How to Find Zeroes of a Quadratic Function

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 56 views

Introduction

Quadratic equations are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and they have numerous applications in various fields, including physics, engineering, and economics. A quadratic equation is a polynomial equation of degree two, which means the highest power of the variable is two. The general form of a quadratic equation is $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are constants, and $x$ is the variable. In this article, we will focus on finding the zeroes of a quadratic function, which is a crucial concept in solving quadratic equations.

What are Zeroes of a Quadratic Function?

The zeroes of a quadratic function are the values of $x$ that make the function equal to zero. In other words, if we substitute a zero of the function into the equation, the result will be zero. For example, if we have a quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ , then the zeroes of the function are the values of $x$ that satisfy the equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ . Finding the zeroes of a quadratic function is essential in solving quadratic equations, as it allows us to determine the solutions to the equation.

How to Find Zeroes of a Quadratic Function

There are several methods to find the zeroes of a quadratic function, including factoring, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula. In this article, we will focus on using the quadratic formula to find the zeroes of a quadratic function.

The Quadratic Formula

The quadratic formula is a mathematical formula that provides the solutions to a quadratic equation. The formula is given by:

$x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$

where $a$ , $b$ , and $c$ are the coefficients of the quadratic equation. The quadratic formula is a powerful tool for finding the zeroes of a quadratic function, as it provides a general solution to the equation.

Applying the Quadratic Formula

To find the zeroes of a quadratic function, we need to apply the quadratic formula. Let's consider the quadratic function $f(x) = 16x^2 + 32x - 9$ . We can rewrite the function in the form $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ , where $a = 16$ , $b = 32$ , and $c = -9$ . Now, we can apply the quadratic formula to find the zeroes of the function.

Finding the Zeroes of the Quadratic Function

Using the quadratic formula, we get:

$x = \frac{-32 \pm \sqrt{32^2 - 4(16)(-9)}}{2(16)}$

Simplifying the expression, we get:

$x = \frac{-32 \pm \sqrt{1024 + 576}}{32}$

$x = \frac{-32 \pm \sqrt{1600}}{32}$

$x = \frac{-32 \pm 40}{32}$

Now, we have two possible solutions:

$x = \frac{-32 + 40}{32}$

$x = \frac{8}{32}$

$x = 0.25$

$x = \frac{-32 - 40}{32}$

$x = \frac{-72}{32}$

$x = -2.25$

Therefore, the zeroes of the quadratic function $f(x) = 16x^2 + 32x - 9$ are $x = 0.25$ and $x = -2.25$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the concept of zeroes of a quadratic function and how to find them using the quadratic formula. We have applied the quadratic formula to find the zeroes of the quadratic function $f(x) = 16x^2 + 32x - 9$ . The zeroes of the function are $x = 0.25$ and $x = -2.25$ . We hope that this article has provided a clear understanding of the concept of zeroes of a quadratic function and how to find them using the quadratic formula.

Final Answer

The final answer is $x = 0.25$ and $x = -2.25$ .