Difference between revisions of "Quadratic formula"

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The '''quadratic formula''' is a general [[expression]] for the [[root (polynomial)|solutions]] to a [[quadratic equation]]. It is used when other methods, such as [[completing the square]], [[factoring]], and [[square root property]] do not work or are too tedious.
 
The '''quadratic formula''' is a general [[expression]] for the [[root (polynomial)|solutions]] to a [[quadratic equation]]. It is used when other methods, such as [[completing the square]], [[factoring]], and [[square root property]] do not work or are too tedious.
  
===General Solution For A Quadratic by Completing the Square===
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== Statement ==
Let the quadratic be in the form <math>ax^2+bx+c=0</math>.
 
  
Moving <math>c</math> to the other side, we obtain
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For any quadratic equation <math>ax^2+bx+c=0</math>, the following equation holds.
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<cmath>x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}</cmath>
  
<math>ax^2+bx=-c</math>
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=== Proof ===
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We start with
  
Dividing by <math>{a}</math> and adding <math>\frac{b^2}{4a^2}</math> to both sides yields
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<cmath>ax^{2}+bx+c=0</cmath>
  
<math>x^2+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^2}{4a^2}=-\frac{c}{a}+\frac{b^2}{4a^2}</math>.
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Dividing by <math>a</math>, we get
  
Completing the square on the [[LHS]] gives
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<cmath>x^{2}+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{c}{a}=0</cmath>
  
<math>\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^2=\frac{b^2-4ac}{4a^2}</math>
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Add <math>\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}</math> to both sides in order to complete the square:
  
As described above, an equation in this form can be solved, yielding
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<cmath>\left(x^{2}+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}\right)+\frac{c}{a}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}</cmath>
  
<math>{x=\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}}</math>
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Complete the square:
  
This formula is also called the quadratic formula.
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<cmath>\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^{2}+\frac{c}{a}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}</cmath>
  
Given the values <math>{a},{b},{c}</math>, we can find all [[real]] and [[complex number|complex]] solutions to the quadratic equation.
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Move <math>\frac{c}{a}</math> to the other side:
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<cmath>\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^{2}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}-\frac{c}{a}=\frac{ab^{2}-4a^{2}c}{4a^{3}}=\frac{b^{2}-4ac}{4a^{2}}</cmath>
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Take the square root of both sides:
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<cmath>x+\frac{b}{2a}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{b^{2}-4ac}{4a^{2}}}=\frac{\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}</cmath>
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Finally, move the <math>\frac{b}{2a}</math> to the other side:
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<cmath>x=-\frac{b}{2a}+\frac{\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}</cmath>
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This is the quadratic formula, and we are done.
  
 
=== Variation ===
 
=== Variation ===
 
In some situations, it is preferable to use this variation of the quadratic formula:
 
In some situations, it is preferable to use this variation of the quadratic formula:
  
<math>\frac{2c}{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}</math>
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<cmath>\frac{2c}{-b\mp\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}</cmath>
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== See Also ==
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* [[Quadratic equation]]
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[[Category:Algebra]]
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[[Category:Quadratic equations]]
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{{stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:11, 2 February 2025

The quadratic formula is a general expression for the solutions to a quadratic equation. It is used when other methods, such as completing the square, factoring, and square root property do not work or are too tedious.

Statement

For any quadratic equation $ax^2+bx+c=0$, the following equation holds. \[x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\]

Proof

We start with

\[ax^{2}+bx+c=0\]

Dividing by $a$, we get

\[x^{2}+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{c}{a}=0\]

Add $\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}$ to both sides in order to complete the square:

\[\left(x^{2}+\frac{b}{a}x+\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}\right)+\frac{c}{a}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}\]

Complete the square:

\[\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^{2}+\frac{c}{a}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}\]

Move $\frac{c}{a}$ to the other side:

\[\left(x+\frac{b}{2a}\right)^{2}=\frac{b^{2}}{4a^{2}}-\frac{c}{a}=\frac{ab^{2}-4a^{2}c}{4a^{3}}=\frac{b^{2}-4ac}{4a^{2}}\]

Take the square root of both sides:

\[x+\frac{b}{2a}=\pm\sqrt{\frac{b^{2}-4ac}{4a^{2}}}=\frac{\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}\]

Finally, move the $\frac{b}{2a}$ to the other side:

\[x=-\frac{b}{2a}+\frac{\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}\]

This is the quadratic formula, and we are done.

Variation

In some situations, it is preferable to use this variation of the quadratic formula:

\[\frac{2c}{-b\mp\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}\]

See Also

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