Chapter 6
Quadratic Functions and Factoring
By Boundless
Quadratic equations are second order polynomials, and have the form
The zeros of a quadratic equation can be found by solving what is known as the quadratic formula.
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The discriminant of a polynomial is a function of its coefficients that reveals information about the polynomial's roots.
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Many equations with no odd-degree terms can be reduced to quadratics and solved with the same methods as quadratics.
The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola, and its parts provide valuable information about the function.
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The roots of a quadratic function can be found algebraically or graphically.
The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola whose axis of symmetry is parallel to the
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of the form
A quadratic equation of the form
When a trinomial is a perfect square, it can be factored into two equal binomials.
When a quadratic is a difference of squares, there is a helpful formula for factoring it.
Polynomials of the form
Completing the square is a common method for solving quadratic equations, and takes the form of
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Quadratic relationships between variables are commonly found in physical sciences, engineering, and elsewhere.
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For problems involving quadratics in finance, it is useful to graph the equation. From these, one can easily find critical values of the function by inspection.