Quadratic Equation

The quadratic equation is ax2 + bx + c = 0.

The shape of this polynomial equation looks like a U on a graph.

Usually when you are given the quadratic you are asked to find what x is equal to. What you are really looking for is where the U crosses the X axis. To use the quadratic equation we first must get x by itself on one side of the equation.

quadratic equation

This is the equation that you will use often in algebra. From here we can take an equation like 2x2+ 3x + 4 = 0, plug in the values into our euqation and easily find what the values of x are. Remember that since our equation has + or - we will be solving for two different values for x.