quadratic equation

noun

Mathematics.

1. an equation containing a single variable of degree 2. Its general form is ax 2 + bx + c = 0, where x is the variable and a, b, and c are constants (a ≠ 0).

Word History and Origins

Origin of quadratic equation¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

We talked about the power of polynomials and solved quadratic equations together.

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Our high-school nightmares are graffitied with formulas and calculus and quadratic equations, panicked pop quizzes corrected with a harsh red pen.

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One especially influential Indian mathematician was Brahmagupta, whose algebraic techniques could handle any quadratic equation.

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“If all I find is that the extraterrestrials know quadratic equations, I’m going to be very disappointed,” Vakoch says.

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The sixth graders at Khan Lab School, an independent school with an elementary campus in Palo Alto, Calif., were working on quadratic equations, graphing functions, Venn diagrams.

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