Term | Definition |
parabola | the graph of a quadratic function |
axis of symmetry | a line through the graph of a parabola that divides the graph into two congruent halves |
vertex | the point at which the axis of symmetry intersects intersects the parabola |
quadratic function | a function that contains a quadratic term, a linear term, and a constant term |
maximum value | the greatest possible value a function can reach |
minimum value | the lowest possible value a function can reach |
quadratic equations | quadratic functions that are set equal to zero |
roots | solutions of a quadratic equation |
FOIL method | method that uses the Distributive Property to help multiply binomials |
pure imaginary numbers | square roots of negative real numbers |
complex number | any number that can be written in the form a+bi, where a and b are real imaginary numbers and i is the imaginary unit |
completing the square | a method that can be used to solve all quadratic equations by using the Square Root Property and manipulating the equation until one side is a perfect square |
discriminant | the expression b^2-4ac, which is used to determine the number and type of roots of a quadratic equation |
standard form | ax^2+bx+c=0, where a does not equal zero and a, b, and c are integers |
zeros | these are used to find the roots of a quadratic equation and are the x-intercepts of the graph of a quadratic equation |
factored form | 0=a(x-p)(x-q), where p and q represent the x-intercepts of a graph of the equation |
Zero Product Property | for any real numbers a and b, if ab=0, then either a=0, b=0, or both a and b equal zero |
imaginary unit i | i^2=-1; the number i is the principal square root of -1 |
Square Root Property | a method that is similar to a difference of squares and is used to solve quadratic equations |
factoring | finding the terms that are multiplied together to get an expression |