Quadratic Function Formula

Last Updated : 20 Feb, 2023

Quadratic formula is used to find the roots (solutions) of any quadratic equation. Using the Quadratic formula real and imaginary all the types of roots of the quadratic equations are found. The quadratic formula was formulated by a famous Indian mathematician Shreedhara Acharya, hence it is also called Shreedhara Acharya’s Formula. It is used to find the solution of the quadratic equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0

What is a Quadratic Function?

A quadratic function is a polynomial function with one or more variables in which the highest exponent of the variable is two. Since the highest degree term in a quadratic function is of the second degree, therefore it is also called the polynomial of degree 2. A quadratic function has a minimum of one term which is of the second degree. It is an algebraic function.

The parent quadratic function is of form f(x) = x² and it connects the points whose coordinates are of the form (number, number2). Transformations can be applied to this function on which it typically looks of form f(x) = a(x – h)² + k and further it can be converted into the form f(x) = ax² + bx + c. Let us study each of these in detail in the upcoming sections.

Methods to Solve Quadratic Equations

A quadratic equation is solved to find the two values of x which satisfies the equation these values are also called the two roots of the quadratic equation. There are various methods to find the roots of a quadratic equation. The important methods are:

Using Quadratic formula
Factorization Method
Method of Completing the Square
Graphical Method

In this article, we will only study the Quadratic ( Shreedhara Acharya’s) Formula method.

Quadratic Function Formula

A function is said to be quadratic in which the highest exponent of the variable in the equation is 2. A quadratic function is a polynomial function with one or more variables. The standard form of the quadratic equation is f(x) = ax²+ bx + c, this says that at least one term in the given equation is squared. In the above equation a, b, and c are constant terms and x is a variable.

f(x) = ax²+ bx + c

Where a is not equal to 0 and a, b, and c are real numbers.

Degree of the polynomial = 2.

Examples of quadratic functions:

4x² + 3x + 5
6x² + x + 7
7x² + 5x

For any equation, there are n roots, where n is the degree of the polynomial. The roots of the quadratic equation are,

Derivation of Quadratic Formula

Derivation of the quadratic formula is achieved by using the Completing Square method

Let us take the standard form of quadratic equation i.e.

ax² + bx + c = 0

Dividing the equation by the coefficient of x², i.e., a.

x² + (b/a)x + (c/a) = 0

Subtracting c/a from both sides.

x² + (b/a)x = -c/a

Now, by completing the square method,

We have to add a specific constant to both sides of the equation to make the LHS a complete square.

Here, we add (b/2a)²to both sides of the equation

x² + (b/a)x + (b/2a)² = (-c/a) + (b/2a)²

Using a² + 2ab + b² = (a + b)²,

[x + (b/2a)]² = (-c/a) + (b²/4a²)

[x + (b/2a)]² = (b² – 4ac)/4a²

Taking square root on both sides,

[x + (b/2a)] = √[(b² – 4ac)] / 2a

Now, subtracting b / 2a from both sides we get

x = [-b ± √(b² – 4ac)] / 2a

This is the required quadratic formula.

Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation

The discriminant of a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0 is denoted by D and given by,

D = b² – 4ac

Discriminant of a Quadratic Equation is very helpful in determining the nature of the root of quadratic equations.

Nature of root of Quadratic Equation

To find the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation we find the discriminant of the given quadratic equation. The term is called discriminant because it determines the nature of the roots of the quadratic equation based on its sign.

There are 3 types in the nature of roots,

Real and distinct roots: For real and distinct roots, the discriminant should be positive i.e. b² – 4ac > 0. The curve of the equation intersects the x-axis at two different points.
Real and equal roots: For real and equal roots, the discriminant is zero i.e. b² – 4ac = 0. The curve of the equation intersects the x-axis at only one point.
Complex roots: For complex roots, the discriminant is negative i.e. b² – 4ac = 0. The curve of the equation does not intersect the x-axis.

Maximum and Minimum Value of Quadratic Expression

The maximum and minimum values for the quadratic equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0 can be observed with the help of graphs.

If the value of a is positive i.e. (a > 0), the quadratic equation has a minimum value at x = -b/2a, and if the value of a is negative i.e. (a < 0), the quadratic equation has a maximum value at x = -b/2a.

How to Solve Using Quadratic Formula?

Follow the steps given below to solve Using Quadratic Formula

Step 1: Write the given equation in standard form as, ax²+ bx + c = 0
Step 2: Carefully note the coefficient from the above equation as, a, b and c.
Step 3: Use the Quadratic Formula, x = [-b ± √(b² – 4ac)] / 2a
Step 4: put all the values of a, b and c and simplify for x.

Solved Example on Quadratic Formula

Example 1: Write the quadratic function f(x) = (x – 9)(x + 3) in the general form of ax² + bx + c.

Solution:

Given, the function as (x – 9)(x + 3)
= x² + 3x – 9x – 27
= x² – 6x – 27
This is the required form.

Example 2: Find the constants a, b, and c in the general form of equation 4x² + 5x + 9 = 0.

Solution:

Given, equation is 4x² + 5x + 9 = 0….(1)
General form of quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c = 0.
Comparing the given equation with general equation we get,
a = 4, b = 5, c = 9.

Example 3: Write the quadratic function f(x) = (x + 8)(x – 3) in the general form of ax² + bx + c.

Solution:

Given, the function as (x + 8)(x – 3)
= x² – 3x + 8x – 24
= x² + 5x – 24 is the general form

Example 4: Find the roots of equation 2x² – 4x + 2 = 0.

Solution:

Here a = 2, b = -4, c = 2, to find the roots of the equation, first we need to find the discriminant value which helps us to know the nature of roots.
discriminant = b² – 4ac = (-4)² – 4(2)(2) = 16 – 16 = 0, which is equal to zero. So, it has real and equal roots.
roots = (−b ± √(b²− 4ac)) / 2a
= {-(-4) ± √(0) } / 2(2)
= 4 / 4
= 1 is the root of the equation.

Example 5: Find the roots of equation 4x² – 3x + 3.

Solution:

Here a = 4, b = -3, c = 3, to find the roots of the equation, first we need to find the discriminant value which helps us to know the nature of roots.
discriminant = b² – 4ac = (-3)² – 4(4)(3) = 9 – 48 = -39, which is negative. So, it has complex roots.
roots = {−b ± √(b²− 4ac)] / 2a
= (-(-3) ± √-39 / 2(4) )
= (3 ± 39i)/8 are the roots of the quadratic equation.

Example 6: Find the roots of the quadratic equation 6x² – 8x + 2 = 0.

Solution:

Here a = 6, b = -8, c = 2, to find the roots of the equation, first we need to find the discriminant value which helps us to know the nature of roots.
discriminant = b² – 4ac = (-8)(-8) – 4(6)(2) = 64 – 48 = 16,
which is positive. So, it has real and distinct roots.
x = (-b ± √ (b² – 4ac) )/2a
= (-(-8) ± √(16) / 2(6)
= ( 8 ± √16) / 12
= ( 8 ± 4)12
= 1/3 and 1 are the roots of the equation.

FAQs on Quadratic Formula

Question 1: What is a Quadratic Equation?

Answer:

Any second-degree equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0 is called the quadratic equation. Where a, and b, are the coefficients, c is the constant term, with x as the variable.

Question 2: What is the determinant in the Quadratic Formula?

Answer: