Flashcard 1 - Quantitative Reasoning Flashcard Set for the DAT

the quadratic formula, factoring, and completing the square

The quadratic formula is \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\), where \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) comes from the quadratic form \(y = ax^2 + bx + c\). Factoring involves rewriting the quadratic equation as a product of two linear factors and solving for each factor equal to zero. Completing the square is a technique in which the quadratic equation is transformed into a perfect square trinomial, allowing for easy solution by taking the square root.