Quadratic Formula
Main Concept
The solutions of the equation a x2+b x+c=0, where a, b and c are constants with a≠0, are given by the quadratic formula:
x=−b±b2−4 a c2 a.
Derivation
The quadratic formula can be derived by the method of completing the square:
0=
a x2+b x+c
=
a⋅x2+bax+c
a⋅x2+bax+b2 a2+c−a⋅b2 a2
a⋅x+b2 a2+c−b24 a
so
a⋅x+b2 a2=
b24 a−c
x+b2 a2=
b24 a2−ca
and finally
x=
−b2 a±b24 a2−ca
−b±b2−4 a c2 a.
Click to place the vertex of a parabola and drag the graph to stretch the parabola. The equation, the graph, the roots, and the quadratic formula for the roots will be displayed below.
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