Term | Definition |
Parabola | The graph of a quadratic function |
Quadratic Equations | Quadratic functions that are set equal to a value |
Roots | The solutions of a quadratic equation |
Zeros | The x-intercepts of the graph of a function; the points for which f(x)=0 |
Imaginary Unit | i, or the principle square root of -1 |
Complex Number | A number that can be written in the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is the imaginary unit |
Complex Conjugates | Two complex numbers of the form a + bi and a - bi |
Discriminant | In the Quadratic Formula, the expression b^2 – 4ac |
Quadratic Function | A function described by the equation f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, where a does not equal zero |
Quadratic Term | In the equation f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, ax^2 is the quadratic term |
Linear Term | In the equation f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, bx is the linear term |
Constant Term | In the equation f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, c is the constant term |
Axis of Symmetry | A line about which figure is symmetric |
Vertex | The point at which the axis of symmetry intersects a parabola |
Maximum Value | The y-coordinate of the vertex of the quadratic function f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, where a < 0 |
Minimum Value | The y-coordinate of the vertex of the quadratic function f(x)=ax^2 + bx + c, where a > 0 |
Factored Form | The form of a polynomial showing all of its factors. y = a(x - p)(x - q) is the factored form of a quadratic function |
FOIL method | The product of two binomials is the sum of the products of F for the first terms, O for the outer terms, I for the inner terms, and L for the last terms |
Completing the Square | A process used to make a quadratic expression into a perfect square trinomial |
Quadratic Formula | The solutions of a quadratic equation of the form ax^2 + bx + c, where a does not equal 0, are given by the Quadratic Formula, which is:
-b +- √b^2-4(a)(c)
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2(a) |