Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in algebra, representing polynomial equations of degree 2. They can be recognized by their standard form, which is expressed as:
\( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
In this equation, \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) are coefficients, where \( a \) is the coefficient of the \( x^2 \) term, \( b \) is the coefficient of the \( x \) term, and \( c \) is the constant term. The highest power of the variable \( x \) in a quadratic equation is 2, which is why it is also referred to as a second-degree polynomial.
To write a quadratic equation in standard form, all terms must be on one side of the equation, arranged in descending order of their powers. For example, if we start with the equation \( 5x^2 = x - 3 \), we can rearrange it by moving all terms to one side:
\( 5x^2 - x + 3 = 0 \)
In this case, we identify the coefficients as follows: \( a = 5 \), \( b = -1 \) (since \( -x \) can be viewed as \( -1x \)), and \( c = 3 \).
Another example is the equation \( -2x^2 + \frac{5}{3} = 0 \). This equation is already in standard form, and we can identify the coefficients: \( a = -2 \), \( b = 0 \) (since there is no \( x \) term), and \( c = \frac{5}{3} \). It is important to note that \( b \) and \( c \) can be zero or even fractions, as long as the \( x^2 \) term is present, confirming it as a quadratic equation.
Understanding how to manipulate and identify the components of quadratic equations is crucial for solving them, which will be explored in further lessons.