quadratic

American  

[kwo-drat-ik] / kwɒˈdræt ɪk /

adjective

1. square.

2. Algebra. involving the square and no higher power of the unknown quantity; of the second degree.

---

noun

1. a quadratic polynomial or equation.

quadratic British  

/ kwɒˈdrætɪk /

noun

1. Also called: quadratic equation.  an equation containing one or more terms in which the variable is raised to the power of two, but no terms in which it is raised to a higher power

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the second power

quadratic Scientific  

/ kwŏ-drăt′ĭk /

1. Relating to a mathematical expression containing a term of the second degree, such as x ² + 2.

2. ◆ A quadratic equation is an equation having the general form ax ² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are constants.

3. ◆ The quadratic formula is x = − b ± √(b ² − 4 ac)/2 a. It is used in algebra to calculate the roots of quadratic equations.

---

Other Word Forms

• quadratically adverb

Etymology

Origin of quadratic

First recorded in 1650–60; quadrate + -ic

Explanation

In math, quadratic things have something to do with squaring them — in other words, multiplying a number times itself or raising it to the second power. When you come across a math problem that includes "X squared," it's quadratic. In algebra, it's especially common to use the quadratic equation, which has this form: ax squared plus bx plus c equals 0. The word quadratic comes up in calculus and statistics, too, and it can also be used to mean "square." In fact, the Latin root quadratus also means "square."

Example Sentences

To evaluate whether the warming rate has changed since the 1970s, the researchers applied two statistical techniques: a quadratic trend analysis and a piecewise linear model that identifies when shifts in warming rates occur.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Hence, grown-up Chris is a nomadic misfit with two talents: sharpshooting and solving quadratic equations.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2024

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

From Scientific American • Aug. 10, 2023

Imaginary numbers never appeared in linear equations, but they began to crop up in quadratic ones.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• rectangular