Algebra 2 Topic 2 Vocabulary

vertex

the highest point (maximum) or the lowest point (minimum) of a parabola

parabola

the shape of the graph of a quadratic function

quadratic function

a function in which the greatest power of the variable is 2

vertex form of a quadratic function

a form of a quadratic function that is given by f(x) = a(x - h)^2 + k, where (h, k) is the vertex.

standard form of a quadratic function

a form of a quadratic function that is given by f(x) = ax² + bx + c = 0

zero of a function

an x-value that makes a function equal 0

zero product property

ab = 0 if and only if a = 0 or b = 0

complex conjugates

two complex numbers of the form a +bi and a- bi

complex numbers

a number able to be written in the form a+bi

imaginary number

the square root of a negative number

imaginary unit i

The unit in the imaginary number system, square root -1

perfect square trinomial

a trinomial that when factored gives you the square of a binomial

principal root

positive root of a number that has 2 real roots

completing the square

A process used to form a perfect square trinomial

discriminant

is the expression under the radical sign in the quadratic formula

quadratic formula

a formula that allows the user to calculate the solutions of any quadratic equation

radicand

The expression under the radical sign

system of equations

a "system" of equations is a set or collection of equations that you deal with all together at once

solution of a system

an ordered pair (x,y) that satisfies each equation of the system

linear system

a system of equations made up of linear equations

linear-quadratic system

a system of equations made up of linear and quadratic equations