Chapter 1
Number and Quantity
Course: Core Academic Skills For Educators Combined Test 5752
Subject: Core Academic Skills Educators Mathematics 5733
Chapter: Algebra
Quadratic equations are equations where the highest power of the variable is 2. They appear in mathematics, science, finance, and engineering because many real-life relationships are not linear but curved. A simple quadratic often involves just one variable squared, set equal to a constant or included in a trinomial expression. Understanding how to solve these equations provides the foundation for advanced algebra and problem-solving.
Structure of a quadratic equation
The general form of a quadratic equation is
ax² + bx + c = 0
where
- a is the coefficient of x² (and a ≠ 0)
- b is the coefficient of x
- c is the constant term
Depending on the values of a, b, and c, different solving techniques can be applied.