Why are quadratic equations so called?

[tell-me-more]

Why is a quadratic equation called a quadratic equation? The graphs of linear equations form a straight line, is there a similar explanation for quadratics?

[dawkins]

it is an equation where the highest power of an unknown quantity is a square. Quadratic in this case comes from the latin quadratus meaning square.

http://www.answers.com/topic/quadratic-functio n

[tell-me-more]

Thanks. But what's a quadratic equation got to do with squares?

[JustSia]

If you don't know that then what's the point of asking about quadratic equations. Try and read the info in the link it was posted for a reason, but if you still can't see - the power of 2 is a square.

[bernardo]

The answer to the question "But what's a quadratic equation got to do with squares?" has already been given in the first answer , i.e. "it is an equation where the highest power of an unknown quantity is a square."

[tell-me-more]

The link says <<It takes its name from the Latin quadratus for square, because quadratic functions arise in the calculation of areas of squares>>

I thought that was just x^2. I don't see what quadratic functions have to do with calculating the areas of squares unless a = 1 and b and c = 0

[JustSia]

The idea of that link was to give you an answer to your original question. However, if you used your own initiative and followed the links within, i.e. clicked on 'square' hyperlink then it would have told you that the formula for the area of the square is A = s^2 , you know, s to the power of 2 or s squared, the most basic function.

[bernardo]

Nobody ever said anything about calculating the areas of squares.

[dawkins]

tell-me-more

A field is a sqaure 2*2 = 4

we double the length of the field so: 4*4=16 the area is 4 times as much.

Why? Because 4 squared is 4 times as much as 2 squared.

Say I could grow 10 beans (a) in a field of dimensions 1*1

How many beans (q) could I grow in a field with sides x length?

q=a xsquared

a quadratic equation