Quadratic Formula
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Calculate
Example: solve x² − 5x + 6 = 0, that is, a = 1, b = −5 and c = 6. Change the coefficients to solve your own equation.
Step by step
What each term means
- Solution (x)
- The roots, or solutions, of a quadratic equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0.
- Negative of Coefficient 'b'
- The opposite of coefficient 'b', the term that multiplies 'x' in the equation.
- Plus or Minus (±)
- Shows that the formula gives two solutions: one adding the square root of the discriminant and one subtracting it.
- Discriminant (Δ)
- The expression b² − 4ac, called the discriminant (Δ). If Δ > 0, there are two real roots; if Δ = 0, one double root; if Δ < 0, two complex conjugate roots.
- Divisor (2a)
- Twice coefficient 'a', the term that multiplies x². This value normalizes the expression.