SOLUTION: Difference between linear equation and quadratic equation

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Question 965749: Difference between linear equation and quadratic equation

Answer by Theo(13342)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
the graph of a linear eqution will be a straight line.

the graph of a quadratic equation will look like the top part of an umbrella.

the linear equation can be a constant or it can be a variable with an exponent of 1.

the exponent of 1 is usually not shown because it is implied.

x is the same as x^1, and is usually shown as x, although it can be shown as x^1 when necessary.

some examples of a linear equation.

y = 1
y = x
y = x + 1

the quadratic equation has to have a varible with an exponent of 2, and any other variable in the equation has to be positive and less than 2.

some examples of quadratic equations.

x^2
x^2 + x
x^2 + x + 1

both linear equations and quadratic equatons are polynomials which means that the exponent of any variable in the equation must be a positive integer.

their graphs will be continuous from start to finish.

here's a graph of y = x + 1



here's a graph of y = x^2 + x + 1



here's a graph of y = x^2 + x^-1 + 1



that last graph is not a polynomial because it contains a variable with an exponent that is not a positive integer.

you can see that it is also not continuous because there is a break in the graph at x = 0 where the value of y is undefined because you have a division by 0 when x is equal to 0.

x^-1 is the same a 1/x.

when x is equal to 0, that becomes 1/0.

the first 2 graphs are polynopmials.

the last graph is not.


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