quadratic

American  

[kwo-drat-ik] / kwɒˈdræt ɪk /

adjective

1. square.

2. Algebra. involving the square and no higher power of the unknown quantity; of the second degree.

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noun

1. a quadratic polynomial or equation.

quadratic British  

/ kwɒˈdrætɪk /

noun

1. Also called: quadratic equation.  an equation containing one or more terms in which the variable is raised to the power of two, but no terms in which it is raised to a higher power

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adjective

1. of or relating to the second power

quadratic Scientific  

/ kwŏ-drăt′ĭk /

1. Relating to a mathematical expression containing a term of the second degree, such as x ² + 2.

2. ◆ A quadratic equation is an equation having the general form ax ² + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are constants.

3. ◆ The quadratic formula is x = − b ± √(b ² − 4 ac)/2 a. It is used in algebra to calculate the roots of quadratic equations.

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Other Word Forms

• quadratically adverb

Etymology

Origin of quadratic

First recorded in 1650–60; quadrate + -ic

Explanation

In math, quadratic things have something to do with squaring them — in other words, multiplying a number times itself or raising it to the second power. When you come across a math problem that includes "X squared," it's quadratic. In algebra, it's especially common to use the quadratic equation, which has this form: ax squared plus bx plus c equals 0. The word quadratic comes up in calculus and statistics, too, and it can also be used to mean "square." In fact, the Latin root quadratus also means "square."

Example Sentences

The paper, "Ultraviolet completion of the Big Bang in quadratic gravity," appears in Physical Review Letters.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

Our high-school nightmares are graffitied with formulas and calculus and quadratic equations, panicked pop quizzes corrected with a harsh red pen.

From Seattle Times • May 2, 2024

“If all I find is that the extraterrestrials know quadratic equations, I’m going to be very disappointed,” Vakoch says.

From Scientific American • Aug. 3, 2023

The sixth graders at Khan Lab School, an independent school with an elementary campus in Palo Alto, Calif., were working on quadratic equations, graphing functions, Venn diagrams.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Imaginary numbers never appeared in linear equations, but they began to crop up in quadratic ones.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• rectangular