SOLUTION: Why is it sufficient to define a quadratic function, in terms of a, b, and c?

Question 21033: Why is it sufficient to define a quadratic function, in terms of a, b, and c?

Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Because if there were 4 distinct terms, none of which combine together, then it would be a cubic equation, not quadratic. The tradition in math has always been to use a, b, and c as constants; i, j, and k for directions, and u,v,w,x,y, and z as variables. I suppose other letters could have been used, but it would be very confusing. We are such creatures of habit.

R^2 at SCC
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