n. The formula x = [-b ± √(b2 - 4ac)]/2a, used to compute the roots of a quadratic equation.
quadratic formula
quadratic formula
[kwä′drad·ik ′fȯr·myə·lə] (mathematics) A formula giving the roots of a quadratic equation in terms of the coefficients; for the equation ax2+ bx + c = 0, the roots are x = (-b ± √(b2- 4 ac)/2 a.