THE QUADRATIC FORMULA
WHAT IS IT FOR? The quadratic formula is used to solve quadratic equations. What is a quadratic equation? What does it mean to solve? BACK
QUADRATIC EQUATIONS To use the quadratic formula the equations must be in descending order equal to zero (aka Standard Form). All quadratic equations can be written in this form where: a, b, and c are constants and “a” cannot be zero. BACK
OTHER EXAMPLES Here are some more examples of quadratic equations: Notice in the last one that there is no c term. This is not a mistake. Notice also that all quadratic equations have a squared variable. BACK
USING THE QUADRATIC FORMULA TO SOLVE Remember the quadratic formula shown earlier. BACK
USING THE FORMULA Look at the quadratic equation below and compare it to the standard form of a quadratic equation. BACK
USING THE FORMULA Simply list your a, b, and c values from your quadratic equation and plug them into the quadratic formula. a=1 (if there is no number before x2, assume a = 1). b=5 c=6 BACK
USING THE FORMULA a=1 b=5 c=6 BACK
USING THE FORMULA a=1 b=5 c=6 Replace a, b, and c in the formula and look what you have. BACK
USING THE FORMULA BACK
USING THE FORMULA BACK
Your Turn
Quadratic Formula 0 = 2y2 + 4y - 1 a = 2 b = 4 c = -1 -4, 2, and 4 are all three divisible by two and therefore can be reduced.
No Real Roots Since there is no real number that is the square root of a negative number, this equation has no real roots.
THE QUADRATIC FORMULA