document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=21033>Question 21033</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Why is it sufficient to define a quadratic function, in terms of a, b, and c?      \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #11928 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=11928\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2 at SCC </SPAN>\n" );
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