WikiProject Mathematics (Rated C-class, Mid-importance)
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Mathematics rating:
 C Class
 Mid Importance
Field: Algebra

Silly question perhaps, but why are they called quadratic? Highest power is _two_, number of terms is _three_; where's the four come from?

It's the same reason that x2 is called "x-squared". Back when geometry was all of mathematics, a common problem people wanted to solve was quadrature, i.e. turning things into squares. Algebraically, problems involving squares and turning things into squares are always second power (because the area of a square with side x is x2). So call x2 "x-squared" because it is the square associated with x, and call any equation involving this squared quantity a quadratic equation. Similarly, third degree functions are called cubic, rather than "ternary" or some other such -Lethe | Talk 18:06, Aug 22, 2004 (UTC)

## Section ordering.

Would it be an a good idea to move the 'Roots' section below the 'Graph' section in the body.

I think the article would flow better that way and since the 'Graph' section contains the first part of the derivation of the equation for the roots as well. (As I remember them).

I'm asumming the derivation is not spelt out to stop people just copy the page for thier homework. ;-).

I think we should add a new article that discusses quadratic factoring. We also need better organization with this article because the sections are very randomly ordered. After organizing this article, let's add a paragraph about all the methods of factoring. Then we can provide a link to the new article (about factoring), which will go into the whole schmellalagang of factoring in detail. Anyone with me on this?

## Matrix formulation

I think you should mention the matrix formulation of multivariate quadratics. Your formula is equivilant to $\mathbf x^T \mathbf A \mathbf x + \mathbf b^T \mathbf x + c$, $\mathbf A$ is a symetric 2 by 2 matrix, $\mathbf b$ and $\mathbf x$ are 2-vectors, and $c$ is a scalar. I think the vertex is where the gradient ($2\mathbf A \mathbf x+ \mathbf b$) is zero: so $2 \mathbf A \mathbf x = \mathbf b$, which can be solved easily by Cramers rule. The hessian matrix is everywhere $2 \mathbf A$, which is the shape operator of the plot-surface at the vertex. The quadratic can be rotated by a givens rotation to make $\mathbf A$ into a diagonal matrix (call it $\mathbf D$) and put the quadric in a standard orientation. I think the elements of $\mathbf D$ are half the the principle curvatures of the plot at the vertex. I would add to the page directly, but I dont have time to double-check my facts first. The page probably should list the fundamental forms (I think they turn out to be very simple for quadratics).

Yeah I agree. ~Claire  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.118.134.25 (talk) 00:16, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


## Java render

In package java.awt.geom, there are classes QuadCurve2D, QuadCurve2D.Double, QuadCurve2D.Float. We can use them to draw a quadratic curve. In order to construct such an object, we need two points on the curve, and one control point. What does this control point mean? Jackzhp 19:09, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

Doesn't the documentation say what it means? But it probably has the obvious meaning: the line from this point to either of the other points is a tangent to the curve at that point. See the stuff on quadratic curves in the Bézier curve article. --Zundark 10:03, 28 December 2006 (UTC)
JDK's documentation doesn't say anything about the control point. However, your information gives the way to understand the stuff. Thanks. Furthermore, if we know y=ax^2+bx+c goes through point A & B, we need a formula to get the control point C. Conversely, if we know the point A,B, & C, we should have a formula to find a,b,& c. Can somebody post the fomulas here?Jackzhp 01:42, 30 December 2006 (UTC)
What makes you think the curve is given by $y=ax^2+bx+c$? The way you describe the classes, the axis of the parabola needn't be vertical. --Zundark 18:47, 30 December 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for your responding. ok. suppose the curve is ax^2+bxy+cy^2+dx+ey+f=0 goes through point A(xA,yA) & B(xB,yB). we need a formula to get the control point C(xC,yC). then we can use these three points to draw the segment between point A&B. What is the formula? Conversely, if we know the points A,B,C, we need the formula to find a,b,c,d,e,f. What is this formula again? Thanks. Jackzhp 21:11, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

## Explanation of A and other variables

Nowhere in this article does it explain what the variables A, B, C, D, E, and F are for the Bivariate quadratic function. 69.119.189.202 23:27, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

## Vertex

Gah! I went around thinking that the vertex of a parabola is (h, -k) because of this article. The vertex should be just (h, k) Am I wrong??68.149.9.65 00:27, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

The vertex of a parabola is (h, k).156.34.177.71 17:29, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

## Merge proposal with Quadratic polynomial

Consensus is to merge; note that this was also discussed at talk:quadratic polynomial. I will go ahead and merge quadratic polynomial into this article. Then, if someone wants to propose merging with quadratic equation, that can be done by starting a new discussion. Personally, I would be disinclined to merge stuff into quadratic equation (which is already a long article), but have an open mind about it.Anythingyouwant (talk) 19:14, 15 September 2013 (UTC)

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The proposal seems to be to merge quadratic function with quadratic polynomial, which apparently would not affect quadratic equation.Anythingyouwant (talk) 07:33, 11 September 2013 (UTC)
I.m.o. best to move function and polynomial together into quadratic equation. - DVdm (talk) 15:18, 15 September 2013 (UTC)
It might be best to start by merging two of those articles, and then we can start a discussion about merging with the third. Can we start by merging poly and func? Wikipedia isn't really set up to merge three at once. Plus, I think quadratic equation is already pretty long.Anythingyouwant (talk) 15:22, 15 September 2013 (UTC)
• In the Quadratic polynomial article "polynomial" takes on various meanings, including polynomial expression, polynomial equation, and polynomial function. What is the specific "relevant content" proposed to be moved / merged? Thelema418 (talk) 04:16, 7 April 2012 (UTC)
• I support the proposal that this article be merged with Quadratic polynomial. The material is closely related, and the articles are short enough to allow a single merged article.Anythingyouwant (talk) 14:21, 15 September 2013 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

## Restoring a curve having three distinct points

We should say that it is possible to restore a quadratic curve having three disticnct points (and to explain how it can be done). VictorPorton (talk) 21:14, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

Do you have any particular book (author, title, publisher, isbn, page) in mind that we can use as a source? - DVdm (talk) 22:34, 26 December 2011 (UTC)

## Sockpuppetry

This article has had several edits from an IP address used by blocked user Glkanter that were reverted as being vandalism. Please keep an eye out for further abuse. Also see: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Glkanter/Archive, Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Glkanter and Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/Monty Hall problem#Glkanter banned. --Guy Macon (talk) 08:23, 22 April 2012 (UTC)