In the quadratic formula, what must be true about a?

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Prepare for the Praxis Middle School Mathematics Exam with quizzes. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question provides hints and detailed explanations. Ensure success on your test!

Multiple Choice

In the quadratic formula, what must be true about a?

Explanation:
When solving with the quadratic formula, the equation must be in the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 with a not equal to zero. The reason is that the formula uses a denominator of 2a, so if a were zero the expression would be divided by zero and the formula wouldn’t work. If a were zero, you’d actually have a linear equation, which is solved in a different way. The value of a can be positive or negative, and it doesn’t have to be an integer—the only requirement for using the quadratic formula is that a is nonzero.

When solving with the quadratic formula, the equation must be in the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0 with a not equal to zero. The reason is that the formula uses a denominator of 2a, so if a were zero the expression would be divided by zero and the formula wouldn’t work. If a were zero, you’d actually have a linear equation, which is solved in a different way. The value of a can be positive or negative, and it doesn’t have to be an integer—the only requirement for using the quadratic formula is that a is nonzero.

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