Math 2 Final Review

Front

What is the discriminant in a quadratic equation?

Back

The discriminant is the part of the quadratic formula under the square root, given by b² - 4ac. It determines the nature of the roots of the equation.

Front

How do you find the number of solutions using the discriminant?

Back

If the discriminant is positive, there are two distinct real solutions. If it is zero, there is one real solution (a repeated root). If it is negative, there are no real solutions (two complex solutions).

Front

What is the quadratic formula?

Back

The quadratic formula is x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a), used to find the solutions of a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0.

Front

What is factoring in the context of quadratic equations?

Back

Factoring involves rewriting the quadratic equation in the form (px + q)(rx + s) = 0, allowing you to find the values of x that satisfy the equation.

Front

What is the square root method for solving quadratics?

Back

The square root method involves isolating the x² term and taking the square root of both sides to solve for x.

Front

What does it mean to simplify an expression?

Back

Simplifying an expression means to reduce it to its simplest form, combining like terms and eliminating unnecessary parentheses.

Front

What is a quadratic function?

Back

A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree 2, typically written in the form f(x) = ax² + bx + c.

Front

How do you identify the vertex of a quadratic graph?

Back

The vertex of a quadratic graph can be found using the formula (-b/(2a), f(-b/(2a))) or by completing the square.

Front

What is the axis of symmetry in a quadratic function?

Back

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves, given by the equation x = -b/(2a).

Front

What are the characteristics of the graph of a quadratic function?

Back

The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola that opens upwards if a > 0 and downwards if a < 0. It has a vertex, axis of symmetry, and may intersect the x-axis at 0, 1, or 2 points.