is
Since a = 1, b = −2 and c = −12, this becomes
Two Other Ways to Solve Quadratic Equations
You can solve quadratic equations by factoring. To do this, you more or less guess at a pair of numbers that, when added together, give the constant b and, when multiplied together, give the constant c. This method can be difficult when fractions are involved. and wouldn't work well for the above example.
The other method is to complete the square. If you have an equation is standard form, ax2 + bx + c = 0, put c on the right side and add the term (b/2)2 to both sides. This allows you to express the left side as (x + d)2, where d is a constant. You can then take the square root of both sides and solve for x. Again, the equation in the above example is easier to solve using the quadratic formula.
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About the Author
Chris Deziel holds a Bachelor's degree in physics and a Master's degree in Humanities, He has taught science, math and English at the university level, both in his native Canada and in Japan. He began writing online in 2010, offering information in scientific, cultural and practical topics. His writing covers science, math and home improvement and design, as well as religion and the oriental healing arts.