What is the quadratic formula for solving ax² + bx + c = 0?

The quadratic formula is derived from the process of completing the square for a general quadratic equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0. The correct formula to find the roots of this equation is expressed as x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / (2a).

This formula calculates the values of x where the function intersects the x-axis, known as the roots. The components of the formula play a significant role:

• The term inside the square root, b² - 4ac, is called the discriminant. It determines the nature of the roots (real and distinct, real and equal, or complex).

• The -b term in the numerator indicates that you are shifting the graph horizontally according to the coefficient of x.

• The entire expression divided by 2a indicates that the roots are being scaled based on the coefficient of x².

In contrast, other responses either include incorrect signs or terms that do not belong in the quadratic formula, making option B the only valid formulation for solving quadratic equations.