Junior High School

ACTIVITY #5: CONCEPT FORMATION (FORM AND COEFFICIENT)

After defining what a quadratic equation is, let us now look at how quadratic equations are written
in standard form. In this activity, you will also identify the coefficients in the transformed equations.
Look at the example below:

An equation of the type ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b and c are constants and a ≠ 0, is called the
standard form of a quadratic equation.

Take note that:

ax2 = quadratic term or the squared term
bx = linear term
c = constant term
a = numerical coefficient of the quadratic term
b = numerical coefficient of the linear term

Quadratic equations can be classified into two: complete and incomplete. A complete quadratic
equation is one where a, b and c have values while an incomplete quadratic equation is one where
only two coefficients are not equal to zero.

The examples below show you how quadratic equations are written in standard form and how
the real numbers a, b and c are identified.

1. 9x2 – 5x = 5 a b c
9x2 – 5x – 5 = 0
9 -5 -5
1
2. −10 = x
3x a b c
-3 -30 1
1 − 30 x = 3 x 2
− 3 x 2 − 30 x + 1 = 0
Now, try the next examples below and see whether you know how to write quadratic equations in
standard form and identify a, b and c.

3. 6 + 3x2 = -3x a b c

a b c
4. 2x2 = 9

5. (x + 1) (x + 2) = 0 a b c

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 Junior High School
PROCESS QUESTIONS:
1. When is a quadratic equation written in standard form?

2. What are the things that you need to remember when identifying a, b and c?

3. Go back to the exercise that you just did. Do all examples have values for all of a, b, and
c?

(Source: Mathematics Grade 9 Learning Module, Private Education Assistance Committee under
Department of Education, page 12-16)

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