Quadratic Formula

 Definition: A mathematical formula used to calculate the roots of a quadratic equation

Mathematical statement:

Application: This formula is applied to a quadratic equation written in the standard form of ax² + bx + c = 0


Description of the formula:  In the formula,

• x is the variable in which the quadratic equation is written
• a is the coefficient of x squared
• b is the coefficient of x
• c is a constant term ( or simply a number)
• +/- indicates that there will be two values for x: 
• one value is obtained when '+' is taken:
• the other value is obtained when '-' is taken:

Example usage:

For the quadratic equation 2x² + 4x + 1 = 0

The values of a, b, and c are

• a = 2
• b = 4
• c = 1

Applying the Quadratic Formula,

 

Positive root:	Negative root:

Hence the roots of the given quadratic equation are and .