Quadratic Confusion !!!!

[Harry]

Hi This is Harry.

I am new to maths and think the site is great.

HOWEVER.. the example for a quadratic equation clearly stea that the coefficient A is 1 !!

I can't see it - neither can Liz (who is very good at spotting things like this....

Please can you clarify

Coefficient B & C 4 and -4 are clear.

Many thanks

Harry.

 

[stapel]

HOWEVER.. the example for a quadratic equation clearly stea that the coefficient A is 1 !! I can't see it - neither can Liz (who is very good at spotting things like this....

"The example" where...? Who is "Liz"...?

Please reply with clarification, including a link to whatever conversation the above is referencing. Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[Mrspi]

Hi This is Harry.

I am new to maths and think the site is great.

HOWEVER.. the example for a quadratic equation clearly stea that the coefficient A is 1 !!

I can't see it - neither can Liz (who is very good at spotting things like this....

Please can you clarify

Coefficient B & C 4 and -4 are clear.

Many thanks

Harry.

Ok...I have to say "huh??"

Nowhere in the definition of a quadratic equation does it say that a = 1

The general form for a quadratic equation is

y = ax^2 + bx + c

The only thing we can say about a is that a cannot be 0; if a = 0, we would have a LINEAR function, not a quadratic function.

Obviously, ONE of us is missing something. Please repost with more details. We're good, but we are not mind readers.