Quadratic equations

So far we have looked at equations in the form $y = mx + c$ where $y$ and $x$ are variables and $m$ and $c$ are constants.

These types of equations describe a line and they are called linear equations. Notice that the word linear contains the word line. Linear means about lines. A linear equation is an equation that is about lines.

The word quadratic comes from the word quadratus which is Latin for square. Quadratic equations are equations that are to do with squares.

Quad also appears in the words quadrilateral and quadrangle. These words mean four sides and four angles and describe shapes such as squares.

(Add picture of a square) (This lesson needs to come after the lessons on quadrangle and square)

A quadratic equation has the general form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$

$x^2$ is x-squared.

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