Formulas for the Roots of a Quadratic Equation
Big Idea: Every quadratic equation can be solved using a single powerful formula — the Quadratic Formula. This formula gives us the exact roots (solutions) of any quadratic equation, no matter how complex it looks.
1. What is a Quadratic Equation?
A quadratic equation is any equation that can be written in the standard form:
$$ ax^2 + bx + c = 0 $$
where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are real numbers and $a \neq 0$.
The values of $x$ that satisfy this equation are called the roots (or solutions or zeros) of the equation.